Paul in Cleveland

No, it looked like a fairly bright orange to me. I remember being quite surprised when I saw it. Also, we walked around after dark and the sign was not yet lit. Maybe they're saving that for the big unveil on May 2?

Thanks! The Aloft was nice. Very sparse, modern decor. It's actually a lower-mid tier brand, but with a decidedly modern design aesthetic. The room was slightly small, but it worked for our needs. As a guest, you can either use the small hotel gym, or the EB gym downstairs, which is FANTASTIC. We went twice. People complain (online) about the train noise, but it didn't bother me or seem too noticeable. I will say that both nights, right after we'd climbed in bed and turned the lights off, trains went by that made the bed vibrate!! I'm not sure whether that says more about the building or the train!

Let me say that I LOVE the color orange, but I found it an odd choice for the sides of these letters. I think red would have looked so much better here …

Did a staycation this weekend at the Aloft. Pics from our 6th floor room! :-D

I know this is random, but I love the Q in that font. Makes the sign for me. Although I think I pictured the lettering bigger overall. Maybe it will appear bigger at night when all illuminated.

Right after taking the pics above, I'd glanced into the space between the new country building and the Breuer Tower as we drove past, and I don't recall seeing any connection between them. So if you have an apartment in Breuer, would you park in that garage on the other side of the county building? I thought there was discussion way back that the skywalk was partly necessary for the residents, not just the county employees. So once across the skywalk and into the county building, where would you go to get to Breuer? Or do I have this all wrong? :)

Pics from the 15th. Looks a tad better now that the cladding is more complete. Still not 100% sold on it though.

Drove through on Saturday night the 15th and am excited about all these projects.

A view of the construction from the West Bank on Monday March 10th …

It reminds me of the East Ohio Gas Building … in a bad way. How disappointing.

We drove by the Intesa site on Saturday; there's a rendering posted there but no activity (didn't even expect the rendering there, lol). What's the latest on it? Does anyone here think it's really going to happen, and what's a realistic timetable for it?

Drove by yesterday late afternoon, there is some facade and glass, even glass on the ugly skywalk.

Oh, she also commented on how chock-full of cockroaches the building is (was?). Yuck!! Hopefully they don't save those for the new hotel, lol.

Saw my sister-in-law's sister at a family party yesterday; she works for the county and used to work in the County Admin Bldg. She told me the demolition is starting next week, but no clue as to how reliable of a source she is. ;-)

Ugh, that Columbus Hilton is pretty dreadful IMHO. :(

It could be a display wall for the convention that's in town or due in town next. Or a huge ad for Coca Cola! Or better yet, cigarettes! Lol.

That big multistory wall on the right side of the south facade would be a great place for a huge mural or piece of artwork—but it'd have to be top notch, not something thrown together.

I'm starting to like it more and more with the new renderings. Especially the base; it sort of reminds me of the base of the new 3 World Trade Center. Love how it seems bathed in light, the mall can really use that!

I'm confused … I thought the tallest in Ohio was the Hilton in Cincy at 372 feet. The PD article says this will be 374 feet, so wouldn't this be the new tallest?

Drove by last night and snapped this pic … sorry for so-so quality.

Finally heard back from the FEB people on their Facebook page, after bugging them a little; I had asked about whether floors were being added to the curvy building to get to 225 apartments: "There are of course many moving parts to a development of this nature and the building you reference is still in the design phase. As of today, the residential space is slated to be 225+ units on six floors above a retail ground floor. Pending any unforeseen issues, phase II should break ground in early 2014."

It is growing on me … a little. I'm still bothered by the tower's position flush with the mall. Anyway, all day I have been trying to think of what building this reminds me of … it finally hit me! The old Trango Tower proposal for Denver more than a decade ago. Certainly they're quite different, but I guess it was the angles and the cutout that evoked it somewhat.

I *want* to like it, but I'm fairly underwhelmed. I feel like the whole podium portion is rather lost from the Mall. The podium concept could help it relate better to the Group Plan, and they totally lost that by having the tower right at the eastern edge of the site. Plus, I really don't like how the angling out portion appears when viewed from the North. Extremely awkward looking to me.

Yeah, I was going to say that I've already provided said renders in the convention hotel thread. ;) Yes, OFFICIAL!!! ;-)

Hell, I'll buy TWO drinks for the first former who shows up with renderings of the new Convention Center hotel!!! ;-)