Main Street/CBD Developments

[krazeeboi]

I like the top. It breaks up the boxiness of the building and makes it even more distinct from the neighboring building. It would be even better if they would rehab the ground floor of the building as well and make it more pedestrian-friendly.

Edit: Per the article, the renovation will also include ground-floor video displays showing area events and possibly TV broadcasts, and a two-floor atrium leading to a revamped Wachovia branch.

Retail/restaurant space would be even more preferable, but this will represent a significant aesthetic improvement.

[dobboard]

Not sure about the new addition to the roof. The article does mention that it will include backlighting, which should add a bit of "pizazz" to our skyline at night.

[Spartan]

Retail/restaurant space would be even more preferable, but this will represent a significant aesthetic improvement.

Agreed.

[krazeeboi]

The video gives you a really good idea of what they're trying to do at the ground level and in the lobby. Pretty snazzy, and it will really give the building an impressive street level presence.

[CorgiMatt]

i love the recladding, but am i the only one that thinks whatever that is up top ruins it??

They show it from a bad angle.

[Firefox]

I am sorry guys but this is just stupid, I kinda hope this is one hell of a April Fools Joke from Wachovia

[sonofaque86]

I'm sorry, but that thing on top is ugly as hell. It looks a hot mess

Edited April 1, 2008 by sonofaque86

[CorgiMatt]

You have to look at it for a long time. Also, like I said, the angle is bad. Imagine seeing it from straight on. And the design is subject to change, one article said. And it will have to get by the DDRC. I saw it on WIS on my 42" wide screen T.V. and it looked better.

[krazeeboi]

I guess I must have bad taste then, because I think it's a cool artistic feature and a nice way to jazz up a rather boxy building. Also, I think that final judgment should be withheld until we see the real thing.

[emerging.me]

My criticism is actually based on the opinion that there's nothing wrong with the building's boxiness in the first place. It just could use a new exterior treatment. It has clean modern lines that should remain intact, IMO. Adding that sort of postmodern element at the top clashes with the overall style. I'm sure the finished product will look better. I don't mean to sound like a design snob, but I think the concept itself is flawed, no matter how well it's executed.

Edited April 2, 2008 by emerging.me

[krazeeboi]

Well the building isn't a bad-looking box, I agree with that. But I like the feature in terms of the context of the overall skyline, particularly when you envision the all-glass tower that will be going up just up the street. I think the glass feature will play off the tower in a rather interesting way.

As far as the glass on the building, it appears as though that it's about as light now as it is depicted in the rendering:

[krazeeboi]

The story in The State today mentions offers made to Wachovia to move to the Vista or across the river to Lexington County, which were rejected. That's definitely good news. SCANA's abandonment of Main Street is enough to deal with; news of another major Main Street tenant leaving wouldn't have exactly been something to shout with joy about.

Renovation plans include installing clear windows all along the sidewalk on Main Street that will show off a new lobby with video screens and a new urban-style bank branch that will replace the existing one.

[waccamatt]

Kudos to Wachovia for staying on Main Street, though I'm not totally sold on the rooftop feature. I'm sure it will look good when it's completed and the building will appear 2 or 3 stories taller, so that is a good side benefit. The white strip near the top and on the sides looks like it will add a good bit of light to the building, ala the Bank of America Plaza. I hope the light is a color other than white, however. Some blue would be nice.

Edited April 2, 2008 by waccamatt

[sonofaque86]

I guess it'll grown on me. Plus they said the rooftop feature will be backlit at night....

[CorgiMatt]

And the newspaper article describes it as multi-layered, so I think the problem is the artist's rendering and the angle don't do a good job of showing what they mean.

[CorgiMatt]

If you google 'wachovia columbia south carolina' a web page comes up with the sloping logo that the tops of the sections of the multi-layered glass structure on top will emulate. I think it will look awesome.

[sonofaque86]

I guess coming in from West Columbia or 1-26 you can definately make the logo out.

[johnpro318]

the rooftop sculpture is supposed to be 29 feet tall and back-lit. it sounds amazing.

[Spartan]

Wachovia's choice to stay downtown does not suprise me. Wachovia as a corporation has shown its commitment to the urban core in Charlotte by building multiple office towers, and its newer one is one of the best public spaces in uptown Charlotte. It seems only logical that they would stay in Columbia... particularly as SCANA's move out of downtown opens u p a lot of office space.

[krazeeboi]

In a way, it's almost like downtown is getting two new towers--the new, redesigned Wachovia HQ and the Tower at Main and Gervais. I think the rooftop sculpture on this tower may make it the most distinctive tower in the skyline.

Here are the ground floor renderings:

[Spartan]

I'm not thrilled about that at all. Look how massive everything is compared to the people. Its totally out of scale with anything human. It takes more than shiney new marble and some TVs to impress me.

[krazeeboi]

Perhaps you've forgotten what this building actually looks like. The marble is not an addition; it's what's already there. The marble pillars cannot be removed as that would seriously compromise the stability of the structure. Although not a shot of the building from the front, this one shows what I'm talking about. 1441 Main is to the far right.

You probably can get a better idea with this shot that I took sometime last year:

Also, check out this shot of the main entrance from Emporis.

Right now, the glass that exists at street level is dark and reflective, and the renderings represent a vast improvement. The other changes are what looks to be decorative lights on the marble pillars, the planters in front of the pillars (looks like they could be made of granite), and the Wachovia sign. These changes will make it at least interesting to stroll by the building, especially with the monitors. Right now, it's pretty much repulsive from a pedestrian point of view.

[CorgiMatt]

The renderings are just poor. I wouldn't expect anyone to be that impressed by that street-level rendering. It's etchy.

[emerging.me]

FYI: The city is holding a public meeting about phase 2 of the Main Street streetscaping. It will be an introductory session with city staff and the contractor for the project on hand. It's April 7 at 8:30AM at the Columbia Museum of Art Auditorium.

[krazeeboi]

Someone should go just to make sure it won't begin in 2010.