"Not the discussion for this thread though."

 

Thank you - for those who want to speculate about how they would have spent the money raised for the CC/MM, start your own blog.

It appears on the official website webcam that the trees are being planted along the promenades.

 

There has been a flurry of visible activity on the job site during the past couple weeks.  It is really hard to get good views of anything.  However, I was able to find a nice vantage point from the 3rd floor of CPL this afternoon.  I can't WAIT to hang out in this area of the Mall when it is opened!

This looks to be the most boring, unsustainable, chemically dependent landscape I have ever seen. Where are the native Ohio wildflowers,, shrubs, and signature trees that make up Cleveland's natural heritage? Many would surely be able to be implemented into this design. Even the finished photos are unimpressive, regarding the scape.

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2010/08/cleveland_planning_commission_grants_convention_center_preliminary_approval.html

 

"Under the preliminary plan by Seattle-based LMN Architects and Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, the plane of Mall B would become a grassy slope rising more than 20 feet toward Lake Erie. Along Lakeside Avenue, beneath the apex of the hill, a low glass-fronted building would welcome visitors to the convention center below. And flanking the slope, tree-lined promenades would be lined with “urban rooms” — gardens or a dog park or whatever else Clevelanders dream up.

 

About $16 million is devoted to reshaping the surface of the mall, and that won't cover the urban rooms, or any other “wow factor” enhancements, such as connecting the mall to the lakefront. That's up to a 15-member Group Plan Commission Mayor Frank Jackson appointed in June."

 

So its boring because its not finished. In order to get the building open they are putting down grass now, but the final design will be funded and designed after. Hopefully sooner than later!

 

And of course its sustainable, they are pursuing LEED silver. If you are interested in other aspects, see this: http://www.clevelandmedicalmart.com/clevelandmedicalmart/index.cfm/news/a-sustainable-effort-cleveland-medical-mart-convention-center-pursuing-leed-certification/

 

 

This looks to be the most boring, unsustainable, chemically dependent landscape I have ever seen. Where are the native Ohio wildflowers,, shrubs, and signature trees that make up Cleveland's natural heritage? Many would surely be able to be implemented into this design. Even the finished photos are unimpressive, regarding the scape.

 

Another knee jerk reaction without knowing the facts.  Please read all of the info provided in this thread before jumping to conclusions.  And, as was pointed out, it's not close to being finished.

I still have mixed feelings about the MedMart project.  I'm warming up a little bit to the Mall Changes.  I was snapping random photos of the area the other night and this one turned out pretty interesting.  I think it shows an interesting view of a new building that I consider one of the ugliest structures in Cleveland.  Ugly on the left.  Beautiful on the right.  An interesting pair of book ends.  Funny how urban glass towers are what originally attracted me to urbanism when I was younger and now my strongest attraction is historical structures...

a few from the other day

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing your photographs. I am amazed how fast the transformation is happening, I believe this is one of the best documented building projects in Cleveland's history.

 

Those exhaust towers, are they mirrors, or just highly polished stainless steel?

Those exhaust towers, are they mirrors, or just highly polished stainless steel?

 

I'm concerned birds are going to be hitting these things non-stop.

^As well as getting blinded when the sun hits those in the right spot and burns out your retina.  They could have done something similar to the two towers between the Q and Progressive.

 

Those are pretty cool. But I half-expect them to become self-aware, then lock on you as you walk by and follow you like the Eye of Sauron......

 

It looks like they stole those lights from Herbie the Love Bug

 

 

 

exposed wires on those lights? will that even last through this winter?

The more complete this project is the more excited I am!  I really think its going Breathe a lot of life into the whole area. The glass on the lakeside entrance is fairly complete and they are planting trees down below the ballroom.

So that's where the trees are going - a truck full of trees had half of Lakeside blocked off at 7:30 this morning.

Wow.  Zollverein School.  I  can't help but think the architect of the main MedMart building was influenced by this....

https://www.google.com/search?q=Zollverein+School&hl=en&client=firefox-beta&hs=2Xa&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Lu-JUPf7Oc_H0AHYw4GQBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1315&bih=800

 

So that's where the trees are going - a truck full of trees had half of Lakeside blocked off at 7:30 this morning.

 

Funny. I saw a truck full of trees go by my breakfast table-side window at Addy's on St. Clair on Monday morning! I figured it was probably going to the MM/CC.

Wow.  Zollverein School.  I  can't help but think the architect of the main MedMart building was influenced by this....

https://www.google.com/search?q=Zollverein+School&hl=en&client=firefox-beta&hs=2Xa&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Lu-JUPf7Oc_H0AHYw4GQBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1315&bih=800

Makes enough sense especially with the building color and funky window design

What has always disturbed me about The Group Plan and the New Medical Mart and Convention Center is that it wasn't architecturally locked in to the classic architectural style.  As much as the Medical Mart wants to maintain a height level it by no means has any other similarities to its surrounding historic presence.  One other flaw is the placement of the Cleveland Browns Stadium. If only they had changed the access to North and South and had placed the feel of an open air stadium which could have continued the playing field as an addition to the mall,even working in the original train station design at the northern end. A magnificent opportunity to create  a use of Cleveland's sports as facility which could have tied our love of sports into the front yard of Cleveland and bridged our connection to the Lakefront.

What has always disturbed me about The Group Plan and the New Medical Mart and Convention Center is that it wasn't architecturally locked in to the classic architectural style.  As much as the Medical Mart wants to maintain a height level it by no means has any other similarities to its surrounding historic presence.  One other flaw is the placement of the Cleveland Browns Stadium. If only they had changed the access to North and South and had placed the feel of an open air stadium which could have continued the playing field as an addition to the mall,even working in the original train station design at the northern end. A magnificent opportunity to create  a use of Cleveland's sports as facility which could have tied our love of sports into the front yard of Cleveland and bridged our connection to the Lakefront.

 

the convention center?  It's underground?  As much as I love a classic style I'm glad the MM was not designed to match the surrounding buildings.  I'm hoping that the Cuyahoga County building will be demolished and what is built in its place is modern therefore, the MM wouldn't stand out. 

What has always disturbed me about The Group Plan and the New Medical Mart and Convention Center is that it wasn't architecturally locked in to the classic architectural style.  As much as the Medical Mart wants to maintain a height level it by no means has any other similarities to its surrounding historic presence.  One other flaw is the placement of the Cleveland Browns Stadium. If only they had changed the access to North and South and had placed the feel of an open air stadium which could have continued the playing field as an addition to the mall,even working in the original train station design at the northern end. A magnificent opportunity to create  a use of Cleveland's sports as facility which could have tied our love of sports into the front yard of Cleveland and bridged our connection to the Lakefront.

 

the convention center?  It's underground?  As much as I love a classic style I'm glad the MM was not designed to match the surrounding buildings.  I'm hoping that the Cuyahoga County building will be demolished and what is built in its place is modern therefore, the MM wouldn't stand out. 

 

^Agreed.  Sometimes new buildings should be a product of their own time.

What has always disturbed me about The Group Plan and the New Medical Mart and Convention Center is that it wasn't architecturally locked in to the classic architectural style.  As much as the Medical Mart wants to maintain a height level it by no means has any other similarities to its surrounding historic presence.  One other flaw is the placement of the Cleveland Browns Stadium. If only they had changed the access to North and South and had placed the feel of an open air stadium which could have continued the playing field as an addition to the mall,even working in the original train station design at the northern end. A magnificent opportunity to create  a use of Cleveland's sports as facility which could have tied our love of sports into the front yard of Cleveland and bridged our connection to the Lakefront.

 

the convention center?  It's underground?  As much as I love a classic style I'm glad the MM was not designed to match the surrounding buildings.  I'm hoping that the Cuyahoga County building will be demolished and what is built in its place is modern therefore, the MM wouldn't stand out. 

 

^Agreed.  Sometimes new buildings should be a product of their own time.

 

Exactly. It would also visually "even out" the street scape. If this does happen, any new building(s) can hide/make up for the God awful Justice Center.  Buildings like the JC won't stand out.

GE, Cleveland Clinic sign on to Cleveland medical mart

 

Published: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 2:25 PM    Updated: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 2:55 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --

GE Healthcare Systems today became the first major health care company to publicly commit to Cuyahoga County's medical mart.

 

 

The company announced it will showcase products related to breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease in an interactive display.

 

The Cleveland Clinic today also announced it has signed on to the $465 million, taxpayer-financed project, which includes a convention center beneath the downtown mall. The clinic does not yet know how it will use the space.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/medicalmart/index.ssf/2012/10/ge_cleveland_clinic_sign_on_to.html

Classical is something we already know is good.  Modern is potluck, and Cleveland rarely has luck in that area.  MOCA is a notable exception.  The Medical Mart, unfortunately, is close to a worst case scenario.  That makes the style contrast even more jarring.  They should have gone classical.

Great news all around!! :clap:

 

Booking blues? Not at convention center

Event commitments jump; medical mart more than 50% leased

By JAY MILLER

 

Nine months from its planned opening, the under-construction Cleveland Convention Center has 44 conventions booked, up from 26 four months earlier, and the adjacent medical mart is more than 50% leased and filling quickly, Cuyahoga County Council was told last week.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20121029/SUB1/310299989

Incredible news!  I am not real familiar with the Healthcare industry but I do have some general business experience.  Now that GE has committed, you can bet that their biggest competitors (Phillips, Cisco, IBM) will take a good hard look at this.  If potential customers are coming to town looking solely at GE's equipment then that hurts their competitors.

 

Let's hope this is the case and they all sign leases!

http://lmnts.lmnarchitects.com/fabrication/med-mart-update/

 

great photos and article regarding The Medical Mart construction. This is the architects website LMN

Medical mart snags Johnson Controls, third paying tenant

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County's medical mart reached a deal today with a third tenant -- Johnson Controls, a Milwaukee-based technology company.

 

The firm has agreed to lease 3,000 square feet at the downtown Cleveland mart, and to build a showroom that demonstrates how heating and cooling equipment, nurse call buttons and other systems can run on the same hospital network.

 

"Our problem is, if we want to show a customer where we've done this, it requires us going to a working hospital," said Jim Dagley, vice president of marketing and strategy for Johnson Controls. "It's a bunch of people trying to look above the ceiling, behind the walls. It's really disruptive for us to go through a working hospital to try to showcase this."

 

The company was one of 60 firms to show interest in the medical mart -- part of a $465-million, taxpayer-financed convention center complex -- during the groundbreaking at the downtown mall in January 2011.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/medicalmart/index.ssf/2012/11/medical_mart_snags_johnson_con.html#incart_river_default

^^^^ Huge  When companies of the caliber of Johnson Control & GE signup its a huge shot in the arm. In the beginning of the project these were the names that the public wanted to hear sign up.  I look for more high caliber companies to join in the fray

Now we have victories and momentum.

From the webcam. It's coming together.

I can't wait to sled down that hill.

I can't wait to sled down that hill.

Should get a nice breeze coming off the lake to help.

I can't wait to sled down that hill.

 

I had similar thoughts -- it would make a nice "bunny hill" for downhill (er, downslope) skiing. :)

Did we just start planning a UO meet up in February?

I wonder I they ever considered Field Turf as opposed to natural grass. It may have opened it up as more of an 'all weather' outdoor  space a few more months out of the year.

well, artificial turf would allow for more than ten events per year

View yesterday from the top of the hill, or "the lift" as they're calling it.

 

:clap: wow cool view; I have to ask... was this taken with an iphone panorama?  :-P

^Nope, just your basic point-and-shoot with some stitching end editing help from Photoshop.

That is an awesome pic, urbanomics. 

Great pic!

I love how the west wall of Public Auditorium now looks like it had never been defiled! ;-)

You do get a much better sense of the group plan with the Public Hall addition removed.  Thanks for the pic urbanomics

Now all we need is to replace the county administration with a structure that has its lower floors paying more attention to the malls, like a multi-story glass atrium -- such as for a hotel lobby! ;)

Does anyone know why none of the older buildings were built with entrances facing the mall?

Thanks for the compliments!  For every decent photo I get there's about 10 that get scrapped.  :-D

 

^ Not sure why, but there are at least opportunities to rectify the lack of activity from the buildings.  I'm guessing the location of entrances at Public Hall had more to do with the layout of the interior, but there are some doors on the Mall so that may present an opportunity.  The Board of Ed does have a pretty prominent entrance on the Mall, so if it gets renovated as a hotel or residential building it could make better use of it.  It is disappointing that the library has basically no access facing the Mall. 

wow -- i was wondering what that view would be like. very cool.

 

man thats a lot of sod, i hope it works out ok over time. it will take a lot of care.