January 6, 201015 yr 5/3rd could really use a new tower. However, I'm sure the recent financial crisis prohibits anything like that from developing in the near future. 5/3 has more occupied space on their Madisonville campus then downtown. Although they own the air rights above Macy's (Fountain Place), they have an option on a third building currently unoccupied between their two buildings in Madisonville that will almost certainly be the location of any future expansion. Just like P&G, I don't expect them to do anything "signature" for a long time. I hate to be a downer but it is just the reality of things. Great American was spread out in too many buildings without a true tower of their own.
January 6, 201015 yr The 5/3rd Tower could use a serious recladding ala Regions Bank Tower in Indianapolis. Which means...a tornado must come... As an architecture student, I love Fifth/Third. It's a perfect counter to Carew, and a very, very good example of the vertically oriented glass box style skyscraper. Hell, I even like the "5/3" logo on the side. As another former architecture student, it's a minimalist, 70's International-style reject who's base is made worse by pedestrian-unfriendly service/parking drives. The Keith Theater should've stayed. The building is no Minoru Yamasaki creation, arguably the king of the vertically oriented glass box skyscraper. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 6, 201015 yr I think our downtown will be getting more condo and apartment towers than actual company towers within the next 5-10 years. You have to remember before the "recession" we were making way for quite a few of them. Edge and riverfront. I think once that market heals, talks will begin again. The good thing is Cincinnati's land is cheap for a company to build on. It's one of the cheapest in the country right? QCS will be the tallest for a while. I'm happy with it. It all boils down to if Cincy if fun to go to. Get the streetcar and Casino (which will happen) and then we can start looking at mass development.
January 6, 201015 yr The 5/3rd Tower could use a serious recladding ala Regions Bank Tower in Indianapolis. Which means...a tornado must come... As an architecture student, I love Fifth/Third. It's a perfect counter to Carew, and a very, very good example of the vertically oriented glass box style skyscraper. Hell, I even like the "5/3" logo on the side. As another former architecture student, it's a minimalist, 70's International-style reject who's base is made worse by pedestrian-unfriendly service/parking drives. The Keith Theater should've stayed. The building is no Minoru Yamasaki creation, arguably the king of the vertically oriented glass box skyscraper. Yeah, the World Trade Center was the king of the glass box, but I think the often ugly 70's style has its place. Although I admit I'm in the minority with my affection for it. On the other end of the spectrum, I also have a slight affection for things that are so ugly they're almost laughable, so I miss the old curtain wall on the Kroger Building. I think its pretty pedestrian friendly, maybe one of the most in Cincinnati even, sans the parking garage. Three out of four sides ain't bad though. I especially love the way it compliments Fountain Square.
January 6, 201015 yr The Walnut Street side always bothered me. Even if they repaint the grey stripes, I think it'd do wonders. I think the building complimented the square back in the 70's but this is a new Fountain Square and thus, I think the building needs to "change with the times." Though I agree with you that I also have an affection for horrendously bad buildings...but not Fifth Third ;). "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 6, 201015 yr Exactly. It's boring bad, not hilariously bad. For example, the Elephant Building in Bangkok is so bad, you have to love it. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 7, 201015 yr LOL! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 7, 201015 yr Looks like the core is complete. They've started disassembling the concrete core form this week. Soon the steel will reach full height. :-D
January 7, 201015 yr Yep! Check out the facade going up right now on the ground level. It looks like it will be a match.
January 9, 201015 yr So....back to topic. The QCSII webcam is "stuck" again. This time it's on Thursday, January 7th nighttime shot. Wonder if the extreme cold has anything to do with it?
January 10, 201015 yr So....back to topic. The QCSII webcam is "stuck" again. This time it's on Thursday, January 7th nighttime shot. Wonder if the extreme cold has anything to do with it? Yes. It does.
January 11, 201015 yr You can see the "short fat" beauty queen starting to take shape in this picture. Other pictures suggest it would appear larger but in this picture it looks short and fat, now that crown of the building is taking shape (I'm not talking about the tiara) just the "crown" (i.e. the unique shape of the building as it reaches it's full height.) I'm actually quite dissapointed with this building. :(
January 11, 201015 yr Carew Tower :: Built during a time when Americans were more fit and lean Queen City Square :: Built during a time when Americans are more obese and lazy
January 11, 201015 yr Carew Tower :: Built during a time when Americans were more fit and lean Queen City Square :: Built during a time when Americans are more obese and lazy That is hilarious...
January 11, 201015 yr Queen City's architecture and size is directly proportional to American's expanding waistline :D
January 12, 201015 yr I'd say double it from the dark line to the light at the top when the Tiara is added and it won't look too bad
January 12, 201015 yr Is it me or does PNC Tower look like a lit cigarette in that pic haha...I'd still say QCSII will look weird. Did anybody notice how QCS is standing out in the aerial footage of the football game last Saturday against the jets. It was cool.
January 12, 201015 yr Sadly that's the first many Cincinnatians saw of this new building. Two months ago I overheard some people say they "looked" for the new building under construction they had heard about it but didn't see it so thought it was just another one of Cincinnati's made-up stories.
January 12, 201015 yr Sadly that's the first many Cincinnatians saw of this new building. Two months ago I overheard some people say they "looked" for the new building under construction they had heard about it but didn't see it so thought it was just another one of Cincinnati's made-up stories. jeezus. Probably the same clay-eating mouth breathers who pointed to the garage demolition on the QCSII site as evidence that Cincinnati was a wasteland (hat tip to channel 5 for that insight during a Reds game interview with Joe and Bro-ham Shithead-in-the-stands)
January 13, 201015 yr Yeah, assumption is some red "airline" warning lights will be located somewhere on top of the tiara. If they illuminate the tiara (???) will the red lights still be required on top of QCSII? Notice on Carew Tower that there are no red lights on top for aircraft warning - how did they get exempted and other, newer buildings in the city are not?
January 13, 201015 yr I believe it's about general illumination period for the FAA. For example, the Chrysler Building doesn't have (nor need) FAA lighting yet the Trump Tower does (no nighttime illumination). Even newish buildings with crowns do not need them ala One Atlantic Place in Atlanta. QCSII probably won't need them. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 17, 201015 yr Well, it looks like the steel should be topping out shortly. Within the next 1-2 weeks if there are no delays. Good progress overall for this site. They're getting this thing done and in a hurry! :clap:
January 18, 201015 yr The topping out ceremony will be at 11AM tomorrow, January 19th. Press Release From the press release: Topping Out of Steel Structure Scheduled to be Celebrated Event marks completion of tower’s skeleton; construction of tiara to start in March What: Topping out of the steel structure of Great American Tower at Queen City Square When: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, 11 a.m. (Beam lifting expected around 11:20 a.m.) Where: Corner of Third and Sycamore streets Why: To recognize construction workers and celebrate milestone Note for photographers and videographers – There will be a short event at the corner of Third and Sycamore streets followed by the lifting of the last beam to the top of the tower. The best view for the lifting of the beam may be from across Fort Washington Way by the Great American Ball Park.
January 19, 201015 yr So I guess it is 665 instead of 660. This is from that press release by the developers. So I guess they know how tall the building will be since they're building it. Good news I guess!
January 19, 201015 yr I updated UrbanUp's Queen City Square article with information regarding the topping out, and updated some of the details regarding the components and structural quantities. January 18, 2010
January 19, 201015 yr Last week I had the opportunity to sign the last beam. It's pretty cool to think that my signature will be in the new tower. :)
January 19, 201015 yr I updated UrbanUp's Queen City Square article with information regarding the topping out, and updated some of the details regarding the components and structural quantities. January 18, 2010 Great photos!
January 19, 201015 yr The topping out ceremony will be at 11AM tomorrow, January 19th. Press Release just walked past the stage setup....Obata was on sidewalk chatting with a few toadies outside the In Between tavern. Sounds like the tiara ceremony in the Spring will have more pomp and circumschmaltz.
January 20, 201015 yr Topping out for Great American Tower January 19, 2010 | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER CINCINNATI - The ceremonial topping out marked the completion of the behemoth towers structural skeleton which includes 5,800 tons structural steel and more than 63,000 cubic yards of concrete. At 563 feet above Third Street, the tower's current height surpasses downtown's 495-foot tall PNC Tower and 468-foot Scripps Center. It will remain the building's peak height until work begins in March on a grand 400-ton tiara that will top off the tower, crowning it at 665 feet. For more click link above.
January 20, 201015 yr I noticed in the second of the two pictures posted up the page that when the tower is complete it will be the third building in the skyline to have a giant great american insurance sign lit up
January 20, 201015 yr ^^ hopefully when they consolidate that will no longer be an issue... though i guess it will always be on the ballpark.
January 20, 201015 yr ^^^ Actually it'd be the 4th. ^ 525 Vine and 580 Walnut would no longer have Great American signs. Dixie Terminal however will continue to be owned by and house Great American employees so it's 2nd St. sign will most likely stay. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
January 20, 201015 yr Last week I had the opportunity to sign the last beam. It's pretty cool to think that my signature will be in the new tower. :) Me too! "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
January 20, 201015 yr ^ LOL, mines on this side in the "Q" logo "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
January 20, 201015 yr Hey I stitched the Bicentennial Quilt. In the Taft Museum, before it was renovated, no less.
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