i can see into the future...

 

also, i think the banks is going to be a bit of a letdown for us, so i am really happy they were able to get this started on time.

 

You think the Banks will be a letdown for W&S or just a letdown in general?

^ Well, you have to keep in mind that W&S tried to get the city to lower the height restrictions.

You think the Banks will be a letdown for W&S or just a letdown in general?

 

I guess I really mean:

 

QCS II > Anything in the Banks

Amazing it takes so long to build a skyscraper these days. It took just over a year to build the Empire state building..lol

Awesome news - I guess we will finally find out the actual height, although I would be happy with 689 ft.  I agree that this will have a great effect as it will be so visible.  I wonder if they actually have some prospective tenants - some details will apparently be given tomorrow afternoon.   

 

OK...so I can let it out that I am obsessed with the height.  With the increase of 3 floors I see this as being a 700+ project.    Breaking that psychological barrier will be huge.  At that height it won't look ridiculous (see MP) and break the visual balance.

^ I agree, the taller the better, but even at 40 floors, plus the tiara ... this is going to be massive.

Driving down cut in the hill earlier this morning, i imagined the view.  It's gonna be a nice addition.  It will really pull the visual mass eastward, and make the city look almost a third bigger, as the current weight centers so heavily on PNC/Carew.  If you can remember how 312 Walnut pulled the weight east when it was built, QCS will the the same even moreso.

^Good point!

Way to go, Nicker66.  You da man.

 

I've been passing your gospel that this thing was a go, and nobody believed me.  Not in my office, not even my wife!  Someone's actually going to owe me $5 because of your info.  I'll split it with you!

I think as far as they were along in the process, the Banks getting started had to really push Eagle/W&S into overdrive.  They obviously didn't want any competition from a large tower on the Banks, and now are pushing ahead to be out of the ground first just in case The Banks guys might have a large tenant in the wings.

Ya I bet the banks is what really pushed this project into reality.

Question:

 

What effect does the launch of the Banks and the accompanying commercial influx have to do with spurring this project to fruition?  Do you think that QCSII would have continued to languish if the competitive forces hadn't anted up?

 

I'm not sure the push to build QCS2 has anything to do with the Banks or any other project. Just happens to coincide with everything else. After all, they have been saying possibly a 2008 construction start for around 3 years now. It's almost 2008 ;-)

 

 

 

What I was hoping to hear was QCSII will be fast-tracked due to the impending glut of commercial space in The Banks.  A "me first" situation.

 

Wow.  Color me visionary.

There is so much going on in Cincy right now. This is awesome news. By 2011 nobody is going to recognize this place (in a good sense) I can't wait until all the naysayers are all shut up. In 2011 this place will be back on top again and the world class city that it once was. I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but I can't wait to see what's in store for Broadway Commons and the West Side.

With some 800,000 sf of new office space, I would have to think that it will create roughly 2,000 or so jobs...that is if there is a new tenant in there and not just a relocation.  That number of new jobs would be a HUGE boost for city coffers and the region as a whole.

QCS II will be another reason to keep the south of the parkway streetcar alignment on main walnut

^Yes very good point.  It would be awesome if QSII housed a new company that created a ton of new jobs, but my feeling are that it's going to be a relocation.  Hopefully if it is a relocation, that the relocation won't be from another part of downtown or the near area, but from out in the suburbs.

A simple relocation from another Downtown company won't be enough to fill this thing.  The only way that would even come close is if that particular company were looking to significantly expand (which would also be great for Downtown and the City).  All the other big-dogs (5/3, P&G, Macy's, Scripps, Chiquita) that could fill this space are pretty much set in stone where they're at.

 

I could see one of those local law firms taking up some space here, but I wouldn't completely count out the chance at a new company to the city/region.

Or from New York City.  Maybe Citibank will move here to save some of all that mortgage money they lost.

^LOL!      Sounds like a smart business move to me.

I saw this article a few months ago and it made me think...any thoughts?

 

http://www.smartbrief.com/news/aaaa/industryPR-detail.jsp?id=49C18D31-E78B-4CE4-AD3E-C9C8A3C63340

I saw this article a few months ago and it made me think...any thoughts?

 

http://www.smartbrief.com/news/aaaa/industryPR-detail.jsp?id=49C18D31-E78B-4CE4-AD3E-C9C8A3C63340

 

I wouldn't rule it out, but for some reason I expect them to go somewhere outside of the center city.  I don't know why...just a hunch.

Western & Southern executives declined to comment, but company chairman John F. Barrett has sent invitations to local developers and dignitaries for “a major announcement” Thursday afternoon.

 

If anyone knows more about this...please do tell.  I would imagine that some more details will come out tomorrow about the project that haven't yet been reported (like maybe a major tenant or something).  If there is going to be a celebratory type event then I'll be sure to be there...I just need to know where and when.

Yes I would like to know where and when as well.  It has been mentioned earlier that a law firm is looking to expand and would move into the building, so we'll have to wait and see.

(Segrams article)

 

I am just glad they find a use for that old plant.   They don't make em like that anymore!

A simple relocation from another Downtown company won't be enough to fill this thing.  The only way that would even come close is if that particular company were looking to significantly expand (which would also be great for Downtown and the City).  All the other big-dogs (5/3, P&G, Macy's, Scripps, Chiquita) that could fill this space are pretty much set in stone where they're at.

 

It won't be Chiquita, they are cutting people left and right! And 5/3 has all of their space in Madisonville, plus the recent announcement they are looking to find an alternative use for their Fountain Square West air rights.

Anyone ever notice all the smokers on that parking garage in Madisonville?  Really nothing illustrates the patheticness of suburban offices like the smokers huddled around some side entrance.  I was driving down from Columbus on a Sunday night and I guaranteed the people in my car, none of whom had ever been to town, that there would be a gang of scowl-faced overweight women smoking on that parking garage.  Well, there was only one lonely security guard, but at least I didn't embarrass myself completely. 

Hello - I'm new here, and just found the place by following as many links as I could when I heard the story on the radio.  Question: does anyone know who conducted, or is conducting, the structural engineering of this place?

^I got nothing.

 

Seems to me a law firm would be a good possibility, but do you think that would be considered a MAJOR TENENT???    How much space would one of these firms need and do we even have any that are large enough to fill that beast?

It is just me or what? but I've read in a few different post now that someone has inquired about who is responsible for the structural engineering.  Wonder what that's all about?

the architect is HOK out of St. Louis

the structural engineer is Thorton-Tomasetti Engineers out of Chicago

Well Ronnie, WLWT NBC used your rendering this morning on their story of Queen City Square and they didn't credit you.

 

EDIT: What do you know, they even have your rendering on their website:

http://www.wlwt.com/slideshow/news/14890918/detail.html

 

Looks like they pulled them from my internet gallery of Queen City Square:

http://www.pbase.com/cincyimages/queen_city_square

 

 

nicker66, When is Western Southern going to release new renderings of Queen City Square.  Has the look of the building changed since the initial renderings?

 

This was in cleveland.com - congrats Cincy!

 

Office tower would be tallest in Cincinnati

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Associated Press

Cincinnati - A building proposed for downtown Cincinnati would be the city's tallest structure, a 40-story office tower near the Ohio River.

 

Western & Southern Financial Group met with city officials on Tuesday to propose a timeline for its Queen City Square project, which could open in 2011.

 

Turner Construction would be the project manager. The plan is for 800,000 square feet of office space, 21,000 square feet of ground-level retail and 1,300 parking spaces on nine levels, city officials said.

 

A distinctive arching roof would make it taller than the 574-foot Carew Tower, even though it would have fewer floors. It would not be the tallest building in Ohio, however. That distinction belongs to Cleveland's 947-foot Key Tower.

 

ha, its so funny, when I saw MayDay posted in this topic, I said "I bet hes going to do something like he did when Cincy found out about the new grocery store coming to downtown and say, 'oh, nice new tower but we here in cleveland are spoiled by our taller key tower'..."

 

ha! :wink:

^ Classic, I think it has been 2 years since I have seen that graphic.  I love the last sentence in the Cleveland article, nothing like a little city rivalry.

Well Ronnie, WLWT NBC used your rendering this morning on their story of Queen City Square and they didn't credit you.

 

EDIT: What do you know, they even have your rendering on their website:

http://www.wlwt.com/slideshow/news/14890918/detail.html

 

Looks like they pulled them from my internet gallery of Queen City Square:

http://www.pbase.com/cincyimages/queen_city_square

 

 

 

 

Ronnie, you should ask for some sort of royalty fee ... I love how the media just grabs whatever they can find without asking.

 

Monte, I thought the same thing ... I thought I bet they went to CincyImages.com and just grabbed everything off there.

Hey, I love Cincy (and you know it) - it's great to see this one get moving.

 

nicker66, When is Western Southern going to release new renderings of Queen City Square.  Has the look of the building changed since the initial renderings?

 

 

all the details aren't worked out yet, but i can assure you the "tiara" is staying.  since demo isn't starting until spring, updated drawings might not appear for months.

Fair enough...  Do you happen to have some older renderings that aren't widely available on the web that you can share?

 

(With the understanding that the look of the building could change by spring)

 

 

 

Well Ronnie, WLWT NBC used your rendering this morning on their story of Queen City Square and they didn't credit you.

 

EDIT: What do you know, they even have your rendering on their website:

http://www.wlwt.com/slideshow/news/14890918/detail.html

 

Well at least WLWT NBC covered the story...I was watching WCPO ABC last evening at 5pm until about 6pm and there was NO mention of the project!  They did however manage to work in the breaking news of Britney Spears' 16 year old sister being pregnant.  Thanks you tools.

OMG!!!

Are we sure that's one of Ronnie's renderings?

Are we sure that's one of Ronnie's renderings?

 

We're talking about the third one in the slide show...the image showing the tower placed in the skyline as seen from Devou Park.

im getting antsy....when will this news be announced today.....ugh.....

Well Ronnie, WLWT NBC used your rendering this morning on their story of Queen City Square and they didn't credit you.

 

EDIT: What do you know, they even have your rendering on their website:

http://www.wlwt.com/slideshow/news/14890918/detail.html

 

Well at least WLWT NBC covered the story...I was watching WCPO ABC last evening at 5pm until about 6pm and there was NO mention of the project!  They did however manage to work in the breaking news of Britney Spears' 16 year old sister being pregnant.  Thanks you tools.

 

 

A day late, but it's on today for WCPO.

I heard a private meeting to discuss announcement was scheduled for 4P.M. on the 14th floor of queen city square I

4 pm!!!!!!! I cant wait any longer....I need a nap.

 

LOL!!!

Are we sure that's one of Ronnie's renderings?

 

We're talking about the third one in the slide show...the image showing the tower placed in the skyline as seen from Devou Park.

 

Ahh... I knew that first one wasn't.  That was my confusion.

4 pm!!!!!!! I cant wait any longer....I need a nap.

 

The only other time I get this excited is when there is an Apple Keynote by Steve Jobs in anticipation of new Mac products.  ;)