Medical Mile/Michigan Street Developments

[joeDowntown]

Agreed. I like the building, but the skywalk seems goofy. It would have been so much cooler with the spire and the support cables. I have to see what it looks like done, but I can imagine it looking really awesome with the two elements that were chopped out.

Joe

I think it would look much better with the spire and cables, I just looks like its missing something.

[tamias6]

Very nice. Definitely looks good.

[Raildudes dad]

Drove down Michigan St. this morning on my way to work and got my first views of the new pedestrian bridge. I am going to reserve final judgement on the whole project until it is completed but the two words that came to mind were TRAIN WRECK! This most likely won't be a popular opinion on this site but I think they missed a golden opportunity to add a signature building to our skyline. It's a shame that the VanAndel Institute and its comparatively quiet elegance is going to have to share space with the HDVCH. If they were shooting for a building that screamed CASINO, they nailed it. (So much for reserving judgement, hey?)

The Van Andel and the hospital sure do not complement each other architecturally. And, the new sky walk is between the other two so you really can't see it from a distance. I want to reserve opinion until it's skinned and finished but right now I'm thinking it isn't going to meet my architectural expectations

[Allison Slater]

HDVCH has been nothing but a disappoint for me, architecturally speaking. Same goes for Gallery on Fulton.

[John E]

Got some shots from the 28th floor of River House yesterday.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johne777/4524820134/sizes/l/in/set-72157623761385796/

More in the April 2010 set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johne777/sets/72157623761385796/

~John

Get US out of the U.N.

End the Fed

Restore Our American Republic - ROAR

[John E]

Helen DeVos Children's Hospital

June 19, 2010

Planned Grand Opening is 1-11-11

http://www.flickr.co...157624073842291

~John

[FloridaSpartan]

Thank you John for the awesome photos. Nice to be able to see the great things taking place in my hometown.

[John E]

Thank you John for the awesome photos. Nice to be able to see the great things taking place in my hometown.

You are very welcome. I have really enjoyed getting photos of the Medical Mile, Gallery on Fulton and 38 Commerce Buildings, Millennium Park, Oxford Street Trail and other developments. The Oxford Street Trail with the bridges over Chestnut Street and the Grand River is going to be a real cool trail when it is finished.

Thank you for letting me know that you appreciate my photos.

Best and Blessings in Christ Always,

~John

[jwazzz]

They are installing the "waves" on the reflective glass base of HDVCH and I might have to eat a big slice of humble pie. Not long ago, I compared the design of the building to a casino and while I still have some issues with the overall appearance, I'm liking the "waves" - with the right lighting, this could become a real focal point for Michigan Hill. Does anyone know if the wave design will also be a part of the big blue skywalk?

[andrew.w]

They are installing the "waves" on the reflective glass base of HDVCH and I might have to eat a big slice of humble pie. Not long ago, I compared the design of the building to a casino and while I still have some issues with the overall appearance, I'm liking the "waves" - with the right lighting, this could become a real focal point for Michigan Hill. Does anyone know if the wave design will also be a part of the big blue skywalk?

I'm really liking the waves too; it really enhances the street level. I'm still not on board with the rest of the building. I don't "hate" it, but for the centerpiece of the medical complex, it could have been better. The fritted DNA patterned glass is really interesting, but not for the entire building. The tower needed something different to break it up (and I don't mean a fountain pen spire and nonstructural cables); maybe if there had been intermittent bands of a lighter blue/green reflective glass in key locations around the tower it would have helped the monotony. On that same note, the design should have taken a note from the JW Marriott and use a different glass for the lobby level as well.

Jwazzz, at least as of the last rendering, there were not any waves of the skywalk. But maybe there should have been some as a way to tie the bridge to the building. Without the spire, it just seems to crash into the tower instead of having the grace that the designer no doubt intended.

[droonus2000]

Andrew.w, I completely agree. I think the spire and cables would have helped break it up but, It just seems monotone,even with it. especially from far away.

[GRDadof3]

I'm really liking the waves too; it really enhances the street level. I'm still not on board with the rest of the building. I don't "hate" it, but for the centerpiece of the medical complex, it could have been better. The fritted DNA patterned glass is really interesting, but not for the entire building. The tower needed something different to break it up (and I don't mean a fountain pen spire and nonstructural cables); maybe if there had been intermittent bands of a lighter blue/green reflective glass in key locations around the tower it would have helped the monotony. On that same note, the design should have taken a note from the JW Marriott and use a different glass for the lobby level as well.

Jwazzz, at least as of the last rendering, there were not any waves of the skywalk. But maybe there should have been some as a way to tie the bridge to the building. Without the spire, it just seems to crash into the tower instead of having the grace that the designer no doubt intended.

The waves are OK. Someone earlier mentioned it had the look of a casino, which I'm tending to agree with more and more.

I'm really disappointed with everything on the hill (except VAI maybe) from a design perspective. I was just in Chicago and my Brother pointed out that Northwestern University is building both new Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital towers next to each other, so I walked by their campus to take a look. Simple yet breathtaking sleek vertical designs when you see them in person, and much more urban (not built like cinder-block birthday cakes on pedestals).

The Children's Hospital has this crazy cantilever that is really interesting.

[sonic]

I'm not a big fan of the waves, and would have preferred something more along the lines of what GRdad posted. I'll admit though that it could have been a lot worse. Does anyone know if that black section on the south side of the HDCH is still unfinished? It sure looks like it, but I haven't looked at it closely.

[gr49503]

I'm not a big fan of the waves, and would have preferred something more along the lines of what GRdad posted. I'll admit though that it could have been a lot worse. Does anyone know if that black section on the south side of the HDCH is still unfinished? It sure looks like it, but I haven't looked at it closely.

It is an elevator tower finished in brick.

[sonic]

It is an elevator tower finished in brick.

ugh... that sucks. way to break with the style of the rest of the building, which even though its not the greatest, was nonethess at least uniform aside from the tower...

[GRDadof3]

The very last tower crane on the skyline is being disassembled this weekend (tower 35 Michigan Hill). 5 years of tracking and photographing tower cranes on UrbanPlanet.

[Allison Slater]

Hopefully this recession will end soon so another burst in construction can begin.

[John E]

The new Helen DeVos Childrens Hospitial is having their big open house tour on Saturday December 4th. Call (616) 776-9626 to choose your wide open time for the self-guided tour by December 1st.

http://helendevoschildrens.org/2011

http://img.photobuck...apids_Press.jpg

P.S. The new e-subscription to the Grand Rapids Press is cool.

~John Eisenschenk

.

[OneSweetWorld]

Anyone have an inside scoop on the location Ferris plans to acquire?

[joeDowntown]

I don't, but it is great to see Ferris moving the 3rd and 4th year Doctor of Pharmacy program to the Hill:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/12/ferris_state_board_approves_bu.html

Should be interesting to see where it lands. Personally, I think it will go in the building currently under construction. Seems like they have too tight of a timeframe to build anything new (unless they use temp space for a while).

Joe

Anyone have an inside scoop on the location Ferris plans to acquire?

[GRDadof3]

I don't, but it is great to see Ferris moving the 3rd and 4th year Doctor of Pharmacy program to the Hill:

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/12/ferris_state_board_approves_bu.html

Should be interesting to see where it lands. Personally, I think it will go in the building currently under construction. Seems like they have too tight of a timeframe to build anything new (unless they use temp space for a while).

Joe

This statement though leads me to believe they're looking at someplace w/ a little flexibility:

“We’re trying to make sure we have the ability to develop the property and have the right people in place to make it acceptable for students,”

What about the building on N. Division where MSU was temporarily? It's already set up for some classroom training.

[John E]

I would think that they are looking at the 35 Michigan that is still under construction. It would be acceptable for students as they are planning on having a food court next to it and there is parking under neath. I think they would like to be able to have the building or their needed space to be able to be developed for class rooms rather than the initial intention of the building to be for doctor offices (I believe). That's what it sounds like to me.

~John Eisenschenk

[joeDowntown]

You could be right. Especially if they could get signage rights. GRDad, I was also thinking of the temporary MSU medical school building, but wonder if that would be short-term.

I wonder when the OAK and Catholic Diocese building will be bought, torn down and added to the Medical Mile (and throw in the old Magoo's bar site). Seems like that would be a logical step for expansion as it sits right across Division from VAI.

Joe

I would think that they are looking at the 35 Michigan that is still under construction. It would be acceptable for students as they are planning on having a food court next to it and there is parking under neath. I think they would like to be able to have the building or their needed space to be able to be developed for class rooms rather than the initial intention of the building to be for doctor offices (I believe). That's what it sounds like to me.

~John Eisenschenk

[John E]

Yeah, and with the parking lot, that would make a nice chunk of land to build on. It would be nice to see a building there to help erase the memory of the old GRATA Bus Line-up there.

You could be right. Especially if they could get signage rights. GRDad, I was also thinking of the temporary MSU medical school building, but wonder if that would be short-term.

I wonder when the OAK and Catholic Diocese building will be bought, torn down and added to the Medical Mile (and throw in the old Magoo's bar site). Seems like that would be a logical step for expansion as it sits right across Division from VAI.

Joe

[John E]

The 35 Michigan building is looking sweet. The whole area looks awesome now. Took some shots today:

http://www.flickr.com/johne777

~John