Cuyahoga County, Cleveland partner to spur convention center hotel, public-space overhaul

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a rare collaboration, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald are partnering to push forward on roughly $350 million worth of long-discussed downtown development, including a convention center hotel and a nearby pedestrian bridge to the lakefront.

 

FitzGerald will announce today that he plans to use extra money from the convention center complex to support construction of a 600-to-700-room hotel in place of the county's administration building at Lakeside Avenue and Ontario Street. Lower construction costs and higher-than-expected sales tax and hotel bed tax revenues -- the funding streams for the convention center and attached Global Center for Health Innovation -- have left the county with a windfall.

 

Now the county plans to use that money, which totaled $93 million on Tuesday, to support downtown projects private developers are unlikely to tackle. To stretch those dollars, FitzGerald has been working with Jackson, the business community and an array of consultants to sketch out budgets, identify funding sources and find opportunities for public-private partnerships.

 

More at: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/06/cuyahoga_county_cleveland_part.html

Lots of people walking around the area yesterday. It was the first time I was around the area since the fences came down.

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2013/07/seventeen_architects_interested_in_designing_cuyahoga_hotel.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --Seventeen firms are vying to design a new convention center hotel for Cuyahoga County.

 

Only one Cleveland-based company – Richard Fleischman & Partners Associates – presented qualifications last week for the $260 million,

 

 

I am surprised LMN Architects aren't on the list.  They did an amazing job with the overall site that it would be nice to keep the same architect involved knowing all the concerns

Going thru the list of architects I am glad to see BIG Architects  http://www.big.dk/ on there. They are truly on the cutting edge and proposing some beautiful stuff. So I say go BIG. Just do an image search for them and check it out.

Although I question a lot of their work, it is most certainly eye catching and very easily creates a landmark building the public will recognize.

 

On that list I'd most like to see a building by BIG, Arquitectonica, or HOK. I think these three have the best chance of creating a great, unique, modern building which will help continue the trend of modernizing downtown.

Before the website crashed  I had suggested BIG!  So excited.  I am attaching one of their projects

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2013/07/seventeen_architects_interested_in_designing_cuyahoga_hotel.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --Seventeen firms are vying to design a new convention center hotel for Cuyahoga County.

 

Only one Cleveland-based company – Richard Fleischman & Partners Associates – presented qualifications last week for the $260 million,

 

 

I am surprised LMN Architects aren't on the list.  They did an amazing job with the overall site that it would be nice to keep the same architect involved knowing all the concerns

 

What do you mean by "concerns"?

I would hate to see something ultra modern..... at least for this site.  Cutting edge today is oftentime butt-ugly tomorrow.

I would hate to see something ultra modern..... at least for this site.  Cutting edge today is oftentime butt-ugly tomorrow.

Agreed!

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2013/07/seventeen_architects_interested_in_designing_cuyahoga_hotel.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --Seventeen firms are vying to design a new convention center hotel for Cuyahoga County.

 

Only one Cleveland-based company – Richard Fleischman & Partners Associates – presented qualifications last week for the $260 million,

 

 

I am surprised LMN Architects aren't on the list.  They did an amazing job with the overall site that it would be nice to keep the same architect involved knowing all the concerns

 

What do you mean by "concerns"?

 

I think Dave just means that since LMN was the architect of the Global Center and Convention Center they are already very familiar with the challenges, opportunities and historic importance of the site...something a new architect would have to learn.  I assume they then could hit the ground running a lot quicker than others.

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2013/07/seventeen_architects_interested_in_designing_cuyahoga_hotel.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --Seventeen firms are vying to design a new convention center hotel for Cuyahoga County.

 

Only one Cleveland-based company – Richard Fleischman & Partners Associates – presented qualifications last week for the $260 million,

 

 

I am surprised LMN Architects aren't on the list.  They did an amazing job with the overall site that it would be nice to keep the same architect involved knowing all the concerns

 

What do you mean by "concerns"?

 

I think Dave just means that since LMN was the architect of the Global Center and Convention Center they are already very familiar with the challenges, opportunities and historic importance of the site...something a new architect would have to learn.  I assume they then could hit the ground running a lot quicker than others.

 

I was thinking that, but wanted to be clear.

I would hate to see something ultra modern..... at least for this site.  Cutting edge today is oftentime butt-ugly tomorrow.

Agreed!

 

Thirded. Lol

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2013/07/seventeen_architects_interested_in_designing_cuyahoga_hotel.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --Seventeen firms are vying to design a new convention center hotel for Cuyahoga County.

 

Only one Cleveland-based company – Richard Fleischman & Partners Associates – presented qualifications last week for the $260 million,

 

 

I am surprised LMN Architects aren't on the list.  They did an amazing job with the overall site that it would be nice to keep the same architect involved knowing all the concerns

 

What do you mean by "concerns"?

 

I think Dave just means that since LMN was the architect of the Global Center and Convention Center they are already very familiar with the challenges, opportunities and historic importance of the site...something a new architect would have to learn.  I assume they then could hit the ground running a lot quicker than others.

 

They don't list Hotels as part of their Expertise, although they do have Mixed Use and Residential

http://lmnarchitects.com/profile

Although I question a lot of their work, it is most certainly eye catching and very easily creates a landmark building the public will recognize.

 

On that list I'd most like to see a building by BIG, Arquitectonica, or HOK. I think these three have the best chance of creating a great, unique, modern building which will help continue the trend of modernizing downtown.

 

Gensler also does some nice work on occasion.

The other thing to consider about local representation is that these are the lead firms. A lot of them will most likely have local representation, much like LMN did with Vocon.

 

edit: let's not forget Gensler was just selected for the football stadium upgrades and is finishing up two other NE Ohio projects, Goodyear HQ and Timken expansion.

^Oh, I completely missed Gensler somehow. Yeah, they'd be a good choice as well. They can design a nice glassy, modern building which isn't so trendy it dates itself immediately, but differentiates itself from the older buildings through the use of materials while contextualizing through massing and street level interaction. I'd approve of whatever they come up with most likely.

Just announced: CooperCarry will be the architectural firm for the hotel.

 

http://www.coopercarry.com/

Here is the article since it wasn't posted ::)

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2013/07/atlanta_architecture_firm_of_c.html#incart_river_default

 

^Hmmm, not incredibly exciting stuff, but not bad (for the most part, there are a couple buildings in there that are atrocious). Some of the Hiltons are pretty nice looking. I just really hope they don't go at all for faux historic to fit into its context and rather go for a modern building that isn't fad-dy.

^Hmmm, not incredibly exciting stuff, but not bad (for the most part, there are a couple buildings in there that are atrocious). Some of the Hiltons are pretty nice looking. I just really hope they don't go at all for faux historic to fit into its context and rather go for a modern building that isn't fad-dy.

 

I've stayed the Westin Alexandria and the Hilton Ft. Lauderdale.  Nice properties. I'm not overwhelmed, but not overly excited.

^Glad to hear that they aren't awful. I'm excited to see what they come up with.

Horrible...

I was hoping for that we'd get a BIG-designed hotel. They are so frigging cool. Oh well.

 

I wish that Litt would give his opinion on this one instead of just reporting the facts.

Mixed bag (with a few pretty bad)...have always wanted to stay at the Kiawah Island hotel.

I was hoping for that we'd get a BIG-designed hotel. They are so frigging cool. Oh well.

 

I wish that Litt would give his opinion on this one instead of just reporting the facts.

 

Probably the first time Litt has not given his opinion...I bet he is busting at the seams to do so.

from the article:

 

"....Cleveland lawyer Jeffrey Appelbaum, who is advising the county on the project, said he anticipated approval of the recommended firm.

 

“We think they’re going to be an inspiring choice for this project,” he said. “We’re very excited about working with them.”..."

 

There's absolutely nothing exciting about them.

 

According to the article, six firms were short-listed. 50% of these (the winner included) were from Atlanta. Its a little bizzare. another was from Dallas.  Was this just based on cost? Things are cheaper in the South, for sure; outside of Miami, the South is not known for innovative or spectacular architecture.... I would have like to see BIG win as well.

 

This announcement is very disappointing.

from the article:

 

"....Cleveland lawyer Jeffrey Appelbaum, who is advising the county on the project, said he anticipated approval of the recommended firm.

 

“We think they’re going to be an inspiring choice for this project,” he said. “We’re very excited about working with them.”..."

 

There's absolutely nothing exciting about them.

 

According to the article, six firms were short-listed. 50% of these (the winner included) were from Atlanta. Its a little bizzare. another was from Dallas.  Was this just based on cost? Things are cheaper in the South, for sure; outside of Miami, the South is not known for innovative or spectacular architecture.... I would have like to see BIG win as well.

 

This announcement is very disappointing.

 

I've seen quite a few interesting buildings in the south over the last decade.  Dallas, Miami and Charlotte all come to mind.  I'd be more skeptical of our leadership than this firm.

This was a mixed use hotel/apartment proposal from CooperCarry that was never built.  At 37 floors it was to contain 400 rooms plus residences.

I am really interested in what the $1.5 M will be used for, even before Council chooses them as the official architect.  The timeline is really, really, really short.  :?

Can we see what they come up with before slamming the door on their faces?

Will this hotel be under the same transparency as the convention center and medical mart were?  If so I would love to see all the applicants presentations to council.

This was a mixed use hotel/apartment proposal from CooperCarry that was never built.  At 37 floors it was to contain 400 rooms plus residences.

 

not bad. this example is actually pretty much what i was expecting. the only thing is it needs a setback so there can be decks for outside viewing cafes and a roofdeck too. people will be stuck indoors in convention space all day long and they will want to relax and get some air. this firm seems capable of doing this bldg right. fingers crossed!

 

 

This was a mixed use hotel/apartment proposal from CooperCarry that was never built.  At 37 floors it was to contain 400 rooms plus residences.

 

Interesting.  But at 37 floors, would this not require digging a foundation as opposed to a concrete slab?  I beleive that approx. $260MM is budgeted.  Would that be enough to do a major site prepartion and build a quality hotel?  The building in the rendition would be great for Public Square tho.

The image above is very 'blah'--looks like it is crying to be modern, but one the cheap.

 

Will this hotel be under the same transparency as the convention center and medical mart were?  If so I would love to see all the applicants presentations to council.

 

I hope so...

 

Can we not speculate?  Has anyone been to or in a building these folks designed?

Can we not speculate?  Has anyone been to or in a building these folks designed?

Skimming through their website, I've been in a few properties that they had a hand in. None were amazing, but none were disappointing either.

 

The way the article reads, it sounds like they're just going to be the planner/overseer of the project not the actual architect.

not bad. this example is actually pretty much what i was expecting. the only thing is it needs a setback so there can be decks for outside viewing cafes and a roofdeck too. people will be stuck indoors in convention space all day long and they will want to relax and get some air. this firm seems capable of doing this bldg right. fingers crossed!

:shoot:

 

The east side of the property already has a huge setback. It's called Mall B.

Can we not speculate?  Has anyone been to or in a building these folks designed?

We are commenting on their design work, not their planning. I think people would be more excited if they were hired as a hospitality consultant and were teamed with a design firm.

It looks to me like this is a "safe" choice.  They have solid designs that are not cutting edge, but should fit in well in their surroundings around the convention center.  And their designs should still look good and not too dated in 20 years.

 

I really like the Marriott Marquis.  But, I would rather see a vertical design rather than a chunky one like the Marriott at this spot.

 

I really did not want to see an ultra modern design.  As someone said, it might be ultra modern now, but in 20 years it will look really outdated. 

 

 

I find the Douala Hilton interesting the rest of the hospitality buildings are eh.

This was a mixed use hotel/apartment proposal from CooperCarry that was never built.  At 37 floors it was to contain 400 rooms plus residences.

I would take this design any day over what I have seen/am seeing right now downtown.

 

I really like the Marriott Marquis.  But, I would rather see a vertical design rather than a chunky one like the Marriott at this spot.

 

It's chunky because in Washington DC there is a height restriction.

By law, buildings cannot be taller than the Washington Monument.

^not to get off topic but...while there is a height limit for buildings in DC it does not have anything to do with the Washington Monument which is over 500 feet.  The tallest commercial building in Washington is a little over 200 feet.  The old height restriction was 110 feet.  The law was eventually amended to allow buildings to be 20 feet taller than the width of the adjacent street.

By law, buildings cannot be taller than the Washington Monument.

 

The height restriction is per the U.S. Capitol, not the Washington Monument... Carry on.

By law, buildings cannot be taller than the Washington Monument.

 

The height restriction is per the U.S. Capitol, not the Washington Monument... Carry on.

 

Not so fast...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Height_of_Buildings_Act_of_1899

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heights_of_Buildings_Act_of_1910

Cleveland's new convention hotel could bring life to the Mall and connect a disconnected downtown

 

Utter the words “convention center hotel” and images of architectural processed cheese come to mind.

 

Convention hotels often have a generic, plastic-wrapped look, with punch-card window patterns pasted on a slab-shaped towers with big, lighted logos as a garnishes.

 

The hotels can look busy and crowded when they’re receiving or disgorging hundreds of guests, but desolate in slow times. Few would make anyone’s list of memorable places in any city.

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2013/07/the_new_cleveland_convention_h.html#incart_river_default

from the article:  "The new hotel will replace the Cuyahoga County Administration Building at Lakeside Avenue and Ontario Street. It could rise 19 stories...."

 

big deal. 

 

The article kept stressing how this Atlanta firm is really good at making buildings 'fit into context'.....Let's hope they don't use the height of Lakeside Courthouse and Public Auditorium, just across the ways, to defined their context. I know folks on this site said there is a limit at 20 stories over which the cost becomes higher given the foundation issues. But if we want this structure to stand out, it should add to the skyline, not be a typical, standard, 20-story Cleveland structure.

The article kept stressing how this Atlanta firm is really good at making buildings 'fit into context'.....Let's hope they don't use the height of Lakeside Courthouse and Public Auditorium, just across the ways, to defined their context.

 

Or worse, something that mirrors the Justice Center [shudder] in design.

^It could be the 'shorter' twin of the Justice Center, which is 26 stories. Same color and design, just shorter.  And for convenience, we could have a skywalk to it.

^It could be the 'shorter' twin of the Justice Center, which is 26 stories. Same color and design, just shorter.  And for convenience, we could have a skywalk to it.

 

Lifetime ban.