COMPLETE: GTECH Center

[Garris]

While I've posted elsewhere the problems that I think the current design has, I can't say the older proposal is tremendous either. The asymmetric look with the wall of 70's style multicolor glass doesn't do anything for me either.

Let's be honest... That's a tough space to develop. Long, low, narrow, highly visible, and needing to include underground parking and retail. It needed a real slam dunk design to get it right, and unfortunately it looks like we didn't get it...

- Garris

PS: I'd personally prefer a flat wall to a terraced wall from an urban design perspective for that site... The latter feels too West Coast to me somehow...

[billypc99]

Ive seen different renderings of Parcel 2 and 9 together. There appears to be some continuity that doesnt seem readily apparent from the renderings on this site. Another point is that the buildings & their color dont seem AS "Miami-like" as they do from posted pictures. That said, they do stick out a little.

[provid]

A source I know close to the project said this about the above render

" The flat version is closer to reality although it is a little different. "

[Lova]

I think the GTech building, and I hope I'm dead wrong, is plain heinous. It looks like a parking garage with a glass curtain. In that location, a personality-carved stone monument in the tradition of the early 20c would have been much more interesting than an aquarium.

Too bad nothing changes when you shut your eyes really hard, slap you face, and then open them again. Still there.

Maybe, in the morning, she won't really be that ugly.

[Soren]

I keep telling myself that the glass will reflect Waterfire really well.

I'm not crazy about the choice of architect. I don't really think they've done very interesting stuff. Hopefully they are excited about the project and how it will tie into the site and city.

[Cotuit]

I'm not crazy about the choice of architect.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not that it helps anyone who really doesn't like this building, but this is by far, the best thing I've seen from this architect. They're most famous for the Staples HQ in MetroWest Boston.

It was a really poor choice of architect in my opinion. I also think this whole design-by-committee thing just doesn't work. There has to be a better way.

[eltron]

Not that it helps anyone who really doesn't like this building, but this is by far, the best thing I've seen from this architect. They're most famous for the Staples HQ in MetroWest Boston. 

It was a really poor choice of architect in my opinion. I also think this whole design-by-committee thing just doesn't work. There has to be a better way.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree, this is a pretty run of the mill corporate architect, and Gtech is their best work to date. Its kinda funny that Gtech got so much attention just because it has been sooo long since anything new was built downtown, its really just an office building. I'm glad to see that we are getting at least one world-class architect come to town in Rafeal Moneo... now THAT will be something to talk about. His museum work is brilliant.

Now, if we can convince Rem Koolhaus to do the NEXT office building, then we're getting somewhere ...

[pdxstreetcar]

Is this an old proposal for the site?... I typed in "waterplace providence" under yahoo images and this came up but I dont know where this was proposed:

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace01.html

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace02.html

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace03.html

[Garris]

Is this an old proposal for the site?... I typed in "waterplace providence" under yahoo images and this came up but I dont know where this was proposed:

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace01.html

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace02.html

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace03.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow, fascinating! Perhaps these were earlier proposals. None of them tremendously better, unfortunately...

- Garris

PS: I showed the current G-Tech proposal to another resident with zero interest in urban development issues yesterday, and that person's response was, "Why isn't it brick? Everything else in that part of town is brick and looks old." Why do I think the G-Tech building is going to hit with a thud when it's done?

[billypc99]

Wow nice find, I think those pictures are about 10 years old. I havent been able to get home in almost a month....can someone post an updated pic of the parcel 2 site...I would greatly appreciate it

[Frankie811]

Wow nice find, I think those pictures are about 10 years old.  I havent been able to get home in almost a month....can someone post an updated pic of the parcel 2 site...I would greatly appreciate it

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe HHPA was the firm designing parcel 9 for the Wasserman's.

[Cotuit]

Is this an old proposal for the site?... I typed in "waterplace providence" under yahoo images and this came up but I dont know where this was proposed:

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace01.html

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace02.html

http://www.vollaro.com/folio/HHPA/waterplace03.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Definately pre-GTECH. I don't really like that one very much though. The brick would please the purists, but it still looks rather bland. It looks like a strip mall honestly. I don't see how it could be any shorter either.

I havent been able to get home in almost a month....can someone post an updated pic of the parcel 2 site...I would greatly appreciate it

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's nothing new to report on that parcel. Latest date for ground-breaking is 'Mid-April.'

Nothing really new to report at the GTECH site either. They are certainly working, but it is soil stabilization work, so nothing really to see, yet.

[CtownMikey]

the news channels last week said that in addition to the power block and parcel 2, they were going to announce 1 more project this coming week?? correct or crazy?

[ArtInRuins]

PS: I showed the current G-Tech proposal to another resident with zero interest in urban development issues yesterday, and that person's response was, "Why isn't it brick?  Everything else in that part of town is brick and looks old."  Why do I think the G-Tech building is going to hit with a thud when it's done?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For some reason, there isnt a lot of public interest for moderism yet. Everyone wants brick... Maybe the lack of interest in moderism is related to the quality of the moderist buildings we have had built recently... maybe none of it was impressive enough for people to want more.

[Soren]

For some reason, there isnt a lot of public interest for moderism yet. Everyone wants brick... Maybe the lack of interest in moderism is related to the quality of the moderist buildings we have had built recently... maybe none of it was impressive enough for people to want more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think some of the lack of excitement is based on wanting Providence to retain a specific "feel". Sometimes I agree with this (because I like spires, for example, and Providence has a lot of spires), and sometimes I don't (Not everything needs to be built of brick).

And some negative feeling is likely based on the poor history of modernist buildings to blend into an urban environment. This is especially true of the international school of big-box skyscrapers from the '60s, the backlash of which fed into the human scale approaches of urbanist design. Not that this is an issue in Providence, but there are plenty of bad examples in other cities.

I have nothing against modernism as long as it integrates well with the surrounding urban fabric and contributes positively to a vibrant, usable, urban landscape. My biggest worry about GTECH is it is being designed by a firm known primarily for suburban, low-scale office-park projects. This is the antithesis of what is called for here. They may do a good job, but I think there were better choices out there with more creative, interesting, and targeted portfolios.

[glassandsteel]

Well, despite what any of us have to say about the design concept, at least the landscaping works perfectly. I have to give them credit for knowing enough about the project they were faced with to have a proper pedestrian plan before even beginning the design process. I think when it's done and we all have to go through the neighborhood all the time, I think it'll feel comfortable and better connect Waterplace to Memorial blvd. So even if the building looks out-of-place and suburban, the way it is built into the neighborhood (I think) will give it a natural feel of the space used. We have to keep in mind that there was a height limit, needed amount of space, and a land consuming walkway. A big square building shouldn't be much of a surprise, considering. So it basically comes down to materials used. Whatever. Glass wouldn't have been my first choice, but what would have been acceptable besides brick, limestone, or some other stone cladding (like One Citizens and Fleet Center)? They (SG&A) also had said during the early stages that they wanted to get the height relaxed so they could do something more "urban" (i.e. taller) which didn't happen. So, an important parcel was given to a design firm with a suburban background and a height limit, I think that they did a much better job than we could have ended up with (really, look at the older proposals). So, could have been better, could have been worse, but it is what it is.

[Cotuit]

I agree that the street(Waterplace)level feel of the building should be good, regardless of what any of us think about the final structure. I doubt really that it will be out of place enough for the general (non urbanism/architecture interested) public to get up in arms about it. As long as you can walk around it easily and it provides interesting spaces at the ground, it should be accepted by the masses. Where it comes off much better than the Citizens building is it's ground floor ammenties. The Citizens Building may be a better looking building, but from a pedestrian's POV, it's nothing more than a big box (unless you have reservations at Cafe Nuovo).

As for the height, GTECH actually chopped a floor out of it because it was speculative office space, and they were not confident the market could absorb it right now.

The actual architect that was responsible for GTECH is a Providence native, I think he had a lot personally at stake in the design of the building. It probably turned out better than it might have on account of that.

[Soren]

As much as I've commented on the design and the firm, I agree with everyone who has said that this is their best work, hands down. I actually think that a glass building is a good choice for the spot, given that there are interesting things to reflect off a glass face on all sides (westin, biltmore sign, waterfire, state house to name a few). I'm thrilled that the street-level plan is so good.

I also think that there are constraints put on an architect by any client that create a balancing act (just guessing, as I'm not an architect). Glassandsteel named a few of these, and the definitely contribute strongly to the finished product.

While it is not the building I would have designed, *I* am free to armchair design any old thing regardless of budget, site restrictions, engineering demands or, frankly, the laws of physics. Even though the architect has none of these freedoms, I am still optimistic that the end result will be pretty decent. I am particularly excited that a firm with a portfolio of pretty basic buildings can transcend that and do something that sets a new level.

[Cotuit]

I actually think that a glass building is a good choice for the spot, given that there are interesting things to reflect off a glass face on all sides (westin, biltmore sign, waterfire, state house to name a few).  I'm thrilled that the street-level plan is so good.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm hoping the glass will have an effect similar to the Hancock Building in Boston, a building that was universally hated upon design and completion (plywood palace notwithstanding).

[Lova]

In all seriousnees, and regardless of practicality, I always thought a glass pyramid would be best here. It would update yet predate the strong classical precedence of the neighborhood, pull back from the view corridors, and give a much needed visual thrust towards to the sky from this hollow. It would be a truly memorable gateway to the city from that exit.

GTech should have called me.

[Garris]

In all seriousnees, and regardless of practicality, I always thought a glass pyramid would be best here. It would update yet predate the strong classical precedence of the neighborhood, pull back from the view corridors, and give a much needed visual thrust towards to the sky from this hollow.  It would be a truly memorable gateway to the city from that exit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Really? I'm not so sure... I'm also not an architect, but I had thought that in architecture circles, the glass pyramid phase that everyone was in for a while (the Louvre and other museums, Las Vegas casinos, countless hospitals, etc.) had run its course.

- Garris

[Cotuit]

I walked to work this morning and made a little detour by the GTECH site. Lots of activity there this morning. They had 2 concrete mixers on site pouring, and two lined up waiting to get in. Not sure what they were doing, the site isn't ready for a slab yet. It's cool to see all that action happening.

[kinematix]

Obviously they are not digging down for the sake of a parking garage... this leaves me to wonder how many cars the building will be able to accomodate. Does anyone know how this'll work? Retail/restaurant on the street level along the perimeter with parking in the middle but on the same level?

[Cotuit]

Obviously they are not digging down for the sake of a parking garage... this leaves me to wonder how many cars the building will be able to accomodate. Does anyone know how this'll work? Retail/restaurant on the street level along the perimeter with parking in the middle but on the same level?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The garage will actually be on the second level, and a few above that as well I think. The entrance will be a bridge over the walkway into Waterplace Park. Where the site slopes up infront of the mall, that is where the second level parking garage will begin.

So the ground floor should be all lobby, retail, and restaurants.

The parking garage needs to be above ground for water table issues I would imagine.

[Mij]

I walked to work this morning and made a little detour by the GTECH site. Lots of activity there this morning. They had 2 concrete mixers on site pouring, and two lined up waiting to get in. Not sure what they were doing, the site isn't ready for a slab yet. It's cool to see all that action happening.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The concrete mixers were waiting for the forms to be put together. I had seen the form pieces on the ground next to one of the mixers on my walk by this am. Thats the only thing i could think of anyway.