222 2nd Ave. South, 25 Stories|305 Feet, 391,000 sq. ft., $100 million

[BnaBreaker]

Yawn.  I've seen better in the toilet after a long night of drinking.

 

Still...it addresses a vacant lot and I'm okay with that.  

 

As for the "postcard" comment by the architects, yeah okay...if you're talking about making a postcard shot of the city of Topeka maybe...not Nashville.

If youre crapping shiny blue cubes with jagged edges, you might wanna get that checked out. 

[Paramount747]

AT least it's 305 feet. Anytime Nashville gets above 300+ feet, its big time for us.

[Lexy]

AT least it's 305 feet. Anytime Nashville gets above 300+ feet, its big time for us.

Isn't all of the new proposals 300 feet?  It's a sea of flat roof lines.

[chris holman]

I guess we shouldn't feel so bad look at all the box's in Houston

I think if Nashville was a large fortune 500 city where the office market were more competitive for business , maybe the buildings would have better architecture I'm not very sure 

[dmillsphoto]

Isn't all of the new proposals 300 feet?  It's a sea of flat roof lines.

If Nashville were flat... yeah... luckily we get the illusion of height variance thanks to hills.

[arkitekte]

These comments are comical. I'm still not for sure why people are complaining about "same old glass box" "unimaginative architecture" etc. for the 5th or 6th time now. It's great to be critical of design, but this should be and is to be expected. How many of you have worked at any point in the development of a building this size (estimating, development, planning, design, construction, etc)? When push comes to shove, that box saves $1.2 million and keeps the lights on for everyone. It's either that or its a parking lot. 

I've said it before, but this isn't NYC or Chicago or Houston or Dallas or Philly, so you're going to get architecture on a budget; at 640k population budget at that. It's nice to have curves and angles, but curves and angles are expensive, produce wasted space within a design (wasted space that a contractor won't eat the price on that the client can't afford). There's only a few cities that are constantly producing this. Don't let that throw your perception of a good design off. I'm not saying this is going to be anything to call ArchDaily or ArchRecord about, but the glass box should be expected. That's what Nashville can afford; that's what Nashville builds. 

Nashville is being blessed with a crazy amount of street activation. None of it will be routine. This new development is producing environments with people that will activate the street non stop 24/7. That's special. 

Perspective:

How Many cities nation wide are experiencing grown throughout the urban core like Nashville? How many have the current lack of density and endless sprawl that Nashville has coupled with Nashville's current city and metro population. None. For a city with relatively no density and a relatively low, sprawling metro population to be at one time constructing this many high rises, both residential and commercial is pretty amazing.

[bhibbs]

Regarding this project:

(follows it up with a link to the story from yesterday with the rendering)

Adam Sichko ‏@NSHBIZSichko  53m53 minutes ago

Adam Sichko retweeted Adam Sichko

I'll have another scoop on this project this afternoon, but for now...

Adam Sichko added,

 

[chris holman]

October groundbreaking

https://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2015/9/15/october_groundbreaking_eyed_for_sobro_skyscraper

[Paramount747]

I guess we shouldn't feel so bad look at all the box's in Houston

I think if Nashville was a large fortune 500 city where the office market were more competitive for business , maybe the buildings would have better architecture I'm not very sure 

I have heard Houston referred to as Box City.

[bhibbs]

 

another image I dont think has been posted

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/real-estate/2015/09/100m-sobro-skyscraper-is-fully-financed-thanks-jp.html?ana=twt

[Paramount747]

These comments are comical. I'm still not for sure why people are complaining about "same old glass box" "unimaginative architecture" etc. for the 5th or 6th time now. It's great to be critical of design, but this should be and is to be expected. How many of you have worked at any point in the development of a building this size (estimating, development, planning, design, construction, etc)? When push comes to shove, that box saves $1.2 million and keeps the lights on for everyone. It's either that or its a parking lot. 

I've said it before, but this isn't NYC or Chicago or Houston or Dallas or Philly, so you're going to get architecture on a budget; at 640k population budget at that. It's nice to have curves and angles, but curves and angles are expensive, produce wasted space within a design (wasted space that a contractor won't eat the price on that the client can't afford). There's only a few cities that are constantly producing this. Don't let that throw your perception of a good design off. I'm not saying this is going to be anything to call ArchDaily or ArchRecord about, but the glass box should be expected. That's what Nashville can afford; that's what Nashville builds. 

Nashville is being blessed with a crazy amount of street activation. None of it will be routine. This new development is producing environments with people that will activate the street non stop 24/7. That's special. 

Perspective:

How Many cities nation wide are experiencing grown throughout the urban core like Nashville? How many have the current lack of density and endless sprawl that Nashville has coupled with Nashville's current city and metro population. None. For a city with relatively no density and a relatively low, sprawling metro population to be at one time constructing this many high rises, both residential and commercial is pretty amazing.

Well said. I would not use the term comical however. I think most of us are concerned about the look of Nashville, and maybe that comes from wanting those outside the city to see and admire what we have. You are right however. My family built skyscrapers in Manhattan for decades, and the towers with the most design and architectural elements were the ones most expensive, and in many case ones needs specialists to build and design out of the ordinary features.

From a supply chain perspective, it is very expensive to  deviate from standard design principals, especially in an economy for the most part that  is still under rejuvenation. Luckily Nashville is in a different position in the moment, while most of our peer cities a.k.a. Jacksonville, Birmingham, Memphis, Little Rock, Louisville, Tulsa Oklahoma City, Mobile, Kansas City, St. Louis etc are not really building anything, and cities like Dayton, Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Buffalo, Toledo and others have not built anything in decades.

I contend 25 stories and 305 feet is nothing to scoff at. Street activation is most important because most people rarely look up anyway.

[Nashville Cliff]

Hear, hear, arkitekte!  Well said.

[smeagolsfree]

There were a number of renderings at the MDHA meeting today. I think I had them all yesterday, but too lazy to post them all. I do like the one Bhibbs posted. There will be lots of pedestrian interaction there. Remember the retail/restaurant are is 3 stories. That will play huge on1st Ave.

[TNinVB]

It may be a glass box but I like the way the cladding around the garage looks as well as the mullions for for the windows. They appear to be staggered.  Maybe the base will have some sort of cool lighting to give it the appearance of an equalizer.  So is the building that is on the SE corner seperate from the actual tower and I'm assuming at 305' it will make it slightly taller than Icon?

Edited September 15, 2015 by TNinVB

[TNinVB]

Well said. I would not use the term comical however. I think most of us are concerned about the look of Nashville, and maybe that comes from wanting those outside the city to see and admire what we have. You are right however. My family built skyscrapers in Manhattan for decades, and the towers with the most design and architectural elements were the ones most expensive, and in many case ones needs specialists to build and design out of the ordinary features.

From a supply chain perspective, it is very expensive to  deviate from standard design principals, especially in an economy for the most part that  is still under rejuvenation. Luckily Nashville is in a different position in the moment, while most of our peer cities a.k.a. Jacksonville, Birmingham, Memphis, Little Rock, Louisville, Tulsa Oklahoma City, Mobile, Kansas City, St. Louis etc are not really building anything, and cities like Dayton, Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Buffalo, Toledo and others have not built anything in decades.

I contend 25 stories and 305 feet is nothing to scoff at. Street activation is most important because most people rarely look up anyway.

Didn't Cincinnati build a pretty substantial high rise with a huge crown a couple of years ago??

Edited September 15, 2015 by TNinVB

[Lexy]

These comments are comical. I'm still not for sure why people are complaining about "same old glass box" "unimaginative architecture" etc. for the 5th or 6th time now. It's great to be critical of design, but this should be and is to be expected. How many of you have worked at any point in the development of a building this size (estimating, development, planning, design, construction, etc)? When push comes to shove, that box saves $1.2 million and keeps the lights on for everyone. It's either that or its a parking lot. 

I've said it before, but this isn't NYC or Chicago or Houston or Dallas or Philly, so you're going to get architecture on a budget; at 640k population budget at that. It's nice to have curves and angles, but curves and angles are expensive, produce wasted space within a design (wasted space that a contractor won't eat the price on that the client can't afford). There's only a few cities that are constantly producing this. Don't let that throw your perception of a good design off. I'm not saying this is going to be anything to call ArchDaily or ArchRecord about, but the glass box should be expected. That's what Nashville can afford; that's what Nashville builds. 

Nashville is being blessed with a crazy amount of street activation. None of it will be routine. This new development is producing environments with people that will activate the street non stop 24/7. That's special. 

Perspective:

How Many cities nation wide are experiencing grown throughout the urban core like Nashville? How many have the current lack of density and endless sprawl that Nashville has coupled with Nashville's current city and metro population. None. For a city with relatively no density and a relatively low, sprawling metro population to be at one time constructing this many high rises, both residential and commercial is pretty amazing.

with all due respect, I'm not happy with a status quo design in the single hottest real estate market in the country.  I'm not just "happy it's growing".  I seek a higher idea perhaps, but am I wrong to want something more?  Nope!  You realize our peer cities have towers under construction (or built) that makes us look silly in many ways, don't you?  Oh well...it engages the street so I should be happy.  Even if it looks like a joke 30 years from now.

 

Budget constraints not withstanding, it's a highly uninspired design.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Lexy

[markhollin]

I'm wondering what will be on the roof of the garage?  Hopefully a plaza for workers with some greenery.  If they are smart, they will have a section for a restaurant/bar on that level with a deck overlooking the 1st Avenue and the park.  It would become an immensely popular watering hole I would think (especially on the 4th of July!).

[titanhog]

Didn't Cincinnati build a pretty substantial high rise with a huge crown a couple of years ago??

^^^That's all I'm asking for.  Place a crown or slope on some of these buildings and suddenly you have something that's not just a box.  I realize it will cost more...but it would go a long way in eliminating the "sameness."

[Lexy]

By the way, the three things in life that are guaranteed are death, taxes, and architecture critics.  Chicagoans wrote a book on the buildings they love to hate.  I'm sure this James K. Polk look-alike would be in my book of the same subject for Nashville.

[titanhog]

Btw...this isn't just a box.  It's a box with a box in front of it.  Kinda like Christmas gifts stacked under the tree.

[Lexy]

Also, Cincinnati and Columbus are the only two cities in your list, John, that even compare to Nashville on multiple levels.  Starting with MSA population.  And yes, Cincy recently built a 30+ story tower in downtown.

 

Anyone seen the RSA Tower in Mobile?  Tallest in AL!

[TNinVB]

Also, Cincinnati and Columbus are the only two cities in your list, John, that even compare to Nashville on multiple levels.  Starting with MSA population.  And yes, Cincy recently built a 30+ story tower in downtown.

 

Anyone seen the RSA Tower in Mobile?  Tallest in AL!

[Nathan_in_DC]

Street activation is most important because most people rarely look up anyway.

I don't think this can be said enough.

I am as excited about tall buildings and stunning architecture as the next person, but given the option I'd rather have quality ground level architecture and street activation over height and crowns any day of the week.

Can't WAIT to see this start going up on this block! One more parking lot bites the dust!

 

Random question: is anything ever going to replace the lot at the corner of 4th and Demonbreun? I think that particular one breaks up the urban fabric of downtown more than any other singular lot in the CBD, except for the one in front of the Schermerhorn.

[TNinVB]

 

I saw this building back in 2008 when my ship stopped in Mobile for a festival. It's not a bad looking tower and looks good at night. The locals jokingly call it the birdcage building

[smeagolsfree]

Sorry to burst the bubbles here but this is not the fault of the architect, but Metros height guidelines. They were trying to get as much as they could with the height allowed. If a change is needed, it will have to be done by Metro.