Louisiana City Skylines

[richyb83]

Yes I wanted to give props to Shreveport for their high-rise casino hotels on the riverfront. Baton Rouge's 10-story Sheraton was a disapiontment when it was built; I was hoping it would be similar in height to the Marroit more than 4 miles down the road. They could learn that from Shreveport.

Until the future high-rises are actually built in downtown BR, it's hard to speculate or compare w/ Shreveport.

I will be creating a NEW thread for BR sometime this weekend; Tallest Bldgs. Outside the CBD

[NCB]

This is one of my favorite views of the Shreveport skyline, from I-220 over Cross Lake:

BTW, I'm sure Brian will be pleased to see all of the love and attention Shreveport is getting when he gets back.

[dimebag1980]

So Brian and Dan, and anyone else if they would like to contribute, what are your top 5 skylines in the state? You don't need to go into detail or anything, I'm just curious how you guys would rank them?

1. Shreveport

2. New Orleans

Okay, okay, I'll be serious...

There really IS NO beating New Orleans as far as Louisiana cities go. The rest of the cities just can't match up... and that goes far beyond skylines as well. There are countless reasons why New Orleans is a world-class city, and as much as we'd all like to either duplicate it or even be better, it's hard to even come close to a world-class city.

That said, here is my line-up

1. New Orleans

2. Shreveport

3. Baton Rouge (could numbers 2 and 3 switch within the next 5-10 years? I hate to say it, but they just might)

4. Metairie

5. Lake Charles

And by the way, Nate, I do appreciate the attention you've give my fair city. God knows as far as Louisiana cities go, we're very far away from the other two largest cities in the state both in distance and recognition. So I most definitely do appreciate it.

I put Metairie before Lake Charles, because I personally do like the buildings in Metairie... and as far as a suburb goes, Metairie brings it. Lake Charles is nice, but in my opinion the Hibernia building (is it Capital One now??) stands alone much like Horseshoe does in Bossier City. While it's a nice building, it looks out of place where it's located.

[dimebag1980]

Yes I wanted to give props to Shreveport for their high-rise casino hotels on the riverfront. Baton Rouge's 10-story Sheraton was a disapiontment when it was built; I was hoping it would be similar in height to the Marroit more than 4 miles down the road. They could learn that from Shreveport.

Thanks. And I guess different people view things differently, but coming from this region I'm a bit disappointed in Shreveport for a couple of reasons. For starters, the crime is pushing people out of Shreveport altogether... not just for home, but for work as well. If people are afraid of being robbed at their place of business, they don't want to be in Shreveport. This is one of the main reasons I believe downtown Shreveport's office occupancy rate is so low. It stays at about 85% occupancy, and for the small amount (relatively speaking) of office space in downtown Shreveport, that is not a very good rate. If the rate were closer to 100%, it would make sense that someone might want to add an office tower or two to what we already have. The last major office tower was built down there in the 80s, right before the big oil bust. Actually the oil bust is also the main reason that tower #2 wasn't built at the American Tower site. It was supposed to be American Towers, not just the sole American Tower.

The other reason I'm disappointed is the size of the new Hilton convention center hotel. The city was warned by a company that specializes in the convention imdustry, that the only way to have their 300,000 sq. ft. center be completely successful, they needed at least 500 rooms in their hotel and at least 1,500 spaces in their parking deck. A 500-room hotel could have easily been 18-22 floors, instead of the 300-room hotel that was built. Don't misunderstand me... I'm proud of the hotel, I think it's very impressive in its design and amenities, but it very easily could have been taller, and even more impressive. I need to try and swing by there tomorrow to get some photos... it's been a while. The facade is mostly complete now, and it's a very good-looking building.

Until the future high-rises are actually built in downtown BR, it's hard to speculate or compare w/ Shreveport.

I think it's going to start shaping up quite well. The Riverplace tower ALONE is going to make the Baton Rouge skyline look a bit different.

[NCB]

Actually the oil bust is also the main reason that tower #2 wasn't built at the American Tower site. It was supposed to be American Towers, not just the sole American Tower.

Wow, that's interesting, and it's something I didn't know. Was the second tower supposed to be an exact twin of the original?

[dimebag1980]

Wow, that's interesting, and it's something I didn't know. Was the second tower supposed to be an exact twin of the original?

They were supposed to be identical 14-story towers.

[NCB]

Alright guys, here is a skyline battle between the three largest cities in Ohio; Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. I call it, "the Ohio-off."

Cincinnati

City population- 331,310

Metro population- 2,135,593

Tallest building: Carew Tower- 574 feet

Number of buildings taller than 600 feet: 0

Number of buildings taller than 400 feet: 6

Number of buildings taller than 200 feet: 32

Scroll>>

Columbus

City population- 730,657

Metro population- 1,936,351

Tallest building: Rhodes State Office Tower- 629 ft

Number of buildings taller than 600 feet: 1

Number of buildings taller than 400 feet: 10

Number of buildings taller than 200 feet: 26

Scroll>>

Scroll>>

Cleveland

City population- 452,208

Metro population- 2,931,774

Tallest building: Key Tower- 947 ft

Number of buildings taller than 600 feet: 3

Number of buildings taller than 400 feet: 10

Number of buildings taller than 200 feet: 43

Scroll>>

[dan326]

1. Columbus

2. Cleveland

3. Cincinnati

Edit* I just reformated you post, Dan; same results. -NCB

[dimebag1980]

1. Cleveland

2. Columbus

3. Cincinnati

And I must say, THIS is an awesome picture of columbus:

[SlidellWX]

1. Cleveland

2. Cincinatti

3. Columbus

Although Columbus has taller buildings...the Cincinnati skyline has some nice older buildings that put it a step up from Columbus in my opinion.

[dimebag1980]

You know, what I've noticed about all three skylines is that they all seem to have one building in particular that looks like it's probably a historic building, but is just VERY narrow and comes to a spire on top. All three cities seem to have that, which is very interesting to me. The buildings somewhat remind me of the Louisiana State Capitol.

[richyb83]

Nice Ohio match-up Nate, and great pics too.

Cleveland

Cincinnati

Columbus

The Key Tower is one of the best looking skyscrapers anywhere.

Cincinnati edges old school Columbus.

4th Place in Ohio would be a battle between Toledo and Dayton...then 6th would probably go to Akron IMO.

[richyb83]

You know, what I've noticed about all three skylines is that they all seem to have one building in particular that looks like it's probably a historic building, but is just VERY narrow and comes to a spire on top. All three cities seem to have that, which is very interesting to me. The buildings somewhat remind me of the Louisiana State Capitol.

Good observation Brian...that's pretty cool. Those were cool iconic towers for their time; and blend-in well with the newer high-rises.

[NCB]

You know, what I've noticed about all three skylines is that they all seem to have one building in particular that looks like it's probably a historic building, but is just VERY narrow and comes to a spire on top. All three cities seem to have that, which is very interesting to me. The buildings somewhat remind me of the Louisiana State Capitol.

Nice observation, Brian! I was actually just about to post something about that.

Terminal Tower- Cleveland

Built: 1930

Floors: 52

Height: 708 feet

LeVeque Tower- Columbus

Built: 1927

Floors: 47

Height: 555 feet

PNC Tower- Cincinnati

Built: 1913

Floors: 31

Height: 495 feet

[richyb83]

Thanks for posting all those pics Nate. Very impressive architecture. They don't make-em like that anymore. Interesting to see the transformation of the skyscraper over the years.

The La. State Capitol was built in 1932 right after all of these.

[dan326]

It seems like a lot of tall skyscrapers were built in the 1930's.

[dimebag1980]

As Richy said, they just don't make 'em like they used to.

Thanks for posting those photos, Nate. I really like the way that PNC Bank tower looks all lit up at night. The colums on the spire look awesome anyway, but they're REALLY awesome when lit!

[bluff2085]

1 - Cincinatti

2 - Columbus

3 - Cleveland

Very close, nice match-uup!

[NCB]

For me it's

1. Cleveland

2. Cincinnati

3. Clumbus

I used to not be a big fan of Cleveland's skyline, but it has really grown on me. A very nice mix of some awesome looking new and old buildings, and plenty of density and natural beauty around the area.

[dimebag1980]

I think I'm in love! And I'm straight!! But a guy over at Glass Steel and Stone had the following to say about Shreveport's AmSouth Tower:

Never mind New York, I think Shreveport is giving London a run for its money with ambition like this!Good work guys. For what it is, all the right dimensions.

Pardon my enthusiasm, but when I see something like this said about my home city, it does put a huge smile on my face. I know it's just a user comment, but I'm glad to see someone thinks this way. 90% of people who have rated that building have voted that they like it. Personally, I like it. It's one of the most modern buildings around here and it definitely stands out, but yet it blends in with the skyline as well. I think it was by far the best modern addition ever made to the Shreveport skyline.

[dan326]

I think I'm in love! And I'm straight!!

Sure. Just kidding.

Pardon my enthusiasm, but when I see something like this said about my home city, it does put a huge smile on my face. I know it's just a user comment, but I'm glad to see someone thinks this way. 90% of people who have rated that building have voted that they like it. Personally, I like it. It's one of the most modern buildings around here and it definitely stands out, but yet it blends in with the skyline as well. I think it was by far the best modern addition ever made to the Shreveport skyline.

That's alright. I get excited also when people say good thing about B.R.

[dimebag1980]

Sure. Just kidding.

Not that it matters, but my wife could vouch for me.

As could all the girls I dated before I met her.

[NCB]

Pardon my enthusiasm, but when I see something like this said about my home city, it does put a huge smile on my face. I know it's just a user comment, but I'm glad to see someone thinks this way.

Hey man, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. When someone says something positive about your hometown, it makes you feel just as if they're saying something positive about you personally.

[richyb83]

That's great that they give AmSouth Tower and Shreveport such positive recognition. I have been saying AmSouth was one of my favorite high-rises in Louisiana, and with good reason.

[NCB]

Here's a skyline battle between two random cities with somewhat similar sized skylines; Austin and Phoenix.

Phoenix

City Population- 1,461,575

Metro population- 3,865,077

Tallest Building: Chase Tower- 483 feet

Number of buildings above 400 feet: 2

Number of buildings above 200 feet: 36

Austin

City Population- 690,252

Metro Population- 1,452,529

Tallest Building: Frost Bank Tower- 515 feet

Number of buildings above 400 feet: 1

Number of buildings above 200 feet: 24