Went to the sold out game vs. UCF this past weekend and had a blast! I always forget just how nice Nippert is after it’s renovation some years back it’s truly super well done. The whole athletic village looked very top notch. I’m hoping they put some dazzle into the design of the practice facility and it’s not just a plain box. Below are some quick pics when I first arrived.

 

Edited October 19, 20213 yr by 646empire

15 hours ago, Ucgrad2015 said:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/05/21/district-at-clifton-heights-lands-development.html
 

per this article. Phase 1 which includes the HUB (14 floor building) and the hotel is scheduled to completed in 2024. Phase 2 which includes the empty Deaconnes lot is scheduled to be completed in 2025. 

 

So about four years for that whole area to be completed? I bet $50 to charity that they miss that schedule.

5 hours ago, tonyt3524 said:

Not so sure that’s the case unless I missed something. Good to see it’s getting worked on though.

 

With all of the on again/off again rumors about this project, I bet there's some type of internal disagreement within UC. Maybe PDC really wants this renovation to happen but Alumni is pushing for a modern building. (Or perhaps vice versa.) The poster in the photo above says that the building is being "preserved and considered for potential future uses" which makes me UC executive leadership is punting until a final decision is made.

19 hours ago, taestell said:

 

With all of the on again/off again rumors about this project, I bet there's some type of internal disagreement within UC. Maybe PDC really wants this renovation to happen but Alumni is pushing for a modern building. (Or perhaps vice versa.) The poster in the photo above says that the building is being "preserved and considered for potential future uses" which makes me UC executive leadership is punting until a final decision is made.

 

That's fair. I gotta believe if it's going to be an alumni center, there's going to have to be more to it. Maybe an add-on to west? 

Maybe they're waiting to see what happens with the Law building knowing that's their preferred location. 

Edited October 20, 20213 yr by tonyt3524

21 minutes ago, tonyt3524 said:

I gotta believe if it's going to be an alumni center, there's going to have to be more to it. Maybe an add-on to west?

What are the space/programming requirements for a new alumni center at UC?

 

At UC, we have the Great Hall at Tangeman that can host ~430 seated at round tables. Would a new alumni center need to provide more conference/event space? I like the idea of using the YMCA building for smaller events, where the historic building would make for a cozier environment. But I can also see the need for some large, more modern spaces to support larger events. 

2 hours ago, jwulsin said:

What are the space/programming requirements for a new alumni center at UC?

 

At UC, we have the Great Hall at Tangeman that can host ~430 seated at round tables. Would a new alumni center need to provide more conference/event space? I like the idea of using the YMCA building for smaller events, where the historic building would make for a cozier environment. But I can also see the need for some large, more modern spaces to support larger events. 

 

I'm not sure on event spaces. I'm sure they would prefer to have some event/conference space. Staffing alone would likely need more space then what the YMCA has to offer. 

Not sure if this is the most appropriate thread (since the news spans multiple neighborhoods)... but exciting to hear about two neat, old buildings getting repurposed for new uses. 

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/inno/stories/news/2021/10/25/cid-expansion-lightship-foundation.html

• 121 E McMillan (former Cinicnnati Dental Practice) will become "The Beacon" and house the headquarters of the Lightship Capital Foundation. JobsOhio will contribute $1 million in addition to the $11 million contributed by UC. I'm not totally sure if Lighthouse will occupy all of the building, or if other entities will also have space. Seems like a big building and hard to imagine one tenant using all that space. 
• The Frank Lloyd Wright designed "Boulter House" at 1 Rawson Woods Circle in Clifton will become an "innovators in residence" for Lightship. "Boulter House will provide a space for underrepresented students, artists, architectural designers and entrepreneurs to inspire creativity, master their craft, and build community through 90-day residential fellowships and programming."

Very cool!

 

(now we will have The Beacon and The Deacon) 

121 E McMillan...Really hope the elevations get a  big redo.  It looks like...

a dentist's office.

15 hours ago, zsnyder said:

121 E McMillan...Really hope the elevations get a  big redo.  It looks like...

a dentist's office.

 

They really need to rip all the EIFS out and put some windows back in like the building originally had. And right now the back is the front and the front is the back - which should probably be fixed as well.

 

2 hours ago, Ram23 said:

And right now the back is the front and the front is the back - which should probably be fixed as well.

To be pedantic, it's more like "the side is the front"... the historic entrance faced McMillan (north) while the most recent configuration had the entrance on the east. I'll be curious to see how much of the original historic entrance details remain intact. They've already begun demolition and are ripping out the EIFS. I didn't have a chance to grab a photo, but I'm excited to see this project is already underway!

 

I do hope they restore the north/McMillan facade, though I suspect the ADA compliant entrance will remain on the east due to the site's topography. As you can see in that historic photo of the church, the "ground floor" is up a lot of steps (~19) from the McMillan sidewalk. The entrance on the east actually enters what was presumably the original "basement." Depending on how much of the historic entrance details remain, I wouldn't be surprised if UC does something like they did with the 1819 Innovation Hub where they made the historic entrance (facing Reading) look like part of the windows, moving the entrance to the "back" of the building. Personally, I'd love to see the primary entrance face McMillan again, but it seems like institutional design standards at universities don't often have multiple entrances (presumably for security?) and the primary entrance will of course need to be ADA accessible. 

 

1819 Innovation Hub as seen from Reading

Edited October 27, 20213 yr by jwulsin

5 hours ago, jwulsin said:

To be pedantic, it's more like "the side is the front"... the historic entrance faced McMillan (north) while the most recent configuration had the entrance on the east. I'll be curious to see how much of the original historic entrance details remain intact. They've already begun demolition and are ripping out the EIFS. I didn't have a chance to grab a photo, but I'm excited to see this project is already underway!

 

I do hope they restore the north/McMillan facade, though I suspect the ADA compliant entrance will remain on the east due to the site's topography. As you can see in that historic photo of the church, the "ground floor" is up a lot of steps (~19) from the McMillan sidewalk. The entrance on the east actually enters what was presumably the original "basement." Depending on how much of the historic entrance details remain, I wouldn't be surprised if UC does something like they did with the 1819 Innovation Hub where they made the historic entrance (facing Reading) look like part of the windows, moving the entrance to the "back" of the building. Personally, I'd love to see the primary entrance face McMillan again, but it seems like institutional design standards at universities don't often have multiple entrances (presumably for security?) and the primary entrance will of course need to be ADA accessible. 

 

Typically you only want one main entrance to the institutional buildings so that you don't have to double up on all the security hardware and reception desk equipment. The door hardware for the main entrance adds up quickly, I remember it being a few thousand but it's probably more now. The cost goes up a fair bit when you work with historical elements since they aren't typically made to handle all of the hardware.

 

Best case scenario they remove the weird basement entrance and reno the historical one. I think we'll see a similar design to how Probasco Auditorium ended up.

 

On 10/26/2021 at 11:29 AM, jwulsin said:

• The Frank Lloyd Wright designed "Boulter House" at 1 Rawson Woods Circle in Clifton will become an "innovators in residence" for Lightship. "Boulter House will provide a space for underrepresented students, artists, architectural designers and entrepreneurs to inspire creativity, master their craft, and build community through 90-day residential fellowships and programming."

 

Kind of worried about this historical house being used like that. I worry being used as a incubator/startup house may end up causing it damage. I don't see them as being very focused on building preservation either..

21 minutes ago, RealAdamP said:

Kind of worried about this historical house being used like that. I worry being used as a incubator/startup house may end up causing it damage. I don't see them as being very focused on building preservation either.

I see your concern... but on the other hand I think it's great for a neat home like this to have a "semi public" use, since the alternative (having a private owner) would mean far fewer people ever getting to see the inside and appreciate the architecture. I'm assuming (perhaps naively) that Lighsthip bought the house because they care about architecture and want to preserve what makes the design special. 

I really doubt they restore the original front entrance. McMillan is just too inhospitable in this stretch, which is also true of the Innovation Hub on Reading.

Just now, Dev said:

McMillan is just too inhospitable in this stretch

Sadly, this is true. We need to push the City (and UC) to reconfigure McMillan and Taft and slow cars down. 

5 minutes ago, jwulsin said:

Sadly, this is true. We need to push the City (and UC) to reconfigure McMillan and Taft and slow cars down. 

the university's stance on the bike lane doesn't give me much hope.

If one of the partner or tenants in the innovation corridor ends up having workers that complain about walkability, biking, or even transit, I'd imagine UC will do something then.

The facade is going up on Calhoun. It looks like it's two parts. There's a flat component, that looks almost like it's made out of Styrofoam, with the windows built in that is attached to the building. I haven't seen the more textured wavy part being put on yet. I'll post pictures when I go up there later today.

After looking at it some more, it looks like they're not doing the more textured metal look? I think it may have been VE'd out.

23 hours ago, RealAdamP said:

After looking at it some more, it looks like they're not doing the more textured metal look? I think it may have been VE'd out.

I don’t remember the plans but are they making It more integrated with the street? 

On 11/14/2021 at 12:09 PM, Ucgrad2015 said:

I don’t remember the plans but are they making It more integrated with the street? 

 

I don't believe so. I think the first floor will still be sunken down a bit from street level. I don't think any of UC's buildings are integrated with public roads either.

The pedestrian experience getting through the complex to CCM will be much improved, with new wider stairs and walkways, and MarketPointe will also be much better integrated to the pedestrian path/exterior. The residence halls themselves will still be pretty removed from the street however. Dorms are pretty secure buildings so I'm not sure it will ever feel well integrated with the street. 

The facade is progressing on Calhoun Hall. I'm assumming they're going to continue adding those "mullions" to the windows so that all the floors have the same pattern as what's shown on the top floor. 

 

They made a building from the 60s look like a building from... the 70s. I guess that technically counts as modernizing it? 

Is there still hope for the more textured façade or has that shipped sailed?

23 minutes ago, RealAdamP said:

Is there still hope for the more textured façade or has that shipped sailed?

The drawings I saw from UC/MSA showed "megawall" panels which is a prefab metal facade system. This is... not that.

7 hours ago, ucgrady said:

They made a building from the 60s look like a building from... the 70s. I guess that technically counts as modernizing it? 

 

Oh, be nice.  It reminds me more of an 80's Atrium.  Perhaps Two of them?

This picture isn’t that much newer than the previous one, but it was an excuse to photograph a Wookiee/stormtrooper letting their dog poop.

UC approves spending millions to start work on indoor practice facility

By Steve Watkins  –  Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

 

The University of Cincinnati’s board of trustees has approved spending $7 million to start work on its new indoor practice facility.

UC is spending that money on design and pre-construction work for the facility to be built on the site of the Sheakley Athletic Center. It will replace UC’s current football practice facility at that location at the northwest corner of Corry Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue, just east of Nippert Stadium. The current facility has a full and a half football field and is covered by an inflatable bubble during the cold-weather months.

 

“That facility has reached its useful life and is actually beyond its useful life,” Pat Kowalski, UC’s acting senior vice president for administration and finance, said at the meeting.

 

The $7 million portion of the project includes design work, estimating and other work aimed at determining a final maximum cost of the project. The full cost has yet to be set. No timetable for construction has been announced.

 

MORE

I wonder how much of the existing built infrastructure along "Champions Avenue" will be included/integrated/demolished in order to build this. It would be great if the building improved life along Jefferson (over what the existing concrete wall is doing).

Didnt see this until today, looks as if it wasnt posted yet. New  Clifton Court Hall renders,   https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/01/05/massive-uc-project-grows-reveals-design-slideshow.html

9 minutes ago, SleepyLeroy said:

Didnt see this until today, looks as if it wasnt posted yet. New  Clifton Court Hall renders,   https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/01/05/massive-uc-project-grows-reveals-design-slideshow.html 

 

Was shared back in January 2021, but good to look at the rendering again. The excavation that's underway for this project is substantial. They had to remove a lot of dirt for this project.

 

 

On 12/15/2021 at 10:21 PM, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

UC approves spending millions to start work on indoor practice facility

By Steve Watkins  –  Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

 

The University of Cincinnati’s board of trustees has approved spending $7 million to start work on its new indoor practice facility.

UC is spending that money on design and pre-construction work for the facility to be built on the site of the Sheakley Athletic Center. It will replace UC’s current football practice facility at that location at the northwest corner of Corry Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue, just east of Nippert Stadium. The current facility has a full and a half football field and is covered by an inflatable bubble during the cold-weather months.

 

“That facility has reached its useful life and is actually beyond its useful life,” Pat Kowalski, UC’s acting senior vice president for administration and finance, said at the meeting.

 

The $7 million portion of the project includes design work, estimating and other work aimed at determining a final maximum cost of the project. The full cost has yet to be set. No timetable for construction has been announced.

 

MORE

UC has also officially started construction on the football teams new locker room. 4million+ dollars and I’m told it’s gonna be top notch. Huge investments coming as they head into the Big 12 Conference.

It will be done before the start of this upcoming season. It's going to be very impressive.

The University's turn around from the absolute mess that it was in the 80s deserves a lot of credit for re-energizing the city.

 

What’s next for UC’s $70 million indoor practice facility

 

The University of Cincinnati has taken another step in moving forward with its plans to build a $70 million indoor practice facility and athlete performance center.

 

UC sent out a request for qualifications on Jan. 20, requesting design services required for the renovation of the Sheakley Athletics Center site located at the northwest corner of Corry Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue. UC is soliciting the services of a mechanical, HVAC, electric, plumbing and fire protection team that will contract with the architect for the project.

 

This is in addition to the RFQ UC sent out Dec. 15, which was requesting the services of an architect and structural engineer team with will become the architect of record for the project. The selected architect will participate with the university in the selection of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing consultants and will be required to contract with those consultants to become the architect-of-record team.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/01/24/uc-indoor-practice-facility-rfqs.html

 

UC seeks builder for $60 million renovation project

 

The University of Cincinnati is looking for a builder to oversee a more than $60 million renovation project on its main campus.

 

UC sent out a request for qualifications on Feb. 10 looking for construction management companies to oversee the planned renovation of Siddall Hall. The renovation of this 12-story residence hall is expected to be a total investment of about $60.5 million.

 

Siddall Hall, located at 2540 Corbett Drive, is a concrete framed residence hall built in 1964. The university is planning to fully vacate the building for a comprehensive renovation.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2022/02/25/uc-seeks-builder-for-60-million-renovation-project.html

 

Is the marketpointe renovations part of either of these or are they doing that on their own? I haven't seen any noticeable work going on in there, so was just curious. 

Just now, tonyt3524 said:

Is the marketpointe renovations part of either of these or are they doing that on their own? I haven't seen any noticeable work going on in there, so was just curious. 

 

If I remember, marketpointe is part of the Siddall renovation scope.

MarketPointe was spun off into it's own project to be publicly bid (probably just to keep costs honest) and GBBN/Messer was awarded that portion, where MSA/Messer is doing Calhoun tower.

Anybody know details or updates about the "Bioscience Center" that UC is putting into the renovated building that used to house the Coroner's office at 3159 Eden Ave?

 

I haven't been able to locate any renderings or design details. Mostly I'm curious if/how they're going to deal with the previously windowless brick facade. 

 

As of August of last year, UC was saying they were on track to have the renovation completed in time to open in Fall 2022. 

https://www.newsrecord.org/news/former-coroner-s-office-building-to-be-converted-into-new-bioscience-center/article_b5389fdc-06f1-11ec-84d6-4bd47939b543.html

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/01/08/uc-plans-conversion-of-coroners-office.html

UC Health celebrates construction milestone on record $221M project: PHOTOS

By Liz Engel  –  Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

 

UC Health officials celebrated a construction milestone on a more than $221 million project at its Clifton campus — an expansion and renovation effort that stands as the largest capital project in the system’s history.

 

Officials, including UC Health and UC College of Medicine leaders and employees, and community and construction partners, hosted a beam signing/topping-out ceremony Wednesday afternoon as the final structural support was placed atop a new emergency department and surgical building at UC Medical Center. UC Health officially broke ground on the project in summer 2021.

 

MORE

We finally have movement on The District project. I drove by earlier and saw equipment on site of The Hub. Trinitas also posted the below update on their website. Exciting to see all the stuff going on around UC. https://courbanize.com/projects/trinitas-cuf/updates

 

Week of 4-4-22 Update

A1- Findorff/Core (The Hub)

This Week 

Began mobilizing to the site

Equipment delivery

Site clearing

Next Week

Equipment delivery for earth retention work

 

Utility/Street Scape/Infrastructure - Prus/Crawford Hoying/Trinitas

This Week

Mobilized to the site

Began work on Clifton from Straight St working North 

Expect daily lane closures

 Next Week

Continue work on Clifton

Expect daily lane closures

 

A2- Brackett Builders/Crawford Hoying (Hotel Celare)

Completed public hearing in preparation for Planning Commission

 

Posted on Apr 8, 2022

Former Shriners Hospital repairs top $70M as buyer preps for next use

By Liz Engel  –  Staff reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier

 

The former Shriners Hospital is in line for more than $70 million worth of improvements as the University of Cincinnati prepares the building for its next use. 

 

UC’s board Tuesday approved $71.3 million worth of renovations and improvements to the now-shuttered pediatric hospital at 3229 Burnet Ave. The work includes $65.6 million to upgrade portions of the building due to its age and another $5.7 million in maintenance repairs to the adjoining parking garage. 

 

MORE

UC unveils plan for new $30M alumni building

Kate Murphy

 

The University of Cincinnati is building a new, permanent home for the UC Alumni Association on campus, which is estimated to cost $30 million.

 

The association's old building on West Campus, the Russell C. Myers Alumni Center, will be torn down in 2017 to make room for the construction of the new Lindner College of Business. The nearly 300,000 alumni association members will be temporarily placed off-campus until the new alumni building is complete.

 

The university is seeking a "nationally recognized" architectural firm to design the new central facility, potentially using the historic YMCA building on the southern edge of West Campus.

 

MORE

1 hour ago, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

UC unveils plan for new $30M alumni building

Kate Murphy

 

The University of Cincinnati is building a new, permanent home for the UC Alumni Association on campus, which is estimated to cost $30 million.

 

The association's old building on West Campus, the Russell C. Myers Alumni Center, will be torn down in 2017 to make room for the construction of the new Lindner College of Business. The nearly 300,000 alumni association members will be temporarily placed off-campus until the new alumni building is complete.

 

The university is seeking a "nationally recognized" architectural firm to design the new central facility, potentially using the historic YMCA building on the southern edge of West Campus.

 

MORE

^Uhm.... unless I'm missing some "news"... that is an article from 2016. 

There is some active construction happening at the former YWCA building, but I haven't see any plans unveiled. Hopefully this can all be wrapped in to an effort that reimagines the SW corner of campus, possibly even replacing the former College of Law building.

7 minutes ago, taestell said:

There is some active construction happening at the former YWCA building, but I haven't see any plans unveiled. Hopefully this can all be wrapped in to an effort that reimagines the SW corner of campus, possibly even replacing the former College of Law building.

 

I believe the YMCA is currently just being stripped of asbestos, lead paint, etc without an end use and buildout planned. But I could be wrong.

As I have previously speculated in this thread, I can only assume there is some internal disagreement, e.g. the University wants the Alumni Association to move into the building but they want some signature new building rather than inheriting "the old YWCA", or something along those lines.