366 replies to this topic

[charlotte_bon_vivant]

Did Pei's firm design the tower as well? I just don't like it. Next to the HOF it looks dull and kind of frumpy. Like it's a storage tower for the cars. Actually, that might not be too bad an idea. Putting cars in the windows would "connect" the tower to the HOF somehow.

[Miesian Corners]

Again, I like the tower.  I think the idea of the tower design is to not take away from the HOF.  The more simple the tower, the more you notice its base.  As far as the NASCAR color logo on the top, love it.  Hope its neon.

[southernyank]

I like the logo on the building too. That would look great if it was neon and lit up at night.  I mean, were not Tokyo here.   its not like we have a lot of this type of signage. I don't think that one nascar logo on a building would destroy the skyline.  

[charlotte_bon_vivant]

Miesian Corners, on Mar 9 2006, 10:40 AM, said:

Again, I like the tower.

Yes, because you have bad taste.   (I'm just kidding.) The building doesn't fit my personal taste, but I can live with it.  

[Miesian Corners]

charlotte_bon_vivant, on Mar 9 2006, 11:27 AM, said:

Yes, because you have bad taste.   (I'm just kidding.) The building doesn't fit my personal taste, but I can live with it.  

Oddly, this would not be the only time I've been told I lack taste.  I am confounded.

[A2]

Miesian Corners, on Mar 9 2006, 10:40 AM, said:

Again, I like the tower.  I think the idea of the tower design is to not take away from the HOF.  The more simple the tower, the more you notice its base.  As far as the NASCAR color logo on the top, love it.  Hope its neon.

Man MC you are really on it with the Neon ! Boy oh boy, I am going to be in extacy if Charlotte can really drop the button down approach they have towards signage. I can't stand going to a city that has towers, nightlife, and a busy streetscape without any color. It ust seems drab, don't cha' think??? Life is better in color !!!

A2

[dubone]

Speaking of color and neon and Nascar, I was wondering something earlier today.  It is obviously a little late, and clearly will not be added to the Nascar Hall of Fame, but what if they had added some ribbons of LED to the swooping part of the Hall design.   It is one of my favorite things in the Arena, that ribbon of LEDs that acts like a TV between the lower and upper levels.  

It seems to me that since they have all those symbols on the building to signify motion, they could have actually had motion displays occasionally running along the building.  It could have also added to the color, and a couple other things that seem to fit nascar.  Of course it would also be like a marquis or be programmed to display an inductee making a symbolic trip around the track.

Cheesy?  Cool?  

I think with as staid as the banks and the energy conglomerate are downtown, Nascar is our shot at craziness and color.  I like the idea of a large Nascar sign visible from the freeway to guide tourists, and be a landmark.

[dubone]

http://charlotte.biz.../13/story2.html

Apparently, Nascar could take 6 months before deciding on whether to include an office tower on the hall of fame site.

I think it is most interesting that Portman Plaza marketers think that the Nascar tower could help them eventually, as it will create a bit of an anchor tenant for the area.  Hopefully that is the case and nascar related businesses would also seek office space nearby.

[UrbanCharlotte]

  Info on HofF
Next to the hall, NASCAR also is considering a 300,000-square-foot office tower, similar in size to uptown's 30-story IJL Financial Center.

[A2]

UrbanCharlotte, on Mar 13 2006, 09:54 AM, said:

  Info on HofF
Next to the hall, NASCAR also is considering a 300,000-square-foot office tower, similar in size to uptown's 30-story IJL Financial Center.

I saw that too UC. THat would be awesome. I honestly was thinking something much smaller. If it were similar in size to the IJL tower we would certainly not be looking at just 16 floors.

A2

[UrbanCharlotte]

If they want to make it the size of IJL, and IF PEI is designing this building... and they decide to do it.

[atlrvr]

Except that IJL is 670,000 sq. ft.......I'm not sure Doug make the comparison at all.....the contract language regadring the NASCAR tower was pretty specific in regards to its size (sq. ft.)....now considering it is a slightly smaller foot print than IJL, I could see the height being in the 20 story range.

I wouldn't put too much stock in the rendering as it was a last minute addition for illustrative purposes only.....though I admit I would be more than happy with it if it looked exactly like the rendering.

[nyxmike]

The NASCAR tower might be skinnier than IJL, so what it lacks in width, it makes up for in height.  I'm just going by the rendering, but it did look skinnier than most office towers. Is that feasible, or do office towers require a certain "width"?

[atlrvr]

Typically a building is square or close to it because it is cheaper to build interior space, rather than window space because of the expense of the facade.....so ideally a building would have the greatest volume as opposed to surface area as possible.

Of course the opposite of this is that buildings with a high percent "views" can command slightly higher rents, so it's all about finding a balance.

The third consideration is the elevators.  Since one bank of elevators will only serve 15-16 floors, buildings taller than that need two banks of elevators which eats up a good chuck of rentable floor space, so typically the taller buildings are wider to accomodate the addional elevator banks.

[charlotte_bon_vivant]

UrbanCharlotte, on Mar 13 2006, 12:07 PM, said:

IF PEI is designing this building...

I read somewhere else that Pei's firm on is for the entire project. Also, the rendering for the HOF tower is not final... It may change at a later date.

[teshadoh]

How close will the interior design of the NASCAR tower resemble it's occupants?  Perhaps Pei will design fold-out chairs with attached cup holders wide enough for beer cozies?  Or the restrooms will include a wall long public urinal?  

[atlrvr]

Apparantly the lobby is going to have an abstract art piece made entirely out of discarded chicken bones.

I think the fact that Pei will be doing the tower is reinforced by the fact they have the most current rendering showing the tower on the PFC website and it attributed to Szeto.

[dubone]

I'm glad that the Pei Freed Cobb site is now prominently displaying the Nascar Hall of Fame.  I guess they were just waiting until it was approved.

I'm excited to see what improvements they make now that it is being finalized.

[redjeep77]

any update on the tower?

[Miesian Corners]

^ Haven't heard anything.  BTW, the HOF is not on the PFC website anymore.