ArtMasterCLE

I totally agree. I can't imagine the city, or county standing in the way of SHW building where ever they want. Even if there were preliminary plans to build a courthouse tower on public square, they would step aside in favor of the far more appropriate SHW Headquarters in this high profile location.

I am not surprised. Truly informed people are always looking for real information, not sensationalized entertainment when the subject is as important as retaining a major global company, along with the economic and community impact that retention- or loss implies. I have family and friends at SHW who will be very interested in your article. 1600 views will be a distant memory before the end of the day.

Thank you for the great article, KJP. Your articles are always much more fact-based and informative than those offered by Cleveland's mainstream media, who always tend to skew their reporting toward the negative. Again, thank you for reporting real information gathered from knowledgeable sources rather than falling prey to negative sensationalism that drives most of the mainstream media in this region.

Great photo and massing illustration, Pleco! This photo would be great to use as a basis to add all of the new buildings that are either under construction or planned, as it would be interesting to see what the enhanced skyline will look like from this eastern vantage point.

Interestingly, I did it almost the opposite of you. I grew up in Florida, also mid 50's- mid 70's, and came to CLE to go to art school. I agree the two great cities you mentioned can boast many iconic architectural marvels. The Beacon, I have to conclude, was intended to be a fill-in structure with personality. Robert Stark's iconic architectural offering was to be the original design for nuCLEus. I'm guessing the long-rumored Sherwin-Williams corporate headquarters, and a few others on the drawing board may present us with something that's a lot more architecturally imaginative. In my opinion, even fill-in architecture has an opportunity to make a visual statement, which Beacon attempts to do with its graduated panels. I'm guessing budget, dictated by a need to meet certain price restrictions for the apartments, limited what the architects could do aesthetically.

I love this building! I really appreciate the contemporary design, and how it pays homage to its context by reflecting the beauty of its neighbors. I would expect nothing less Fromm the Playhouse Square Foundation. This building will fill up so fast that I would be surprised if The Foundation has not already begun planning for the next phase. KJP, thank you so much for your awesome photographic contributions!

I have to agree with you there. The design could have been more imaginative by breaking up the rectangular shape to give it a more sculptural skyline presence, like the Hilton. Such an approach could have given greater meaning to the name, "Beacon". Too bad the designers didn't consult us, right?

I acknowledge your opinion that the matte panels look cheap, Frmr CLEdr. However, I completely disagree. In my opinion, the matte panels allow the color and value variations to present themselves clearly without the visual distortions that would occur if the panels were more reflective. I can assure you the architects conducted numerous curtain wall appearance tests before deciding on this panel.

I agree with jmicha, although I'm not at all disappointed by the color. I really love the "pop of modernity" as he observed. It has such a unique presence on the skyline that, despite its modest height it adds a lot of interest and an uplifting spirit. The view heading east on the inter belt bridge is really impressive.

The undulating skin, when complete, will create a sense of upward motion as it gets lighter on the upper floors. Ultimately, the undulating motion and graduation from dark at the street level to lighter as the building meets the sky will make the building appear taller than it actually is. This building will really make its presence know in the skyline.

I love the color graduation! Right now we are only seeing three stories of the darkest umber color. As it moves higher, the lighter color and the zig-zag movement will lift your eyes skyward creating a truly dramatic effect. I can't wait to see it three months from now!

Thanks for the photos, KJP! I think this tower will kick-start additional development on the eastern end of downtown and act as a beacon that identifies the location of Playhouse Square on the downtown skyline. I can't wait to see it completed.

Thanks for the updates, KJP. Looks like there is some movement on nuCLEus. And like you've said many time before, "pulling together financing for a project of this scale can be a complex, time-consuming process". I very much hope nuCLEus gets done as I think it is the kind of comple project that can prove to other developers that you can build projects of this scale in Cleveland if you just use a little determination and creativity.

Thank you, MayDay. I do remember that now. Any idea when the application process is scheduled to start?

Excellent question on both accounts, CleveFan! I've been wondering the same thing. When they start to apply the metal panels the real transformation will start.

I totally agree with CleveFan an YAB0713's observation of The Beacon's contextual impact on the skyline. What excites me is the awesome effect the undulating graduation of the metal cladding will have on the completed building. What NADAAA Architects has done is to take a basic rectangular structure and, through innovative use of colored metal panels and textural variation, created a truly iconic building that sets a tone of design excellence and holds its own against much taller neighboring buildings. Kudos to Bob Stark for refusing to accept mediocrity.

The night illumination and the dark-to-light graduation of the facade will grab the eye of pedestrians on the ground and pull them skyward, giving the illusion of a taller structure. From a distant skyline vantage point the draduated cladding should appear to shimmer, acting as a visual "Beacon" on the skyline. This is just excellent architecture!

I'm anxious to see how they will apply the final metal cladding. I think the color and tonal graduation, moving from darker on the lower levels to lighter at the top will create a sense of vertical movement and make the building look taller.

I like it. I'm hoping the graduated facade colors will in reality appear more dramatic than what we can see in the renderings. Also interesting how it somewhat relates to Nucleus via the checkerboard effect, but also to 200 PS via color. I like it as well. I think the graduated color scheme moving from dark at the bottom to light at the top will create both a sense of vertical movement and visual drama. Imagine the gradually lighter and warmer colors of the top floors, washed with a soft light, seen against the cool blues and purples of the night sky.

I totally agree with you, SurfOhio. That would be a fantastic use for this historic building! What a way to invite the public to enjoy the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. Fantastic skyline views as well.

Great photos, MayDay! Isn't it nice to see an out of town firm do their best work in Cleveland? I think this is an awesome addition to the skyline and one of the best overall architectural solutions in Cooper Carry's portfolio. Great Job to all involved!

I've got a feeling that Sherwin-Williams' expressed desire to remain close to to the company's original home on the Cuyahoga River might make Dan Gilbert's Tower City location at the junction of Huron Road and Ontario a more attractive location for a new S-W headquarters tower. Imagine that intersection, with nuCLEUS, S-W and a renovated Quicken Loans Arena as the new entrance to the city from the south. Then, Medical mutual can anchor a new mixed-use tower on Jacobs' lot on Public Square. And all of these plans are announced almost immediately after the RNC leaves town. What a way for S-W to celebrate its big anniversary while making a major contribution to the future of its hometown. It would also allow Gilbert to deliver on his promise to do something truly extraordinary with Tower City and afford Jacobs' the chance to shut us all up by filling that awful gap on Public Square with a development that adds to its beauty and vitality. Hey, we might as well dream big, right?

That's laugh out loud funny, KJP!!! Thank you for that.

I agree that the possible design change is an interesting revelation, CleveFan. But, because of the other possible errors in the article (previous height of 52 stories), I will withhold any reaction until Stark releases an official statement outlining the project in its current form. Taking the aforementioned errors into account, there is also the possibility that the reporter was told that there will be 48 floors containing apartments topped by an additional 6 floors of build-to-order condos, which would total 54 stories as originally presented. Just something to consider.

Well said PHS14. I wholeheartedly agree with you.