June 13, 201015 yr I was bored, and this model inspired me. So I plopped a 700 footer at Third and Vine. Love the work. Why Third and Vine though? I don't see AFG giving up that block. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
June 13, 201015 yr This all reminds me of something I did a long time ago. I used to have ideas about what the city's skyline would look like with different towers here and there, so I sketched up a rough drawing. Where QCS is now, I had a taller tower...about 750'. Fountain Square West had a tower of about 800', and I inserted a tower of about 850' where the Aronoff Center now is on Walnut. Where Civvik has placed a 700-footer in his mock-up above, I likewise had a tower of the same height. And just so it didn't look to heavy on the east, I put in a 450-footer in the vicinity of 4th and Plum. Cincinnati's skyline would really be different, and quite frankly I think it would be greatly improved, if some of these ideas we have could actually become a reality. Did anyone else ever do this sort of thing...draw fantasy sketches of what you'd like the skyline to look like?
June 13, 201015 yr Having large buildings on every north-south streets would certainly help the skyline. Main, Race and Elm all lack a giant to loom large. Main in particular leaves a gap, and if Race and Elm had big buildings, you could put almost anything downtown. Except that Sears building, hehe.
June 13, 201015 yr Yeah, I agree. As much as I'd like to see something taller than QCS downtown, I wouldn't want something the height of Sears Tower. I forgot to mention before...speaking of the Aronoff Center, prior to that there had been a plan for a tower which, when viewed from above, resembled a 3-leaf clover. Does anyone by chance have a rendering of that, or know where I might be able to find one? I don't remember what the project was named, and not sure why they scrapped the idea, but it was a cool looking tower.
June 13, 201015 yr There is now a new thread for Cincinnati Google Earth models. Enjoy! http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,23513.0.html
June 14, 201015 yr I forgot to mention before...speaking of the Aronoff Center, prior to that there had been a plan for a tower which, when viewed from above, resembled a 3-leaf clover. Does anyone by chance have a rendering of that, or know where I might be able to find one? I don't remember what the project was named, and not sure why they scrapped the idea, but it was a cool looking tower. That was known as the Pluss project, named for a European developer that was going to do it, I never saw an actual rendering, but the model was huge. It was 41 stories if memory served and basically the footprint of the Aronoff without the little theatre pushing towards Main. It had huge floorplates and was almost as tall as the Carew Tower.
June 16, 201014 yr I just thought this was an awesome shot: From QCS website: http://queencitysquare.com/construction.php
June 16, 201014 yr I believe the curtain wall is like 99% complete. The rest will be installed when they take down the cranes I presume. The second ring of the tiara is also nearly complete with new pieces arriving today.
June 16, 201014 yr Nice one. Sherman, where's the rest of your shots? Coming this evening. I've been delayed a few days :(
June 16, 201014 yr Hey, if they keep the crane up, it'll definitely be taller than Carew. Good idea. Also, they should put a flagpole on top of the crane! You know, just to be sure.
June 16, 201014 yr ^and mount a webcam to the top of the flag pole to add a few more inches. ...with a protective rain cap. and lightning rod.
June 16, 201014 yr Might as well do an array of cameras at several different heights and viewing angles. That way, it will be future-proofed for panoramic 3D.
June 17, 201014 yr I believe just slightly taller than that, if I remember overhearing that correctly.
June 17, 201014 yr Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's still one more arch they have to put up above the one they are finishing right now, right?
June 17, 201014 yr To the top of Queen City Square's tiara... many new photos from the top :) http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,23603.0.html
June 17, 201014 yr ^^ and ^^^ You're both right, depending on how you look at it. By Brad's definition, they are currently in the middle of constructing four arches. By 1012's definition, they are currently constructing one arch. By Brad's definition, there are three arches left, after the current ones are completed. By 1012's, there is one left.
June 17, 201014 yr Whoever chose that curtain wall made a great choice. It seems the building takes on a different character at all times of the day. Sunlight looks great against it. It's the best looking transformer ever:)
June 17, 201014 yr Will there be any effort to conceal the H-vac or whatever that is on the roof? You can see right through the tiara and see this hulking concrete mess, and it looks really bad imo. I would assume they would be doing something to hide that a bit, right?
June 17, 201014 yr The lowest arch of the tiara, with the vertical struts, will be covered with more cladding and the company's logo.
June 17, 201014 yr Yes. Every rendering I have seen of the completed tower clearly show the lower portion of the "tiara" covered and including the company logo. All of the HVAC stuff is completed and nicely concealed. Look closely....
June 18, 201014 yr ^^ and ^^^ You're both right, depending on how you look at it. By Brad's definition, they are currently in the middle of constructing four arches. By 1012's definition, they are currently constructing one arch. By Brad's definition, there are three arches left, after the current ones are completed. By 1012's, there is one left. Thanks for clarifying that, because I really wasn't sure what Thomasbw (Brad...?) meant by "another pair and then the center one". Yeah, I guess I was thinking of the tiara as consisting of 4 different arches, but that's my bad because of how I was viewing it. So what I'm understanding is that they are currently finishing up the 3rd "level" of the tiara, and then will contruct the final middle one that rises to the final height of the building. Is that correct?
June 18, 201014 yr I think the concrete core will be covered, but I'm unsure how well they'll be able to conceal the Chiller. I've been looking at this for awhile now picturing how they will do it and my best guest is some of that chiller will be exposed. It's too far off center to be completely covered by the cladding. On another note: Man that thing is looking like a beast now lol, it looks tall now with the back half of the second arch completed wooot!!! I do love the curtainwall choice. It's so beautiful in the morning, midday, and evening it all looks different. I have different shots of it throughout the day!
June 18, 201014 yr ^^ and ^^^ You're both right, depending on how you look at it. By Brad's definition, they are currently in the middle of constructing four arches. By 1012's definition, they are currently constructing one arch. By Brad's definition, there are three arches left, after the current ones are completed. By 1012's, there is one left. Thanks for clarifying that, because I really wasn't sure what Thomasbw (Brad...?) meant by "another pair and then the center one". Yeah, I guess I was thinking of the tiara as consisting of 4 different arches, but that's my bad because of how I was viewing it. So what I'm understanding is that they are currently finishing up the 3rd "level" of the tiara, and then will contruct the final middle one that rises to the final height of the building. Is that correct? From what I can tell, you are correct. FWIW, the way you were picturing the arches is basically how I was looking at them. It took a moment for me to figure out what Brad was saying. 'Levels' is probably a good term to use, since it's totally independent of the two sides...which, apparently, can make things confusing.
June 18, 201014 yr Yes. Every rendering I have seen of the completed tower clearly show the lower portion of the "tiara" covered and including the company logo. All of the HVAC stuff is completed and nicely concealed. Look closely.... Everything will not be concealed. Thats the beauty of renderings, you can make them look exactly as you want. You will definitely be able to see parts of the chillers although they will be far more discrete once all of the glazing is installed.
June 18, 201014 yr On my drive home from NKY on 75 yesterday, the crown was nearly invisible. The cloudy sky made it very hard to see. I hated that it was white then got over but now I really think it's a mistake.
June 18, 201014 yr Now that the tiara is taking shape, to me the building is looking really big. During construction every time I looked at it I kinda said "meh..." but now that the skin is on and crown taking shape... wow.
June 18, 201014 yr On my drive home from NKY on 75 yesterday, the crown was nearly invisible. The cloudy sky made it very hard to see. I hated that it was white then got over but now I really think it's a mistake. I've noticed that, too. At certain angles, you can barely see the tiara. Other times it appears more prominent. I don't like that. I'm wondering if maybe what they are doing right now is simply constructing the tiara, and then will later paint it so that it stands out...? Or perhaps there are more "spokes" to install within each arch...? (I'm sorry, I really don't know the technical term when referring to them as "spokes".) Regarding the chillers, I tend to believe they will be concealed once the final middle arch is constructed. If you look at this photo - http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2008/04/16/233391/QueenCitySquare.jpg - there appears to be some skirting around the base of the tiara that has yet to be constructed.
June 18, 201014 yr When they added the glass to the top sections, that's when it started looking good. It's got a hint of an art deco massing especially when views from something close to an east-west perspective. The materials are basically the same as those on the shorter building, but varied shape of the upper floors allows the light to hit each part differently and give it some life.
June 18, 201014 yr On my drive home from NKY on 75 yesterday, the crown was nearly invisible. The cloudy sky made it very hard to see. I hated that it was white then got over but now I really think it's a mistake. I've noticed that, too. At certain angles, you can barely see the tiara. Other times it appears more prominent. I don't like that. I'm wondering if maybe what they are doing right now is simply constructing the tiara, and then will later paint it so that it stands out...? Or perhaps there are more "spokes" to install within each arch...? (I'm sorry, I really don't know the technical term when referring to them as "spokes".) Regarding the chillers, I tend to believe they will be concealed once the final middle arch is constructed. If you look at this photo - http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2008/04/16/233391/QueenCitySquare.jpg - there appears to be some skirting around the base of the tiara that has yet to be constructed. Yeah but you don't seem to understand that the chiller is also tall...which means it will peak in the second half of the arches. Which are not covered in the cladding or skirting, or what ever you want to call it. It will be visible, just not by much I presume. Yes, the Tiara will have more "spokes" in it so hopefully you will be able to see it in various angles. You can see that the chiller is clearly visible in the morning when the light is hitting it perfectly, but it sort of fades into the background late in the evening. But it is still visible, and peaks just barely over the cladding.
June 19, 201014 yr Plus, once the lighting goes on after its complete, seeing it at night will be much easier.
June 22, 201014 yr Three more pieces arrived "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
June 22, 201014 yr They assemble the components on the top deck of the parking garage, then lift them into place.
June 22, 201014 yr Jack, the webcam looking north from GABP is: http://www.siteisight.com/clients/queencity/
June 22, 201014 yr Out of idle curiosity, given the level of construction now in progress on the tiara, would it be safe to say QCS is now the city's tallest building, even though it isn't complete yet? Or does that not become official until after the crane is dismantled?
June 23, 201014 yr Out of idle curiosity, given the level of construction now in progress on the tiara, would it be safe to say QCS is now the city's tallest building, even though it isn't complete yet? Or does that not become official until after the crane is dismantled? I would say that it is considering that the tiara is nearly complete. Remember that QCS is supposed to be 91' taller than Carew Tower so I'm pretty sure we're at least 60-70' taller by now.
June 23, 201014 yr ^if the crown is nearly complete than I got another complaint. The ends don't touch!! There's going to be a gap? That's how it's looking now from the West side.
June 23, 201014 yr ^if the crown is nearly complete than I got another complaint. The ends don't touch!! There's going to be a gap? That's how it's looking now from the West side. Relax, they have one more arch to go which will likely close the gaps as well as the "skirtting" that will go around the base of the tiara. It will be fine haha! When I said nearly complete I meant like greater than 51% (but not 90-100%)
June 23, 201014 yr One thing I'm noticing now (a piece of machinery was just lifted past) is that they have outside observation areas....look to be fairly small and centered around certain offices, but starting on 28 (the west side at least) and then another 5 or so floors up etc. They're sort of building some type of railing now. And I think that curved piece on the north and south facades (around 35 or so) will have an outdoor area, similar to what we have in Atrium II.
June 23, 201014 yr There are some small outside facilities that are accessible from those respective floors. None of these will be open to the public, though. I am not for sure about the top, however.
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