urbanSTL

The plaza could end up being OK, depending on how well they design the restaurant. Overall I like the modern look of the building. I just hope they produce a few more renderings that show it in a better light; otherwise they could have trouble marketing this thing.

Wow, I can't believe everyone on here actually likes this design - I think it's one of the most hideous buildings I've ever seen! There is no way that this will get approved with that facade - none, nata. Either they sent you a rendering that was incomplete by mistake (maybe they had one of the layers in photoshop turned off), or they are completely nuts.



Also - groundbreaking in a week? Did they even start pre-selling yet?

The cool thing about it is that it looks like no other building in St. Louis. I'm also excited about the views the floor to ceiling glass will offer. I kind of have the same feeling about this that I expressed on the Port St. Louis project, so I'll say it again. If this development were announced even 5 years ago people here would be so excited they'd be having aneurisms. I'd bet that the views it'll offer and the way it'll look at night will make it one of the nicest buildings in the area. This is not even mentioning the fact of the people and activity it will bring downtown. I'd also be willing to bet it'll be impressive in daytime in person. Lastly, it adds diversity, which is something that I thought the forward thinking members of this board would embrace. The best part is that it's one more thing we can shove in the face of doubters. The city's back.

metzgda wrote:Wow, I can't believe everyone on here actually likes this design - I think it's one of the most hideous buildings I've ever seen! There is no way that this will get approved with that facade - none, nata. Either they sent you a rendering that was incomplete by mistake (maybe they had one of the layers in photoshop turned off), or they are completely nuts.



Also - groundbreaking in a week? Did they even start pre-selling yet?

I won't comment on your taste -- that's your perspnal preference -- but I have been waiting for a wonderful moern building in dontown for a long time.



Also, as was stated before "ground breakings" are meaningless publicity tools. And for everyone's education: job signs are meaningless ("Opening Fall 2006" can easily become summer 2007), and renderings are never accurate.



As far as not getting approval of "the facade", approval by whom? Downtown is not a locally-ordinanced historic district so Cultural Resources has no jurisdiction. Plus, knowing the staff at CR they would whole-heartedly embrace such a bold and wonderful design because they apppreciate quality design of ALL eras.They can build whatever they want. It just so happens I like what they are proposing.



Also, I am constantly trying to educate people that buildings are not just facades. This building seems to honor its fuction and context through its form. Thank God they didn't try to "tart it up" with some cheesey faux-historical dryvit details.



Modernism has a place in our beautiful city among the wonderful historical stock. That is the magic of cities. They represent the zeitgest of many eras through architectural expression.

Now, if only they had not sacrificed the Century for a useless urban plaza.

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!! As begin a resident of the old post office district it makes me sick to see such an abhorrently third world building begin built in my hood..... Beyond doubt a sick sick sick state of affairs in DT when a building so distressing is given the go ahead to be built... 10 years from now people will compare the new tower to the anguish of STL center because of failure to blend in with it surroundings tourist, business men, & residents will balk in angst cursing the hideous sight of such a foul tower?



Simply sad!!!!!!

Prophett wrote:OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!! As begin a resident of the old post office district it makes me sick to see such an abhorrently third world building begin built in my hood..... Beyond doubt a sick sick sick state of affairs in DT when a building so distressing is given the go ahead to be built... 10 years from now people will compare the new tower to the anguish of STL center because of failure to blend in with it surroundings tourist, business men, & residents will balk in angst cursing the hideous sight of such a foul tower?



Simply sad!!!!!!

Don't know how you can draw those kinds of conclusions based on a one-time rendering. Do you think the Roberts Bros are foolish enough to build sometime that will offend people? Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and wait for detailed renderings before we judge. Chill ....

Well that said I project that within ten years that the building itself will sit mostly vacant , & a enterprising developer will endeavor to turn the Roberts Brothers Building into the largest parking Garage in DT STL.



Splendid adaptive re-use eh ?

It could be better, but come on, it's not as bad as some of you make it out to be.



It does appear to look a little '60s-ish. But thank god there's not a single brick, because I couldn't stomach another awful historic replica that may "blend in" as Prophett would like. Barf.



I wish it was a little taller so it would have an impact on the skyline, but that's St. Louis for ya-- short and squatty.



The biggest problem I have with it is the obnoxious signage on the top.

I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks the signage is tacky. I have more of a problem with that than any other aspect of this project.

I actually like the design and think it is edgy and very modern.

Signage - who knows if they will put it lke that or not - personally I think it is more "publicity" in the rendering and that is it. That signage wouldn't be seen very well from the south of the building anyway.

I can't say I'm awe struck, but no matter what, its one hec of an example of downtown infill. One more surface lot gone!



How often do renderings make a building look more beautiful than in real life... this rendering (along with the Pinnacle Casino building's renderings) will hopefully look better in real life. I'm not sure what to make of the building. The box shape, in the front, above the first few floors make me think of Brutalism (a.k.a the Pet Building) only with a whole lot more glass.

ok, i'm still confused.... is this a rendering of the half finished building, or of a completed building?

Completed.

Confused number two,



Is this a rendering of a plain gray conrete high rise with floor-to-ceiling glass? Where is the architecture? Is this really edgy and today or is it another Corbusier inspired Pruitt-Igoe? I really do not see why you guys like it. Please, give me details because I do not see anything.

Wow, I gotta say, I'm shocked that so many of you are put-off by this design! Are you really that scared of something new?



I think its one of the handsomest, most forward-looking buildings proposed in St. Louis in a long time. This is the kind of modern architecture actually being built in other cities around the world. The kind of architecture that some of us have been crying-out for for a long time. Its about time we were brought up to date!



It reminds me of the work of Zaha Hadid, who won the Pritzger Prize in 2004 (the "Nobel Prize" of international architecture). Does anyone know who did design it?



And for all of you who think this is a rendering of an unfinished building, are you for real? You really can't identify windows unless they're holes punched out of a brick wall? Come on!



I am confused by the renderings, though. It seems like they filled-in Locust Street with an imaginary park. And why did they hide the Old Post Office?

Framer wrote:I think its one of the handsomest, most forward-looking buildings proposed in St. Louis in a long time. This is the kind of modern architecture actually being built in other cities around the world. The kind of architecture that some of us have been crying-out for for a long time. Its about time we were brought up to date!

And that's why I dig it. Like others here, I don't like the signage, I wish it were a bit taller, and I don't like the urban plaza. That said, I'm glad to see the Roberts Bros. push forward with a progressive design like this. You're right- cities around the globe have architecture like this- and I think it's about time Saint Louis joined the 21st century (as President Bush might say, architecturally speaking).



Recreating the past works when we're talking about infill in Soulard, or even a larger-scale project like the Fleurs-de-Lis in Benton Park West IMHO. It's all about context. In downtown, however, retro (new ballpark excluded, lest I start another argument) just doesn't work as well IMHO. I suppose it is hard to tell from the renderings precisely how the building will look. However, I don't believe the Roberts Bros. are going to cut corners on what will be their creme de la creme development.

After reviewing it again, I LOVE IT!!!

^That is what happened to me. When I first saw it, I was confused & unsure. But, when I came back to it later, it really grabbed me.



It reminds me of something you might see in a sexy South American city or glitzy Asian city. More heighth would add to that feeling, but there is an appeal in staying in line with it's neighbors, too. St. Louis needs to shake it up a bit. This building screams confidence & prosperity.



I hope the 4 star restaurant will be very cutting edge in design and cuisine.

Loud Noises!!!!!

I think the design of this building is growing on some of us! I had to look at it for a minute at first. But the more I look, the more I like. I kind of have mixed feelings about the plaza, though...not sure whether I like it or not.

Framer wrote:I am confused by the renderings, though. It seems like they filled-in Locust Street with an imaginary park. And why did they hide the Old Post Office?

It appears that the photograph this rendering was based on was taken from the north side of the Chemical Building in the light well as you can see part of the building in the left side of the image. At first I thought it was taken from Laclede Gas but -- as you pointed out -- you would see the the OPO and the building on the left would be the Arcade and it is not. So, Locust and the OPO are obscured by the west wing of the Chemical and what is shown is the long planned urban plaza that could have been a parking garage instead of the Century site. The city already made a huge mistake by allowing the Federal Reserve to shut down Locust to the east. I guess it isn't much of a stretch that they would allow Stogel and/or the Roberts to do the same. But luckily it's not so.