Again, matte of taste but I like the way the MM fits on the mall and am liking the glass portions.  Interested in how will look on a winters night.

I don't think we can make any judgments about the Medical Mart until we see how it interacts with the Rock-o-meter.

 

HAH!

 

Personally, I don't think its design is going to be featured on Arch Daily or Arch Record or such, but I feel that it will be a good space and I don't think they did anything wrong, per se.. just nothing extraordinary.

 

It could be on ArchDaily. For the most part, all you have to do is submit the project with photos by a good photographer. I have gone through it once and it's pretty painless.

I could also see it getting some national acclaim as a follow-up project for LMN. Follo-up to the much hyped Vancouver Convo Center.

 

If it was mediocrity they were going for, they hit a home run. The MM was the only way to get the CC rebuilt. The CC is the most important part of the project and the devil is in the details. The MM will be long gone and the CC will have to carry this thing. The CC MUST BE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

  You would think with all the "mart connections/experience" we should/could have got a better deal on the juvi center furnishings. I wonder if anyone even asked. Maroons, but I digress.

 

 

And unfortunately Im not so sure they got the convention certer, right since its lacks the exhibit space that will allow it to host some of the bigger shows that used to be downtown, or ones that are at the IX center now....  They went for more meeting rooms instead (catering too much to the MM, and not much beyond), which yeah, if the MM doesnt last here, then it is kinda screwed for other big shows. 

 

 

For the MM, I think the room/office layout was more what they were going for. At least the very early ideas for it eluded to this. It was supposed to have permanent exhibit and offices spaces for different suppliers and manufacturers. That way it could be up all year round and people could come at any time to view the products and meet with vendors. Maybe that idea has been modified though.

For the MM, I think the room/office layout was more what they were going for. At least the very early ideas for it eluded to this. It was supposed to have permanent exhibit and offices spaces for different suppliers and manufacturers. That way it could be up all year round and people could come at any time to view the products and meet with vendors. Maybe that idea has been modified though.

 

Yes for the MM, but Im talking about the actual Convention Center.  It will ikely actually have less exhibit space than it used to, which doesnt bode well for bringing some of the larger IX center shows back down town....  (But it will have taller ceilings...) 

Was there ever any intention of luring larger shows away from the IX center?  I thought they were pursuing a narrower and more upscale market segment with this, and the logistics really don't favor massive shows here.

the IX center is in cleveland, right? why does the new convention center have to lure shows away from it?

the IX center is in cleveland, right? why does the new convention center have to lure shows away from it?

 

To increase the activity at surrounding businesses downtown. There are very few businesses that exist near the IX Center and can benefit from its presence.

 

That said, I too will be extremely disapointed if they go away from traditional lighting lining the malls and promenades. We should be making statements about where we are "now" through our buildings, and 216 year old cities should maintain a traditional infastructure.

 

A part of me wishes the lighting along Euclid would have been the historic traditional type since it was the grand street of a bygone era. 

 

As for the MM, the more details that come out the more it grows on me.  I think they went overboard on the size of the lobby however, as they really took away from the usable space on the upper floors.

i agree with you regarding The Euclid ave. lamp posts

Nice to see the MMCC website now goes a little more in depth about the pros of such a facility.  One part of the first paragraph though...

 

Designed to bring buyers and sellers together, Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center (Cleveland MMCC) is the world’s only facility targeted specifically to the medical and healthcare industries.

 

Be a part of the first comprehensive marketplace to combine permanent showrooms, a Class-A exhibition hall and state-of-the-art conference facilities tailored to the needs of the medical marketplace.

 

The one million square foot facility is expected to open in 2013.

 

What?  Since when did this become a million sf facility?

 

http://www.clevelandmedicalmart.com/about/about-cmm/

 

All of the spaces added up come somewhere near that (MM, CC, ballrooms etc....)  They need to throw out the million number now that Nashville has been using that to describe theirs thus making Cleveland's look small and inadequate.  Its all in how you present it.   

Here's some pictures of the progress:

 

IMG_0054 by hubz1124, on Flickr

 

IMG_0053 by hubz1124, on Flickr

Nashville can say whatever they want, they're still hypothetical. Actually, I'm surprised they didn't find a way to beat Cleveland to the punch. They aren't lacking for local clients, with Vanderbilt and many other hospitals nearby.

Great pictures! Thanks!

so far i like the exterior and texturing too. its just too bad that otherwise its a bland box. not that it could be much more than boxy realistically. i guess i almost expected to see some variation in the elevation, like for meeting rooms or hvac or rooftop something, just to break that boxiness up a bit.

Thanks for the progress pics!!!

 

Great photos!

 

Update on Nashville mart: http://www.medcitynews.com/2011/02/nashville-medical-mart-adds-fourth-tenant-chinese-medical-technology-showroom/

It's time Nashville figure out what their back-up plan should be. 

 

Great pics hubz1124! 

^^ Cleveland should get some Chinese medical device companies in here as well. It's a huge expanding market and would make for some 'sexy' clients to go along with the bread and butter. It's nice we have a headstart on the building, though.

Thanks for the pics hubz1124!!!  It's nice to see the progress down there, things are moving along pretty good!!!  :clap:

more pics request!

^ go to www.clevelandmedicalmart.com and go the the "about" menu, and the webcam is there

The view shown for today is the same view that's been there since the 10th of March.

Driving by the other day, I noticed the camera was no longer up there. That probably means it is almost time to demo that building, too.

 

 

Good to see more and more of that area cleared out.  The sooner they demo that block, the sooner they can start building!!!  Hopefully they'll put up another webcam somewhere else in the area so we can monitor the progress.

Walls come tumbling down at Cleveland's Public Auditorium

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Construction crews began dismantling the 1964 addition to Public Auditorium this week, separating the hall from the old convention center.

 

The work is part of plans to build a new Cuyahoga County Convention Center and Medical Mart.

 

Once intertwined, the 89-year-old auditorium shared electrical, plumbing and ventilation systems with the existing and outdated convention center beneath the downtown Mall.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/medicalmart/index.ssf/2011/03/and_the_walls_come_tumbling_do.html

^Nice.  Sounds like 113 St. Clair is coming down next week.

The wrecking crew was out on this beautiful weekend.... Here are some pictures of the progress

 

IMG_0137 by hubz1124, on Flickr

 

IMG_0141 by hubz1124, on Flickr

 

IMG_0143 by hubz1124, on Flickr

 

IMG_0145 by hubz1124, on Flickr

 

IMG_0147 by hubz1124, on Flickr

 

IMG_0151 by hubz1124, on Flickr

That building looks very much like a cladded historic building. Does anyone have any images of the original facade or knowledge?

Great pics!!!

Thanks for the pics!

That building looks very much like a cladded historic building. Does anyone have any images of the original facade or knowledge?

 

I assume you realize that the building in the first four pics is not the same building depicted in the last pic.  Anyways, no.... it is not a cladded historic building.  113 St. Clair was simply an exceedingly "blah" structure on a prime parcel.  I don't think anyone has or will shed a tear.

Not quite construction, so please move if necessary:

 

MMPI names trade show vet to run Cleveland medical mart and convention center

By SCOTT SUTTELL

3:22 pm, March 21, 2011

 

MMPI, the Chicago-based developer of the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center, has named a 30-year trade show veteran as the project's general manager.

 

Brian Casey takes the job effective May 2. He will be responsible for attracting trade show business to the facility and for identifying potential clients and events for the medical mart. Mr. Casey also will oversee functions including construction, operations, finance and leasing, while implementing strategic and marketing plans for the property, its tenants and trade shows.

 

MMPI said Mr. Casey has more than three decades of experience in the trade show and meetings industry.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20110321/FREE/110329979

 

 

Looks like he's got a lot of good experience.  I also checked his profile out on LinkedIn.

 

Glad to hear he'll be running the Cleveland MM & CC!!!

Any pics of this week's progress?

Just one shot from today:

Thanks!

Sage Hospitality, Optima Ventures plan to buy, rebrand the Crowne Plaza in downtown Cleveland

 

......The 472-room hotel, which is bleeding money, could undergo more than $45 million in renovations and be recast as a Westin or another high-end brand. And the potential owners are exploring ways to connect the hotel, at 777 St. Clair Ave., to the convention center and medical-device showplace with an overhead walkway.

 

The project demonstrates renewed interest in downtown Cleveland, where a casino is set to open next year and construction is under way on the $465 million convention center and medical mart. Despite region-wide economic challenges and population losses in many city neighborhoods, downtown Cleveland is attracting residents, restaurants and bullish real-estate investors including Optima, which has purchased four office buildings here since 2008. ........

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/sage_hospitality_optima_ventur.html

Good to hear news of spin-off developments like this.

Good to hear news of spin-off developments like this.

 

Agreed.  This potential development is good news. 

 

What I don't like so much is the following quote:  "Sage might explore building an overhead walkway between the hotel and the historic hall, providing guests with indoor paths to the auditorium, the convention center and the medical mart."

 

Please no overhead walkway into the facade of a historic building... please.  I thought the Crowne had an underground connection to Public Auditorium anyway.  Am I not remembering accurately?

FYI, there's another discussion about this topic in the Cleveland hotels/hospitality thread: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,11531.msg551121/boardseen.html#new

 

In that thread, someone posted a Crain's article that came out today discussing the possibility of a tunnel rather than a bridge. 

I just heard of some talk of a new Hilton hotel to be built on St. Clair - not sure if its the same project as the Crowne Plaza rehab or if its entirely separate, but if it is a different project, that's very cool.

I just heard of some talk of a new Hilton hotel to be built on St. Clair - not sure if its the same project as the Crowne Plaza rehab or if its entirely separate, but if it is a different project, that's very cool.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,11531.msg551102.html#msg551102

^I just heard it will be a brand new hotel (not the Crowne Plaza).

I remember walking by the Crowne Plaza (originally the Bond Court Hotel) after it had collapsed during construction over 30 years ago.  It happened overnight near the top and no one was killed, but what a mess!

^I just heard it will be a brand new hotel (not the Crowne Plaza).

 

Yes, there additional rumors floating around (Pugu, did you hear Ware House District?)... 

I havent been able to confirm anything about something on St. Clair yet....

Please construction on St. Clair between West 3rd and West 9th....  Please construction on St. Clair between West 3rd and West 9th....

It's good to see news about additional construction projects here in Cleveland related to the MM & CC, eventhough it isnt built yet.  Hopefully there will be more and more related construction as we get closer to the MM & CC opening!!!  Good news for Cleveland!!!  :clap:

^I just heard it will be a brand new hotel (not the Crowne Plaza).

 

That would be pretty big news. Care to share where you heard this info or how reliable the source is?

Optima also owns 55 Public Square (the 1958-built old headquarters for the Cleveland Illuminating Co.). I see they purchased it on July 29, 2008 for $34 million. I don't know how fully occupied the building is, but it might make a nice hotel. Its property includes the L-shaped parking garage which fronts on St. Clair and West 3rd.

 

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cleveland/illuminating.jpg

 

But considering how many hotel rooms are coming onto the market when the room occupancies are so low to begin with, I'm having a hard time believing a totally new hotel would be proposed.

Why not, if they can steal away enough visitor nights to make their hotel successful then it makes sense for them to open a new hotel room.  We may see more hotels open than what we think makes sense in terms of overall market, but it may be the older properties that go under.  In fact I'd say that's likely.