Medical Mile/Michigan Street Developments

[joeDowntown]

I saw that too. I bet they are testing different type treatments for "Michigan State University". They looked somewhat temporary but definitely more expensive than a simple shout out to MSU.

Joe

Anyone know why Tower 25 has two "STATE" words near the very top on the South side?

[witulski]

Watching the HDVCH take shape on top of the hill is pretty exciting... but I gotta step into this thread to say, I am really bummed that the giant spire has been cancelled. I am actually surprised there didn't seem to be any discussion about that here after it was mentioned, because I thought that would be a pretty exciting addition to town and got to looking forward to it.

Edited April 15, 2009 by witulski

[fotoman311]

Watching the HDVCH take shape on top of the hill is pretty exciting... but I gotta step into this thread to say, I am really bummed that the giant spire has been cancelled. I am actually surprised there didn't seem to be any discussion about that here after it was mentioned, because I thought that would be a pretty exciting addition to town and got to looking forward to it.

I agree. It's quite imposing on the skyline as you are coming north on 131 before you hit the S-curve.

[John E]

I agree. It's quite imposing on the skyline as you are coming north on 131 before you hit the S-curve.

Okay now you got me wanting to go exploring to get some shots from that area.

~John

[Allison Slater]

Already on top of the photo situation. Snagged these between classes just a couple buildings down.

[joeDowntown]

I was on Jonathan Bailey's (one of the architects, the architect, one of many?) website the other day and was pretty bummed looking at the renderings with the spire. I think it anchored the skywalk and suspension cables very nicely.

And, out of curiosity, I was excited to see how they were going to assemble/build the thing.

Joe

Watching the HDVCH take shape on top of the hill is pretty exciting... but I gotta step into this thread to say, I am really bummed that the giant spire has been cancelled. I am actually surprised there didn't seem to be any discussion about that here after it was mentioned, because I thought that would be a pretty exciting addition to town and got to looking forward to it.

[Allison Slater]

Also, a quick VAI2 shot I took.

[John E]

Random Comment:

I think it is real cool that what is becoming the most expensive building in Grand Rapids is a facility that will be for helping children to get well.

"Grand Heart Rapids"

~John

[John E]

Parkinson's Researchers hired for medical mile. It is great seeing them jump right into getting things going on Medical Mile. This is great news!

http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/i..._science_g.html

~John

[GRDadof3]

Watching the HDVCH take shape on top of the hill is pretty exciting... but I gotta step into this thread to say, I am really bummed that the giant spire has been cancelled. I am actually surprised there didn't seem to be any discussion about that here after it was mentioned, because I thought that would be a pretty exciting addition to town and got to looking forward to it.

It is nice to see new construction in what has long been an "old and tired" looking part of the skyline:

I'm with you guys. Losing the spire is a damn shame.

[crinzema]

I'm with you guys. Losing the spire is a damn shame.

Is is possible for the spire to be added at a later date or is the crane needed for the construction of the spire? I know The trump building that was just constructed in Chicago used a helicopter to top off the building with a spire.

[joeDowntown]

That is great news. I like to see all of these minds converging on the hill!

Joe

Parkinson's Researchers hired for medical mile. It is great seeing them jump right into getting things going on Medical Mile. This is great news!

http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/i..._science_g.html

~John

[GRDadof3]

They're now putting the exterior panels on the med school (or probably have been for a month or so), and I gotta say....not so crazy about the look. The one difference between the med school and the rest of the development is the green windows (hard to make out in this picture).

[joeDowntown]

I'll reserve judgment until it is complete, but it almost looks like a slightly tattered version of it's neighbor. I think some contrast would have been good.

Joe

[joeDowntown]

More good news on the hill as the West Michigan Science and Technology Institute (WMSTI) is expanding on Monroe Ave because their space is too small on Michigan:

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand...cubator_expands

Ed Devries owns this building however I always thought it was one of the were renovations they've done. Hopefully this is temporary space and they'll move back up on the hill.

1345 Monroe Ave NW

Joe

[Allison Slater]

I know that building.. that's where my dad's office is.

I imagine another reason they might be leaving the hill is land values / leasing fees. A potentially cheaper site on Monroe may be more appealing.

[Raildudes dad]

Another tower crane going up this weekend on "The Hill" between the Cancer Center and the MSU building. Michigan Street was closed Friday night and still is today. Erickson's is putting up the pieces.

[John E]

wow, already? I didn't think they would have a crane there until they have the parking ramp in. That is for the 35 Michigan building that is going in, between 25 Michigan Medical Building and the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion.

~John

[GRDadof3]

There it is, to the right:

Yeah, they had a couple floors of the LHCC parking ramp finished before the crane went in:

But the HDVCH was pretty much dirt at the time:

Here's the Tower 25 crane base:

And when the MSU crane went up:

I think we'll see 38 Commerce and Gallery cranes going up soon.

[Allison Slater]

So, we should be back to 3, maybe 4 tower cranes soon. Exciting! =D

[Raildudes dad]

4 close enough to look like they can touch each other . VAI, MSU, Children' Hospital and today's installation. The long boom went up about 6PM. 4 iron workers up top to install the pins and cables. Sorry , no photos, left the camera home.

[Allison Slater]

Oh, I forgot about VAI and MSU. =x So, if we're lucky, maybe we'll see 6 up at once.

[GRDadof3]

Oh, I forgot about VAI and MSU. =x So, if we're lucky, maybe we'll see 6 up at once.

Maybe for a short period. I don't see the VAI crane being up much longer. They've even moved many of the subcontractor trailers off of Crescent St.

In related health hill news, MSU has approved the lease of 21,000 sf of space in VAI:

http://media-newswire.com/release_1089979.html

[GRDadof3]

All this political talk has me yearning for some good ole fashioned crane pictures. They do look like they could almost touch:

We'll call this "Spring Forth":

The Children's Hospital looks incredible when you come up under the skywalk:

[crinzema]

All this political talk has me yearning for some good ole fashioned crane pictures. They do look like they could almost touch:

Love the first photo. At the end of the day, we all love us some crane pictures.