^What do you mean.....its not like earthquakes are in this part of the country:

 

Small quake hits northeast Ohio, but goes unnoticed

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

September 21, 2006

 

PAINESVILLE - Northeast Ohio has recorded another in a flurry of light earthquakes, but this time there were no reports of people feeling it, officials said.  A 2.2-magnitude earthquake hit about two miles northeast of Painesville in Lake County on the morning of Sept. 14, said Mike Hansen, director of the Ohio Seismic Network.  It was in the same area of the Lake Erie shoreline that has had 16 low-intensity earthquakes since November, he said.

 

Researchers who measure the quakes with 25 remote sensors don't know what's causing the rash of small earthquakes, Hansen said.  It's possible they've always occurred but there was no measuring equipment to detect them.  Before the latest earthquake, it had been a month since one had hit, Hansen said.

 

The biggest of the recent earthquakes was recorded June 20 and measured 3.8.  By comparison, the deadly quake that hit the Northridge area of Los Angeles in 1994 was a 6.7 magnitude.

 

Full article at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060921/NEWS01/609210378/1056

With all that leaning concrete, is this structure even going to be sound?

 

Oh, I am sure it will be, the structure has a gigantic shear wall to withstand lateral loadings (Wind, Earthquake) in addition to vertical loads.

 

As for whether this structure will survive the next New Madrid, I am sure it will be, but you certainly will feel the earthquake all throughout the region. There is a wonderful figure in my Geology book about the intensity that would be felt if New Madrid ruptured and had a major earthquake-- for the region Cincinnati is in the 1811 New Madrid Earthquake caused a seismic intensity of 6-7. This intensity equates to on the low end, "Felt by all; many frightened and run outdoors. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of cracked plaster; unstable objects overturned. Disturbance of trees, poles, and other tall objects sometimes noticed. Pendulum clocks may stop," and on the higher end "Everybody runs outdoors. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well built structures; considerable in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken. Noticed by persons driving motor cars".

 

Now you know what to expect should New Madrid rupture in our lifetimes.

 

Quotes from Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists, 3rd Ed, Alan E. Kehew

^You probably are a year or two too young to remember the New Madrid earthquake scare from I think 1988.  Some guy predicted the exact date, I think it was December 8, 1988, and somehow all the news channels in the region picked it up and all kinds of school districts cancelled classes for that day because the demand from parents was so intense.  Of course nothing happened, and the guy who predicted it amazingly ended up dying the next month from a stroke or something so he ended up not having to live the rest of his life with that absurd prediction looming over him.

That prediction was for Monday, December 3rd, 1990.  I remember that day because the 49ers and the Giants were both undefeated (13-0) and played each other on Monday Night Football.  I think Channel 5 was particularly responsible for the hype...trying to manufacture the news when none happened!

 

Here are some fascinating facts about magnitude of the New Madrid earthquakes:

 

--Survivors reported that the earthquakes caused cracks to open in the earth's surface, the ground to roll in visible waves, and large areas of land to sink or rise. The crew of the New Orleans (the first steamboat on the Mississippi, which was on her maiden voyage) reported mooring to an island only to awake in the morning and find that the island had disappeared below the waters of the Mississippi River. Damage was reported as far away as Charleston, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C.

http://www.cusec.org/S_zones/NMSZ/nmsz_home.htm

 

--Earthquakes in the central or eastern United States affect much larger areas than earthquakes of similar magnitude in the western United States. For example, the San Francisco, California, earthquake of 1906 (magnitude 7.8) was felt 350 miles away in the middle of Nevada, whereas the New Madrid earthquake of December 1811 (magnitude 8.0) rang church bells in Boston, Massachusetts, 1,000 miles away.

http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/NewMadrid

 

--The course of the Mississippi River was changed, and forests were destroyed over an area of 150,000 acres.

http://hsv.com/genlintr/newmadrd

 

Here are a couple of pics I got November 11.  A news article from the 11/10/06 Enquirer follows.

 

 

 

 

 

Ascent continues its climb

BY MIKE RUTLEDGE | ENQUIRER STAFF REPORTER

 

COVINGTON - The Ascent at Roebling's Bridge is halfway finished in its trip toward the sky.

 

"The new icon of the skyline is halfway built," said Debbie Vicchiarelli, spokeswoman for Corporex Cos., developer of the 22-story, crescent-shaped tower that will house luxury condominiums.

 

"We are framing the 11th floor, which is halfway up the building," she said about the structure, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind.

 

"The next phases of construction, the sloping roofline starts," Vicchiarelli said. "This is the last full-square floor" before the angular 10-story roofline begins.

 

Two more contracts were offered this week, which would mean 47 of 71 units (66 percent), including the penthouses, are claimed, she said. The building is to be completed next November.

 

E-mail [email protected]

 

http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20061110/NEWS0103/611100388

 

This is really starting to take shape, I can't wait until it is finished.

A couple from another angle, also from November 11:

 

 

The ascent of all places!

 

32 Busted In N Ky Immigration Raid

 

 

 

Reported by: Tom McKee

Web produced by: Laura Hornsby

Photographed by: 9News

First posted: 11/29/2006 10:58:47 AM

Last updated: 11/29/2006 12:12:37 PM

Update @ 11/29/2006 12:12:37 PM:

 

It appears the people who were arrested at the Home Depot store in Florence, were headed to work at either The Ascent at Roebling or the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, said Tom Sheben with the Boone County Sheriff's Department.

 

"Home Depot was a pickup location where they all got in a van and went to covington," Scheben said.

 

 

-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Original story posted @ 11/29/2006 10:58:47 AM:

More than 30 suspected illegal immigrants were rounded up Wednesday morning and arrested at two Northern Kentucky construction sites.

 

Gail Montenegro of ICE, Immigration Control and Enforcement, confirms that the bust is ongoing, with those arrested being taken to the Boone County jail.

 

Tom Sheben with the Boone County Sheriff's Department says the 32 were in Covington and the Home Depot store in Florence.

 

This is the first major immigration-related law enforcement activity in the Tri-state since May, when more than 80 illegal immigrants were arrested.

 

The people arrested in May were working for subcontractors at Fischer Homes construction sites.

 

 

^That should probably go in the illegal immigration thread

 

^^Thx for the updated pics grasscat!!!

wow, Covington, that's impressive!

the crane is currently growing....

wow cool pics. great to see this baby going up so fast. looks like the top apts will really get a lot of light.

 

the leaning pillars remind me of the crazy gehry iac building construction pics in my nabe in ny.

 

keep'em coming!

 

I didn't see this one posted.  It's from the 11/14/06 Enquirer:

 

 

Covington Mayor seeks splash

Hopes condos' modern design draws attention to city; Architect's riverfront tower to be completed in a year

BY MIKE RUTLEDGE | ENQUIRER STAFF REPORTER

 

When the Denver Art Museum opened its angular, titanium-clad Daniel Libeskind-designed building Oct. 7, more than 34,000 people walked through the doors in the first 24 hours, and a crew for CNN International recorded the event.  That's the kind of architectural splash Covington Mayor Butch Callery hopes Libeskind's 22-story Ascent at Roebling's Bridge luxury condominium tower near his city's riverfront will make when it opens in about a year.

 

"I think it'll be one of those architectural masterpieces that people will want to see," Callery predicted. "You'll have people coming into town, and it'll be one of the places they go look at - similar to the Sears Tower, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center.  "I think this will be right in that league, except it'll be a residential development," Callery said about developer Corporex Cos.' 22-story tower, where construction crews have reached the 11th floor.

 

Full article at http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20061114/NEWS0103/611140372

 

Anyone hear about the scandal? That they hired illegals to help build this thing.

Amazing...something Corporex is involved in doe snot have complete drawings or dimensions.  :roll:

 

I guarantee you slick William has his attorneys all over this alleged illegal immigrant thing with their drywall contractor....and it will get ugly.

 

I like the design...just mot much on the players.

 

"I think it'll be one of those architectural masterpieces that people will want to see," Callery predicted. "You'll have people coming into town, and it'll be one of the places they go look at - similar to the Sears Tower, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center.

 

 

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

Pass me what that guy is smoking.

^Actually they'll hit this and Museum Plaza and then get back on the plane, all without crossing into Ohio. 

from the webcam image it appears as though they have begun to hang the pre-cast panels...the bottom right corner.

Anyone hear about the scandal? That they hired illegals to help build this thing.

 

Yeah read about 6 posts up.

"I think it'll be one of those architectural masterpieces that people will want to see," Callery predicted. "You'll have people coming into town, and it'll be one of the places they go look at - similar to the Sears Tower, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center.

 

 

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

Pass me what that guy is smoking.

 

Hey, if that became part of the goal, maybe they'd give the building a public observation deck!  Please, please, please, emulate those structures in that regard!

 

^ that's a great idea.

 

regardless if they let the public up to the top or not i am really interested in the look up there, it seems that it will be unique.

 

but yeah, adding an observation area would be the best of all worlds.

 

^ if you look at the sold/not sold diagram that they have on the website there are a few grey blocks above the penthouse unit.  i guess either these might indicate dead spaces, or maybe some sort of rooftop garden.  there hasnt been any mention however about any public space up there.  i parked over at river center last week just to take a look at progress.  i would suggest that to anybody that has the time.  the curves and sloping really looks impressive in person and i also think the building will appear much more slender than it does in the renderings.  you can see through the webcam now that they have completed quite a bit of the pre-cast installation now.

Here is an updated regularly webcam for your viewing pleasure:

DEMON BUILDING OF TERROR!!!

Ascent is rising

Developer says 70 pct. of units sold

By Kerry Duke

Post staff reporter

 

The Ascent at Roebling's Bridge, the $55 million luxury tower at the foot of the 140-year-old Suspension Bridge in Covington, is rising higher daily.  "Construction is on schedule," Debra Vicchiarelli, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for developer Corporex Cos., said Monday of the high-rise that is expected to be completed by November.

 

Crews were pouring concrete on the 16th and 17th floors on Monday, and the crane at the work site on Scott Boulevard in Covington has now been extended to the maximum height needed to top out the 21-story high-rise that will feature 72 condominiums ranging in price from $395,000 to the $4.5 million Pinnacle Penthouse. 

 

"We now have finished the body of the tower and now are working on the sloping roofline for the homes that line the top of the building," Vicchiarelli said. "We are working our way up."  She said crews have begun some of the interior "rough-ins" so visitors can now see where walls will go, where plumbing runs extend and the like.  Concrete will continue to be poured for the next several weeks, and in spring the steel that will make up the top of the superstructure will begin to go up.

 

Full article at http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070109/NEWS01/701090364

Some pics from today...

 

 

 

 

 

^---u know, it's like impossible to look at this building straight. Everytime I look at a picture from each angle, I find myself tweaking my head and thinking to myself "that can't be right". I mean seriously, look at that close-up pic 2 post above and tell me that the facade they are laying doesn't look crooked as compared to the columns behind it. I'll bet it's a nightmare for the construction crew!  :? :? :? :?

^---u know, it's like impossible to look at this building straight. Everytime I look at a picture from each angle, I find myself tweaking my head and thinking to myself "that can't be right". I mean seriously, look at that close-up pic 2 post above and tell me that the facade they are laying doesn't look crooked as compared to the columns behind it. I'll bet it's a nightmare for the construction crew!  :? :? :? :?

 

That is what makes this bldg unique architecturally.  This is the purpose of the architect's design.

This building is amazing. The best angle is from the entrance ramp to the bridge towards cincinnati. WOW! :-o

That is what makes this bldg unique architecturally.  This is the purpose of the architect's design.

 

 

Oh, I agree that this building is unique, but for people to place it up there with Empire, Sears or whatever else as a top tourist destination is pushing it a little bit. Maybe if it was a 500+ footer with an observation deck, but not at it's current design height.

 

I wonder if this may start an architectural revolution up sorts with future projects for the CBD. It will be interesting to see what other unique buildings designs pop up. :)

^ it most certainly would be great if other people would follow by example...including mr. butler himself.  i am familiar with a project potential project on the boards where he has slipped back to his old ways.  i think the developers of One River Plaza are trying to do something with a little more spice than is typical for the area too.  for whatever reason companies around here are too afriad to do something out of the ordinary. 

 

 

it most certainly would be great if other people would follow by example...including mr. butler himself.  i am familiar with a project potential project on the boards where he has slipped back to his old ways.

 

 

What project would that be?

 

 

That is what makes this bldg unique architecturally.  This is the purpose of the architect's design.

 

 

Oh, I agree that this building is unique, but for people to place it up there with Empire, Sears or whatever else as a top tourist destination is pushing it a little bit. Maybe if it was a 500+ footer with an observation deck, but not at it's current design height.

 

I wonder if this may start an architectural revolution up sorts with future projects for the CBD. It will be interesting to see what other unique buildings designs pop up. :)

 

we don't need an architectural revolution.  We need architectural evolution.  The traditional building practices in places like over the rhine, charleston SC, savannah GA and all the places that are admired for their buildings came about gradually over hundreds of years and drew from concepts that had been born in renisance Italy and post fire London.  We need to respect the past and not deviate from what has worked and has enduring value just to impress people for a short time.  Remeber the hideous modernist architecture from the middle of the previous century was revolutionary and praised at the time, but it didn't have any staying power and now is being disregarded.  We need to turn the clock back to the begining of the 20th century and gradually change the designs that existed then, ignoring the bulk of the 20th century's automobile centric, city evicerating growth.

Oh, I agree that this building is unique, but for people to place it up there with Empire, Sears or whatever else as a top tourist destination is pushing it a little bit. Maybe if it was a 500+ footer with an observation deck, but not at it's current design height.

 

Ohh...I would most certainly not compare this bldg to the likes of ESB or Sears...they are not only completely different in scale but also importance.  The Acent will be a nice addition for the Cincinnati region, but I expect it to have no more impact than the Vontz Center on UC's East Campus.  When people are in the neighborhood, they will make an effort to go check it out...but they will certainly not base a trip around it!

Shots from Wednesday, January 24. 

 

 

 

 

Wow...a very exciting update!  Seeing windows and cladding and balconies!

 

so this is what, 22 floors?  so how tall do you think its going to be from ground to the top point of the ascent?

so this is what, 22 floors?  so how tall do you think its going to be from ground to the top point of the ascent?

 

It's 300 ft.

While I think the building is interesting, I've never been a fan of cantilevered exterior balconies.  I walys thought they looked like @#$%. Take the Celestial for example. My wife considers that building urban blight.

Take the Celestial for example. My wife considers that building urban blight.

 

well she shouldn't

They sure are moving fast! Somehow it just doesn't look as "cool" as the renderings made me think it would, probably due to the bland cladding.

 

But thanks for the update!

yea and its also not close to being done so im sure it will look much better when done  :wink:

wow, i really think that looks slick.  especially the view closest to where they have already instaled a lot of the glass.  i agree the balconies look like crap but hopefully they will look better with their railings.  i love the simplicity of the skin and the complexity of the structure.

Take the Celestial for example. My wife considers that building urban blight.

 

well she shouldn't

 

Hmm. I dunno.  I can't say I'm a fan of the building either.

 

For the record, the official name according to Emporis is Highland Towers.

^The celestial is not the best building, not even close, but if we start dropping the definition of blight that low then we are in trouble.

Yeah, the only good thing about the Celestial is the view and the Kobe beef...

 

Contractor guides Ascent tower toward its pinnacle

Dugan weeks away from peak of sloping condo building

Cincinnati Business Courier - February 2, 2007

by Laura BavermanStaff Reporter

 

Daniel Libeskind may be the brains behind Corporex's Ascent condo tower, but Dan Dugan is the bricks and mortar.  As the general contractor, Dugan makes sure the building's bulging concrete structure is compatible with the custom-made structural steel beams that frame its sloping roof.  He must coordinate the seemingly random placement of light-colored pre-cast concrete with the building's blue-tinted curtainwall system, and make sure each floor of the building's northeast corner is 10 inches longer than the next, to create a 25-foot overhang from ground level to the tip.  "It's quite the challenge," Dugan said. "But we're fortunate to be able to work on it."

 

Dugan's firm, Dugan & Meyers Construction Co., was chosen as general contractor for the $55 million project, mostly due to its work on signature local buildings such as the Vontz Center for Molecular Studies and the College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning at the University of Cincinnati, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.  He's responsible for every aspect of construction, making sure the Ascent is built according to world-renowned architect Libeskind's design.

 

Full article at http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/02/05/story5.html?b=1170651600^1411566

Yeah, the only good thing about the Celestial is the view and the Kobe beef...

 

 

just the view then.

 

what you ate there was the imported japanese wagyu steer beef from texas that is now fairly common. real kobe beef from japan, that is the famous steer that are massaged and given special diets, is hellishly more expensive than the celestial menu and in fact only recently legal. calling the wagyu steer beef "kobe beef" is an underhanded restaurant marketing gimmick all across the usa.

 

 

famous steer that are massaged and given special diets

Yes and they are also given Sake to relax and that helps the meats tenderness.

 

Man oh man this building is cool!! The blaconys are going to be sweet if evrybody would put plants out.

 

Here's an older article from January that I didn't see posted.  It features some opinions on the building:

 

 

Opinions on Ascent take form

As tower rises, so does interest

BY MIKE RUTLEDGE | [email protected]

 

COVINGTON - With outer walls starting to appear on the 22-story Daniel Libeskind-designed "Ascent at Roebling's Bridge" luxury condominium tower, people passing by are intrigued by the building's evolution.

 

Many love it.  Others are undecided about the whitish rectangular cast-concrete panels being installed.  Still others say they don't care much what the building looks like.  They just hope it will spark development near Covington's riverfront - luring more restaurants to replace the recently closed Donna's Diner and Jack Quinn's Restaurant & Irish Pub.

 

Full article at http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070117/NEWS0103/701170376