NASCAR Plaza at the Hall of Fame

[atlrvr]

I'd like to see a hotel with the same design as the Westin employ that glass color scheme.

[dubone]

Which one? The colorful one or the checkerboard?

[atlrvr]

Checkerboard.....even a very slight vertical setback to make it look like it's a waving flag.

[dubone]

That would be cool to have it appear slightly like it is waving.

I mean, I'm sure Pei Cobb Freed would have trouble with being too literal with it, but I do think the checkerboard is a good idea that would really improve that building.

[Miesian Corners]

Why not do the checker flag on one of the precast ends (toward the freeway) and place the NASCAR logo on it vertically like they do at the speedway? Get to work on that one, dub (PCF is waiting).

[dubone]

Hmm. I think I like the idea of the glass giving off the effect of a checkered flag over just the top of the precast section. Sorry, I won't spend 45 minutes drawing that one . But words are worth 1/1000th of a picture, so start typing .

[Tepees]

I agree, I'm in love with Mesians idea!

[Mobuchu]

Thats much better, it doesn't detract as much from the HOF.

[Charlotteman]

This is a lively and very enjoyable discussion about lighting the NASCAR complex:)

I think we all agree that lighting must not be overlooked here. And we don't want just any lighting~~we want something unique and fun.

To build this project with no decorative lighting, or uninteresting lighting, would be a real shame. Here is the golden opportunity to lift Uptown out of it's somewhat staid atmosphere. Done well, this could be the birth of a colorful and lively looking center city!

[dubone]

Here is the poll for which one you guys like. (and I did end up spending the time to show MC's idea... I forgot there was an easy way to do it, so it took me, um, 45 seconds)

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=33345

[dubone]

Here are some images from the public meeting.

Note that the box just north of the bridge on Brevard is where the Nascar Cafe and the Nascar Store are. That means there is a block with retail on Brevard, and the cafe will have sidewalk seating.

Note the new section added to Stonewall. It is the studios for Nascar. They will include video monitors for the sidewalk to view what is currently being produced. There is also the good old ads and busy-ness we all expected of Nascar.

[uptownliving]

Some new renderings at the HoF groundbreaking today:

And this is the floorplan which better shows how the sides are curved and the ends are angled.

Acording to the Lauth brochure:

- Will be LEED Certified

- Lobby will have "dimensional granite"

- Exterior skin is tinted glass and granite panels

- Scheduled completion is March 2009

[Miesian Corners]

I like the tower. Is it me, or does the glass section get larger as the building gets taller (ala Hearst)?

[Bled_man]

^^ I recently talked to an engineer for this job, and the floorplates are indeed larger on the upper floors than the lower floors.

[Mobuchu]

Thanks for the renderings UL. I'm liking the Caldwell side much more after these pics. The "band" appears much more visible then it did in the previous renderings, and the tower looks alot more glassy, and transparant.

A big thumbs up on the LEED cert. too. Now if we can just get them to get rid of that friggin walkway over Brevard.

[TowerRooster]

I really like the new renderings, and am happy for the LEED cert, but does anyone else find it hilariously ironic that NASCAR is building an environmentally friendly office tower?

[peaceloveunderstanding]

That rendering looks better than past ones have. I especially like how they engraved the logo, hopefully it stays that way and doesn't get any color.

The fountain looks pretty neat.

[dubone]

Some new renderings at the HoF groundbreaking today:

And this is the floorplan which better shows how the sides are curved and the ends are angled.

Acording to the Lauth brochure:

- Will be LEED Certified

- Lobby will have "dimensional granite"

- Exterior skin is tinted glass and granite panels

- Scheduled completion is March 2009

Thanks for posting this, I wasn't able to get out there yesterday. I still think the building is plain, but not terrible. In my mind, LEEDness makes up for a multitude of blandness.

I am happy it is transparent glass. That does give it some similarity with the other two LEED buildings going up uptown.

Also, I don't believe we should consider Nascar any more ironic than the fact they'd be built in this state or country at all. We're all pretty wasteful in the scheme of things. However, it is great news that they will do this. It simply means they will be utilizing the sustainable designs and materials that are easily available. Not doing LEED is starting to just be blatantly wasteful.

[Neo]

That rendering looks better than past ones have. I especially like how they engraved the logo, hopefully it stays that way and doesn't get any color.

I believe a little color would do uptown some good. It would certainly help the sterile look IMO.

[Miesian Corners]

^I agree, Neo. I think the NASCAR logo should have stayed in Color on top of the building. One cool idea could be for them to keep the recessed wordmark and illuminate it in color at night. Still, it would stay bland in daylight.

Who designed the building? The photos all say "Lauth", but I was under the impression that PCF had done it. BTW, if you haven't been to the Lauth website, you haven't missed anything. If this is a design of theirs, it's the most innovative structure the firm has EVER designed. All of their stuff looks like one of the non-descript suburban office buildings in Ballantyne and Coliseum Centre.

[revitalize]

oh, I thought that was a very cool design element, having the NASCAR logo engraved... again, maybe this is an opportunity to do something cool with lighting, at night. The engraved logo could be lined with fiber optic, which would change color, or move, or something fun.

I am very impressed by that new rendering, I feel like the tower looks much less like a "suburban hotel" than we thought it did from the first renderings. I also like the incorporation of water features at the plaza level.

[eastsider]

Who designed the building? The photos all say "Lauth", but I was under the impression that PCF had done it. BTW, if you haven't been to the Lauth website, you haven't missed anything. If this is a design of theirs, it's the most innovative structure the firm has EVER designed. All of their stuff looks like one of the non-descript suburban office buildings in Ballantyne and Coliseum Centre.

Lauth Property Group is the developer of this building. The architects are listed as Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and LS3P.

[rockhilljames]

I hope the logo stays in color.

I also really like the water element at the base of the tower, makes it look like one part of it is "floating."

[Miesian Corners]

Lauth Property Group is the developer of this building. The architects are listed as Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and LS3P.

Thanks, eastsider. I know Lauth offers architectural services as well; that's why I was curious.

Revitalize, that is exactly what I was thinking about. Fiber optics would be a great idea.

[cinco]

i like the engraved nascar logo. i also am eating a small portion of crow - after seeing this new rendering of the tower. i hadn't written it off completely, b/c of my expectations from PCF.... but, i was negatively critical of it. this new rendering has put my mind @ ease... i love the water feature, the new logo, and you can really see the details in the building now. i think in person these details are going to be even more eye catching. the curviture of the glass and the way in slants outwards on ends of the building is really nice. it looks like they will be using some type of rock for the other surface... the water fountain really opens up that corner of the block. i think this is a really good compromise between a great architecture firm and the funds to work with....

also, UP should get a little pat on the back for it's constructive criticism....