May 22, 201213 yr I'm 50/50 on MM. I'm certainly not in love with it, but I admire the attempt to be different. My concern is the lack of windows. In that in the sad event that the MM concept doesn't work out, I'm wondering who else n the future would want a largely windowless building. p.s. I understand that the industry may prefer windowless rooms; but why not simply use traditional windows and then creatively block them off from the inside in rooms that prefer it? That way the future marketability of the building isn't compromised.
May 22, 201213 yr Remember, most of the front facade is one large window Yes I actually think it's by far the best side too!
May 22, 201213 yr I'm not sure any of us knows the actual number of rooms nor the breakdown between those with window access and without. Between the East facing wall of mostly windows and the creative layout of these (they seem to cover upper and lower portions of different floors) it is possible that there are very few areas without windows. As for future uses, if the Medical Mart were to falter, engineers are pretty creative people and a reuse could certainly add windows if need be. One step at a time people -- it's a great addition if for no other reason than it doesn't look like a suburban commercial building and it's absolutely a step up from the architecture that used to occupy the space.
May 22, 201213 yr SurfOhio, I got a construction tour of the Med Mart and Con Center a few weeks (I should really post pics...), and believe me, when you're inside the Med Mart, it is going to be far from windowless. I think the facade composition is quite deceiving in that extant. As its not a traditional composition, it makes it difficult to read where the windows are in relationship in each floor plane. Every floor will have plenty of natural light. When you're in it, there is not doubt that the spaces are going to be filled with natural light. And the giant entrance atrium is going to be a truly great space, that is going to be awash in huge amounts of natural light. I think people are going to be quite surprised by it. It is very impressive to just stand in the shell of it. Theoretically, I think the building could have other uses down the road if this Med Mart thing doesn't pan out (and I'm talking 20-30 years if not more, down the road)
May 22, 201213 yr SurfOhio, I got a construction tour of the Med Mart and Con Center a few weeks (I should really post pics...), and believe me, when you're inside the Med Mart, it is going to be far from windowless. I think the facade composition is quite deceiving in that extant. As its not a traditional composition, it makes it difficult to read where the windows are in relationship in each floor plane. Every floor will have plenty of natural light. When you're in it, there is not doubt that the spaces are going to be filled with natural light. And the giant entrance atrium is going to be a truly great space, that is going to be awash in huge amounts of natural light. I think people are going to be quite surprised by it. It is very impressive to just stand in the shell of it. Theoretically, I think the building could have other uses down the road if this Med Mart thing doesn't pan out (and I'm talking 20-30 years if not more, down the road) Really great to hear. Please post those pics soon!!
May 22, 201213 yr SurfOhio, I got a construction tour of the Med Mart and Con Center a few weeks (I should really post pics...), and believe me, when you're inside the Med Mart, it is going to be far from windowless. I think the facade composition is quite deceiving in that extant. As its not a traditional composition, it makes it difficult to read where the windows are in relationship in each floor plane. Every floor will have plenty of natural light. When you're in it, there is not doubt that the spaces are going to be filled with natural light. And the giant entrance atrium is going to be a truly great space, that is going to be awash in huge amounts of natural light. I think people are going to be quite surprised by it. It is very impressive to just stand in the shell of it. Theoretically, I think the building could have other uses down the road if this Med Mart thing doesn't pan out (and I'm talking 20-30 years if not more, down the road) Really great to hear. Please post those pics soon!! Rockitect is correct in that each floor has plenty of windows on all three sides. Standing in the atrium and cat walks is truly an experience. You can see my photos from the tour here : http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,27304.0.html https://www.instagram.com/cle_and_beyond/https://www.instagram.com/jbkaufer/
May 22, 201213 yr Very positive article: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cleveland-medical-mart-and-convention-center-to-install-a-distributed-network-from-extenet-systems-2012-05-22
May 22, 201213 yr How about I just post a link to my flickr? http://www.flickr.com/photos/t_ferringer/sets/72157629665324684/with/7177042218/
May 22, 201213 yr ^Nice. In reading that article it brought up a question I've been trying to find the answer to. How many Square feet will the "New" convention center be?
May 22, 201213 yr How about I just post a link to my flickr? http://www.flickr.com/photos/t_ferringer/sets/72157629665324684/with/7177042218/ Rockitect, now you've inadvertently given up your secret identity! Great pics, thanks for posting. Signed - Someone in your fantasy football league (and who borrows your dig. projector all the time)
May 23, 201213 yr How about I just post a link to my flickr? http://www.flickr.com/photos/t_ferringer/sets/72157629665324684/with/7177042218/ Rockitect, now you've inadvertently given up your secret identity! Great pics, thanks for posting. Signed - Someone in your fantasy football league (and who borrows your dig. projector all the time) Ha!
May 23, 201213 yr If you go to the webcam right now they are installing sod over the ballroom area. Can someone get a pic? On my phone or I would grab a screen shot.
May 23, 201213 yr Can any engineer out there explain how the drainage system works on a project like this. The Mall sod is being installed over the convention center concrete roof. How do they do the drainage so as to not damage the concrete roof.
May 24, 201213 yr Can any engineer out there explain how the drainage system works on a project like this. The Mall sod is being installed over the convention center concrete roof. How do they do the drainage so as to not damage the concrete roof. "a series of tubes"
May 24, 201213 yr Can any engineer out there explain how the drainage system works on a project like this. The Mall sod is being installed over the convention center concrete roof. How do they do the drainage so as to not damage the concrete roof. "a series of tubes"
May 24, 201213 yr Author Can any engineer out there explain how the drainage system works on a project like this. The Mall sod is being installed over the convention center concrete roof. How do they do the drainage so as to not damage the concrete roof. Imagine that the CC was free standing building, rather than being underground. Now, most buildings have no problem keeping rain out with a standard roof. Same for the CC. The grass actually helps it, because the water will absorb the shock of a sudden downpour, and let the water drain at a more constant rate.
May 25, 201213 yr i think that is fascinating -- is there any kind of visual that depicts this sytem and maybe shows how it works? hope it isnt prone to clogging up!
May 26, 201213 yr Looks like TN is not going away anytime soon. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120524/BUSINESS01/305240038/RFID-Healthcare-Consortium-commits-medical-mart-lease?odyssey=mod
May 26, 201213 yr Another blurb from Bill Winsor of the Nashville Med Mart. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120515/OPINION03/305150011/Medical-Trade-Center-gains-global-character
May 26, 201213 yr Interesting. Not to make too much of it, but it's impossible not to notice that the tenants the Nashville mart has signed sound a lot more like the type of groups one would expect to find in a "medical mart" than the roster MMPI has made public.
May 26, 201213 yr ^ This is what makes me concerned. Nashville is not holding their cards close at all. They are laying them out there and letting the world know what they've got. Cleveland/MMPI in contrast, by not revealing their tenants, appears to be trying to create suspense and intrigue about something that may or may not even exist. I wish Nashville all the best and I do like their strategy, but I would much rather feel more confident about the long term results of what Cleveland is doing. I can't say that I do right now.
May 26, 201213 yr Author ^ This is what makes me concerned. Nashville is not holding their cards close at all. They are laying them out there and letting the world know what they've got. Cleveland/MMPI in contrast, by not revealing their tenants, appears to be trying to create suspense and intrigue about something that may or may not even exist. I wish Nashville all the best and I do like their strategy, but I would much rather feel more confident about the long term results of what Cleveland is doing. I can't say that I do right now. Nashville needs to broadcast their leases to get financing. Cleveland doesn't. Cleveland has the luxury of being able to bump down less prestigious companies if more prestigious companies show interest. They do not need to let anyone, including Nashville, know what their leasing strategy is. The Cleveland facility will open about two years before Nashville
May 26, 201213 yr As far as Nashville goes all I have to say is 'Show me the money'. Where is your financing. Good luck with that. Also the atrium space in the MM is going to have fantastic views of the mall. But maybe someone a little more familiar with structural engineering can explain the catwalks that are up against the window. What type of load limit would these have. How would you guard against too many people on them at one time. About 30 years ago there was a infamous structure failure at a Hyatt hotel in KC. Just Google Kansas City Hyatt catwalk disaster, it changed the way catwalks were built.
May 26, 201213 yr ^That disaster had to do with an incompetence about how loads work when trying to work around a construction mistake. The loads weren't in line which led to the catwalk's collapse. Walkways held by tension cables are far more sturdy than their appearances suggest. Steel is much better in holding loads in tension than it is in compression, so hanging something with steel requires members with a tiny cross section. I'd venture a guess and say that the load carrying abilities of these specific walkways is far greater than that which could even be squeezed onto it.
May 29, 201213 yr nashville may still be in play, but ny's site is definately not. the former world product center tower plan was just revived as one hudson square: http://m.nypost.com/p/news/business/extell_one_hudson_yards_is_set_to_5HzfvJH3rtBmyEbCnMMUdI?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business
May 29, 201213 yr Didn't see this posted by anyone. Hopefully the city, county and MMPI can let go of the past and come to an agreement. Public Hall and it's facilities should be marketed as part of the larger MMCC to expand it's flexibility, and the meeting rooms on Public Hall's lower level need renovation and updating (even if they will be the "lower cost rooms" as the article indicates. In any event this could be a great development. Cuyahoga County convention center wants to book shows for city-owned Public Auditorium Published: Sunday, May 27, 2012, 5:45 AM By Laura Johnston, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When the developers of Cuyahoga County's convention center paid $20 million nearly three years ago for Cleveland's old convention facility, they could have had the adjoining Public Auditorium as part of the deal. Instead, Chicago-based MMPI abandoned plans to buy the aging auditorium and irritated Mayor Frank Jackson by publicly airing concerns about an "unsalvageable" electrical system rife with fire hazards. Now, MMPI is again interested in the auditorium. Senior Vice President Jim Bennett said the company wants to be able to book the auditorium's dozen meeting rooms, 10,000-seat arena and smaller theaters for convention clients. "It makes no sense not to have that asset," Bennett said during a meeting this month with The Plain Dealer. But Bennett declined to address the company's earlier inspections, which concluded the auditorium needed tens of millions of dollars in upgrades and safety improvements. He also declined to discuss the company's strategy for making amends with Jackson. http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2012/05/cuyahoga_county_convention_center_wants_to_book_shows_for_city-owned_public_auditorium.html
May 29, 201213 yr Can any engineer out there explain how the drainage system works on a project like this. The Mall sod is being installed over the convention center concrete roof. How do they do the drainage so as to not damage the concrete roof. This isn't anything new these days. Millenium Park in Chicago is actually a 650,000 s.f. green roof. http://www.hydrotechusa.com/millennium_index.html Here's their brochure showing the different kinds of systems: http://www.hydrotechusa.com/brochures/GardenRoof.pdf
June 3, 201213 yr As Cleveland medical mart rises up, compare the design to the actual building The design of the as-yet-unfinished medical mart in downtown Cleveland isn’t getting the greatest word of mouth, to judge by comments from people who buttonhole me about it. Readers have complained that the molded concrete panels on the building’s facades look thin and brittle, and that they glare harshly in the light. I’ve also heard that the building’s irregular window patterns look odd. DNA test: LMN Architects devised an unusual window pattern for the med mart based on DNA sequences. The idea is to subtly convey a medical theme while admitting light to the showrooms inside. In renderings, the design is intriguing. It’s an open question whether fine-grain detailing of the windows will be good enough to make the finished product sing. Shape and size: The building is designed to roughly match the height and form of Public Auditorium, the 1922 neoclassical assembly building on the east side of the mall. With the mall still unfinished, it’s hard to say now how well the medical mart will work as a framing device around one of the city’s major public spaces. However, the architects seem to have gotten this part of the design right. http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2012/06/as_cleveland_medical_mart_rise.html
June 4, 201213 yr I have driven by it several times. Some angles look better than others, but the view toward the Ontario side of the building, at least for now, yells out one word to me: CRATE
June 4, 201213 yr Windows are windows, they're not components of DNA. This seems like (yet another) instance of modern architects trying to get too cute. The only message you should be conveying with your window design is how well you understand windows. Even if you try to make a joke of it, you're still conveying how well you understand windows, just not in a good way.
June 4, 201213 yr IMO it looks like it has a bit of a brutalist influence to its design which is not a good thing.
June 4, 201213 yr The building is just dirty-looking and ugly. They made a huge design mistake. Very uninspiring. Too bad.
June 4, 201213 yr I do not like the design either. I was afraid to come out and say it was horrible because I thought all of the other UO'ers might rip me for not being current in today's architecture. This building is ugly. WE missed an opportunity to have a statement building.
June 4, 201213 yr I like it, especially the huge window that faces the Mall. I guess it's one of those you either love it or hate it buildings. LOL.
June 4, 201213 yr How this looks dirty, I dont know. Granted, it's a beautiful sunny day and the sun is beating down on this particular side, but still... What is being attached to this where these notches are? Anything?
June 5, 201213 yr Reminds me of the blue space invader as its just about to land. Thank you Atari for invading Cleveland.
June 5, 201213 yr I'm not sure that it matters that much if it's a bit unattractive, (which I think it is) it won't stop people from visiting. I'd describe it more as uninspiring than ugly. Oh well.
June 5, 201213 yr I am 50/50. I don't hate it but it is a bit too boxy for me. As long as the sealant around the windows doesn't start to run down the face of the white panels over time. Then it'll start to look like a rat's behind. https://www.instagram.com/cle_and_beyond/https://www.instagram.com/jbkaufer/
June 5, 201213 yr Author As for the convention center, I can say for me it is the most attractive one I have seen, because I can not see it. :) For the Medical Mart building, lets wait for the finished product before we pass judgement.
June 5, 201213 yr The time to pass judgment came and went long ago. At this point it is what it is. I agree about the convention center, our setup is ideal.
June 6, 201213 yr Reminds me of the blue space invader as its just about to land. Thank you Atari for invading Cleveland. I was thinking the exact same thing
Create an account or sign in to comment