My contribution to this photo-documentary (OK, more like a drive-by shooting)....

 

 

 

 

 

I see they've hired an interior designer that has no understanding of how to design within the styles of the building. Unnecessary curves are a signature of a mediocre interior designer.

 

Where is the eyeroll emoticon? 

^ I don't think jmicha is wrong, but I also don't think that I expected anything more from this building (and more specifically, this architectural firm).

I see they've hired an interior designer that has no understanding of how to design within the styles of the building. Unnecessary curves are a signature of a mediocre interior designer.

 

Where is the eyeroll emoticon? 

 

It would cheapen my distaste for interior designers that can't work in conjunction with a building.

 

PSA: This isn't a knock on interior designers in general. There are so many out there that heighten the design of a building or space and do things I could never do. But for every good one there are five "decorators" masquerading as interior designers. That's how you wind up with curves in a building that has no curves.

This is a convention center hotel this design exceeds my standards for them, i think it's pretty good for the type of hotel being built.

It appears the glass curtain wall has begun to be installed along the mall side's podium base

http://www.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/earthcam.aspx

In addition to the project's $272 million budget, the county could access a $4 million contingency fund for design changes or additions, plus an additional $34 million set aside to compensate for risks including bad weather or labor issues, Appelbaum said.

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2015/04/hilton_downtown_cleveland_conv.html

 

Ahem....

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17673.msg752446.html#msg752446

From this morning... more glass...

 

 

 

Already a third of the way up.

Sparkly!

Its going to be a lot shorter than I thought if it's already a third of the way up.

It looked pretty impressive to me in person. And after seeing it, the photos do it justice.

I really like how the podium is coming together despite some of the changes. The large expanse of glass and the color of the concrete panels look very nice. It really makes a bold statement on that corner and will bring a lot of light and activity to the mall. So far 2 thumbs up.

From this morning

 

 

 

Shiny!!! ???

I never have been a fan of the angled window jut out.  It has no relationship to the Malls or the building itself.  The transparency of the structure through the glass is an interesting decision by architects.  I prefer not to see the concrete.

 

I'm going to have to say the opposite, I'm happy they went with more transparent glass. It gives buildings a sense of volume whereas reflective glass ends up looking extremely flat.

 

I also like the structure of a building being visible to the exterior. I generally find the lack of celebration of structure in most buildings unfortunate since structural expressionism can result in some really great spaces and buildings. Curtain walls kind of spit in the face of this idea generally so it's nice to be able to see beyond this curtain wall.

Will you be able to see the concrete through the glass... Or is it only visible now because the studs and drywall that would normally wrap such structural elements haven't been built yet because this building is still under construction?

In the base it appears that the columns will be exposed. In the upper floors they'll likely be wrapped with stud framing and drywall. But the transparency will remain in the upper floors which is good. The structural exposure will likely only exist in the base.

I believe they get a column cover of probably aluminum or other material.

 

I never have been a fan of the angled window jut out.  It has no relationship to the Malls or the building itself.  The transparency of the structure through the glass is an interesting decision by architects.  I prefer not to see the concrete.

 

The angled window jut out echoes the jut out of the building at the top, so it relates to the building.  I think it is a clever idea on the part of the architects.

 

And I totally agree with preferring to not have a transparent glass skin.  I think buildings look so much better with reflective glass and not being able to see into the building through the glass.  I know others disagree, but that is my view.

 

These "little 9 foot floors" are going up fast.  There is visible progress almost every day now.

I'm going to have to say the opposite, I'm happy they went with more transparent glass. It gives buildings a sense of volume whereas reflective glass ends up looking extremely flat.

 

I also like the structure of a building being visible to the exterior. I generally find the lack of celebration of structure in most buildings unfortunate since structural expressionism can result in some really great spaces and buildings. Curtain walls kind of spit in the face of this idea generally so it's nice to be able to see beyond this curtain wall.

 

-Exactly!  I notice as I occasionally check the updates that this building has rather handsome concrete formwork and I am glad it is not hidden like in 95% of buildings (or every other building in Clevo).  Also, anyone else notice that this building makes the Justice Center look a lot less ugly?  I wonder how it will look with the Federal Building across the mall (w/ both the Hilton and Fed glad in glass)...

I like the Feds new look. Coming from the west on the shoreway it looks great. Gives it a modern look IMO.

Landmark Planning Commission agenda for April 23 regarding landscaping and lighting.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2015/04232015/index.php

 

The interesting note is parking located in the Huntington Parking Structure 500 assigned spaces. 250 for self park and 250 for valet.

Also this image appears to have possible added design features considered for The Malls

It is very impressive how fast the glass curtain wall has been going up.  From the earth cam images it appears the podium glass along the mall side is halfway installed.

http://www.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/earthcam.aspx

This photo is from Donley's construction facebook. It looks like it's from a webcam as it is time stamped. So there might be another construction cam out there but I can't find the link.

updated look from the construction earthcam

Pics from this morning...

 

 

 

 

Glad to see they are filling the gaps between the prefab concrete panels.

So, why are we not seeing the "porch" on the mall side or the parallel overhanging roof on the podium side, above the Lakeside entrance indentation?  Those were a pretty important part of the rendered design, and I can't see any evidence that they are going to exist.

^This issue was discussed at length about a month ago in this thread.  If you check back a few pages you should find some answers.

^ Actually, while the removal of the Lakeside balcony was discussed to death, there was  only a very brief discussion (and no resolution) of the overhanging roof issue, nor, IIRC, any discussion of the mall porch at all; both of which are pretty important to the overall design. 

^ No, we discussed the Lakeside side, not the Mall-facing side, which is what gruver is talking about.

 

The Mall-facing side actually never called for a "porch" - at least nothing like what was initially planned for the Lakeside side. There is a small porch for the Mall side, and you can see that in the photos (the little bit that juts out around the 3rd or 4th floor).

 

As for the overhanging roof, I don't see why we would rule that out yet. I'd think that that would be one of the last things added.

There is a small porch for the Mall side, and you can see that in the photos (the little bit that juts out around the 3rd or 4th floor).

 

 

Ah yes you can see the two doors above the porch.

The small porch along West Mall Drive was always in the design. As for the canopy, It is definitely still in the design  Plans were submitted to The Landmarks Commission for lighting schematics. Also other renderings show the canopy is still planned for The Lakeside facade.  The rendering does show that the porch was eliminated off of The Lakeside facade

^Wow thanks!

^ Thanks, dave68.  From those renderings, it looks like the mall canopy and the Lakeside overhang (but not porch) are still in the picture.

Thanks, dave68, those renderings help clear up a lot of questions! I was initially worried when I first saw they removed the porch from the Lakeside side, but I'm happy to see that pretty much all the other architectural details are remaining the same.

I think this hotel is going to be beautiful. We are so lucky to not be getting a Hilton hotel like the one in Columbus.

 

http://www.hiltoncolumbusdowntown.com/d/hcolumbus/media/__thumbs_209_119_crop/Exterior-_high_res.jpg

 

We are so lucky to not be getting a Hilton hotel like the one in Columbus.

 

Oh, please. Haters gonna hate. They're both nice projects which are good for our state's urban areas and fit into their respective contexts.

 

Cuyahoga County and Cleveland are putting up $265+ million in public dollars for a 600-room hotel. By contrast, Franklin County and Columbus spent $138 million for their 532-room hotel. Is it as flashy or as much of a landmark? No, but it doesn't have to be. It's neither the largest hotel in Columbus, nor does it front onto a major public space like Cleveland's mall.

 

Also, Cleveland's Hilton is not expected to generate enough revenue to cover the debt service payments on its construction; that's okay because the county will use revenue from the convention center to further subsidize the hotel. In Columbus, revenue from the Hilton is exceeding what's necessary for it to pay it's own way on the construction debt. I don't think either project is better or worse than the other, they just reflect the realities and priorities of their contexts.

I don't think the one in Columbus looks bad at all.  Love the varied colors and surfaces.  It's upscale and classy.  At the same time, I'm glad Cleveland is getting a big shiny tower near the lake.  Win-win!

^ Actually, while the removal of the Lakeside balcony was discussed to death, there was  only a very brief discussion (and no resolution) of the overhanging roof issue, nor, IIRC, any discussion of the mall porch at all; both of which are pretty important to the overall design. 

 

I question if the curtain wall glass has enough difference in tones to reflect this rendering. As it appears in construction the glass color is the same tone throughout.

I don't think the one in Columbus looks bad at all.  Love the varied colors and surfaces.  It's upscale and classy.  At the same time, I'm glad Cleveland is getting a big shiny tower near the lake.  Win-win!

 

This!

 

I'm glad we're starting to get more glass and metal curtain wall buildings (Ernst & Young, County HQ, Celebreeze exoskeleton, Hilton). Helps to offset the “beige" motif we have going on. Lol.

i was reading where the crane has 3 scheduled jumps. The next is scheduled for early May!

i was reading where the crane has 3 scheduled jumps. The next is scheduled for early May!

 

It was scheduled for this weekend, May 2-3. I haven't heard whether that's still a go or not.

Now that I read my previous post again, I apologize for the negative tone. All I intended to say was that the glass siding will be a nice change from the more common stone facades we see downtown.

^ No need to apologize. I think the Columbus Hilton is pretty "meh" in its design. But at least it interacts well with its surroundings. The Cleveland Hilton is obviously going to be a much more memorable building.

i was reading where the crane has 3 scheduled jumps. The next is scheduled for early May!

 

It was scheduled for this weekend, May 2-3. I haven't heard whether that's still a go or not.

 

I read it will jump approximately 60 feet.

http://www.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_home/en-US/ConventionCenter/ProjectUpdates/March2015.pdf

 

Many additional progress photos at the end of this document.

 

One more from this morning, looks like they're about half way up.