There's the crane... it looks a bit higher than the Halle building, although the perspective here throws it off.

The windows are so small, I can't see how this building will serve as an apartment/condo conversion; it's just a hideous structure.

 

They look tiny from the outside, but check this out:

 

 

I mean, it's not floor-to-ceiling windows or anything, but I wouldn't call them small. I am curious about what the viewing angle will be like with the windows being so deeply inset, though.

Keep in mind, it's a tower crane and can be jumped. So the height of the crane may not reflect the actual height of the building... Walking past it at lunch, it looks like it'll have to be jumped because its not high at all.

 

And to comment on someone's post above regarding the windows - didn't MayDay do a photo set a while ago where he was able to tour the inside and take photos? If I remember correctly, the windows aren't as small as they seem, and the views are awesome.

The concrete tubs are designed to not allow the beating, direct summer sun into the building at mid-day, helping comfort level and energy costs.

The windows are gigantic, as shown above. I hope the leasing website will have scaled graphics or a ground floor-level model of an apartment are provided to demonstrate this.

The windows are so small, I can't see how this building will serve as an apartment/condo conversion; it's just a hideous structure.

MayDay posted interior pics that show the windows are much bigger than they look. They should be perfectly fine for apartments and hotels. I agree the building is ugly, though. :-P. The pics reposted by KJP:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,20128.msg637871.html#msg637871

 

There's the crane... it looks a bit higher than the Halle building, although the perspective here throws it off.

 

The crane in your photo is being used to assemble the pit crane in the middle of the construction site. You can see the red mast in the first photo. It was about 6-7 floors tall when I left for work this morning, but they were still assembling it.

 

 

edit: Jesus, I should have refreshed before posting...

Am I missing something? Why is there a question on the height of the new county building. Doesn't the rendering show it to be about 8 floors?

Yep, it's an ugly building. I also live in an ugly building (which looks nice on the inside). You know what's the best part about living in an ugly building? You don't have to look at it!

Hopefully this is illuminating.  This is from the 9th floor of the Rose building, so 8 floors looks about right, without needing a crane jump.

Before the UO crash of 2013, we had some renderings of the " M " hotelier.  Anyway we had many discussions on what the

" M " stood for  ( Metropolitan and a few  others).  Anyway Geis said he was going to line up a hotelier quickly or that he would do all apartments.

Has Geis settled in on what he wants to do with the Breuer Tower?

I read that construction had resumed on the planned hotel in the Schofield Building but it always looks about the same to me.  Is there really something going on daily?

^You can't be serious.

 

Yeah, completely serious. I think it's uglier than ever, sorry. *shrugs*

 

I read that construction had resumed on the planned hotel in the Schofield Building but it always looks about the same to me.  Is there really something going on daily?

 

Go to http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,19154.630.html

 

They are currently working.

^You can't be serious.

 

Yeah, completely serious. I think it's uglier than ever, sorry. *shrugs*

 

 

I agree that it is one fugly building but a cleaned building can't be worse than what is there now.  Moving on.

Okay - I'll have to look up to the cornice area again.  I had been waiting for that modern material to be removed.  Sure wish the corner tower ornament would be rebuilt but I suppose that's too much to expect this developer to find worthwhile.

 

^You can't be serious.

 

Yeah, completely serious. I think it's uglier than ever, sorry. *shrugs*

 

 

I agree that it is one fugly building but a cleaned building can't be worse than what is there now.  Moving on.

 

Thanks for correcting my opinion. smh...

^You can't be serious.

 

Yeah, completely serious. I think it's uglier than ever, sorry. *shrugs*

 

 

I agree that it is one fugly building but a cleaned building can't be worse than what is there now.  Moving on.

 

Thanks for correcting my opinion. smh...

 

That statement was just my opinion...not an attempt to correct yours even though it sounded that way.

I'm seeing the cleaning of the tower now and glad to see a considerable change in the window area.  When I moved here in 1973 the building became my favorite modern building downtown.  I hadn't noticed over the years how filthy the exterior had become, but apparently this light gray was the color I had originally seen which was part of what I appreciated about the structure. Now I'm anxious to see how different the granite portion will become.  I suppose Cleveland Trust kept up the exterior maintenance for many years but it sure came to and end a while back.

 

 

One of my favorites too.

As I read through this thread, I am surprised at the number of 'thumbs down' on the Breuer Twr.

I think the renovation might change a few minds. Perhaps not.

Its completely and quintissentially 60s/70s...in a good way.

I used to think this building was hideous, but it grew on me. It's actually my favorite from that era. Its actually unique, unlike all the other boxes.

I used to think this building was hideous, but it grew on me. It's actually my favorite from that era. Its actually unique, unlike all the other boxes.

 

I feel the same way.  At first, I didn't want it to be torn down just because it would have made Cleveland feel less dense (and have less density potential as I doubt any new building would have approached that height if any were built there at all).  Now, I actually kind of like the building and am excited to see what it looks like fully cleaned and renovated.

 

All that graft that the Breuer Tower savers were surmising about came out to be true!  Plenty in PD today, alone.

When I came in '73 I was one year from my Art History M.A. degree and I really liked this sort of constructon and aesthetics - the grays and the waffle design.  The stunning Vasarely work always displayed in the public lobby area, seen when first walked into the building, helped add cache, too.  Wonder where the heck it is now!

 

I love it and always have.  Just wonder if they shouldn't knock windows in that eastern facade?  It's definitely not like all the others....

From Euclid avenue and East 6th.

 

Btwr1 by 1af0298d3cb7af591d07a811b33f5489, on Flickr

 

The Bruer tower is looking good these days.

 

btwr2 by 1af0298d3cb7af591d07a811b33f5489, on Flickr

 

Close up

 

Btwr3 by 1af0298d3cb7af591d07a811b33f5489, on Flickr

 

THanks! Looking forward to seeing all the exterior cleaned up

This is undoubtedly a stupid question, but what is the advantage of doing exterior clean-up on the front end of rehab? I know nothing about construction, but I would assume you'd want to do power washing once all the heavy lifting and installations and dust and debris from this and adjoining construction were nearing completion. Is this to take advantage of the weather? Start pre-leasing with a fresh look? Term of the Historic Preservation Tax Credit? Or is there some kind of advantage to the construction process itself? Loving the look, just confused :)

It'll probably be power washed for the grand opening, or even routinely cleaned towards the end. A power wash alone wasn't going to get all of the grit and grime off that concrete. Any dust from construction of the County Building willbe minimal compared to what is being taken off now.

Quick shot of the county building construction...

Steel -- already?

Quick shot of the county building construction...

 

^ great shot! And what a gorgeous building across the street.

 

It'll probably be power washed for the grand opening, or even routinely cleaned towards the end. A power wash alone wasn't going to get all of the grit and grime off that concrete. Any dust from construction of the County Building willbe minimal compared to what is being taken off now.

 

oy aint that the truth! its going to take more than one wash. i bet if you dared drink the power washed sludge water now you would drop dead instantly and even the ground above your grave would glow for eternity.

 

really loving the new two-toned look. 

 

The Rotunda would be such a cool Super Heroes  Museum, Superman's Justice League! I could see a large bronze statue of Superman on the corner of 9th and Euclid!

Quick shot of the county building construction...

 

^ great shot! And what a gorgeous building across the street.

 

 

You talking about the building with the Captain Morgans advert?  ;)

Friday, Sept. 6th:

 

 

Friday, Sept. 6th:

 

 

Awesome shot mayday! Everyday I walk by I am amazed at the progress. Between this and the Schofield it's really spectacular what some cleaning will do to a neglected building!

 

Friday, Sept. 6th:

 

 

Awesome shot mayday! Everyday I walk by I am amazed at the progress. Between this and the Schofield it's really spectacular what some cleaning will do to a neglected building!

 

The far left section was already cleaned halfway down when I passed by at 3:30PM today! 

Amazing photo Mayday, it's cleaning up nicely!

Driving up 77 the other day it's crazy to see the impact this cleaning has.  That building has a big impact on the skyline, but the dark stone plus black dirt made it fade away somehow.  But it definitely pops out now...brightens up that whole section of the skyline.  I'm hoping for some cool lighting effects in those honeycomb windows so that there's a similar impact at night.  Plus the skyline could use some more dramatic lighting.

Driving up 77 the other day it's crazy to see the impact this cleaning has.  That building has a big impact on the skyline, but the dark stone plus black dirt made it fade away somehow.  But it definitely pops out now...brightens up that whole section of the skyline.  I'm hoping for some cool lighting effects in those honeycomb windows so that there's a similar impact at night.  Plus the skyline could use some more dramatic lighting.

 

Ever see historic pics of the building? Really cool looking. In fact, seeing those original images got me to really like the building a lot more.

Driving up 77 the other day it's crazy to see the impact this cleaning has.  That building has a big impact on the skyline, but the dark stone plus black dirt made it fade away somehow.  But it definitely pops out now...brightens up that whole section of the skyline.  I'm hoping for some cool lighting effects in those honeycomb windows so that there's a similar impact at night.  Plus the skyline could use some more dramatic lighting.

 

No...I've really only seen renderings showing the unbuilt 2nd tower.  I'll have to check them out and see.  Is the Cleveland Memory Project a good place to start for old Ameritrust pics?

 

Ever see historic pics of the building? Really cool looking. In fact, seeing those original images got me to really like the building a lot more.

^ I tried some google image searches but couldn't find the good ones.

 

I do believe there are some posted on this very thread. Really, I barely recognized it as Breuer Tower.

^ There are some pretty good ones at the Cleveland Memory Project: http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/press/id/2551/rec/6

 

Almost done with the south-side!

 

It's so much fun watching everyone fall in live with 'The Breu' again!

 

I remember the first time I saw CleveTrust as a kid. I loved how geometric it was and also how solid it seemed to appear.  I was disappointed when talk of razing the structure first surfaced some years back, and am so glad we will see a reimagined, iconic structure.

Wow. Just wow. What a difference. Count me in as liking the building much more after the cleanse.

 

KJP mentioned either here or in the Schoefield thread about how the wash residue was likely a toxic sludge, which makes me ask the question, where is that water going? Does it just rain down to the ground, or are they somehow collecting it?

i know someone who works at heinens and she said that Heinens is definitely going into the rotunda. for whatever that's worth

 

...  I'm hoping for some cool lighting effects in those honeycomb windows so that there's a similar impact at night.  Plus the skyline could use some more dramatic lighting.

 

You know, I wondered if there were any plans for that - when I was in Indianapolis two years ago, one of their buildings on Monument Circle has similar windows (see below). I don't know if I'd want them to be as wackadoodle psychedelic as these but even a mild lighting accent might be nice?

 

i know someone who works at heinens and she said that Heinens is definitely going into the rotunda. for whatever that's worth

 

YAAAAAAAAA!!!  :shoot: :shoot: :shoot:

i know someone who works at heinens and she said that Heinens is definitely going into the rotunda. for whatever that's worth

 

YAAAAAAAAA!!!  :shoot: :shoot: :shoot:

 

I really hope so but still skeptical.  It would be quite the turn around for Heinen's since they said they were not going to be investing in the area and were looking to expand outside of the region.

...  I'm hoping for some cool lighting effects in those honeycomb windows so that there's a similar impact at night.  Plus the skyline could use some more dramatic lighting.

 

You know, I wondered if there were any plans for that - when I was in Indianapolis two years ago, one of their buildings on Monument Circle has similar windows (see below). I don't know if I'd want them to be as wackadoodle psychedelic as these but even a mild lighting accent might be nice?

 

 

I think this would be awesome if there were controllable multicolor LED lights like on the Terminal Tower.  That way they could do any effect they like and even draw 8-bit like images with all the windows  :wink:.  I really don't know if they would install the lighting in the windows since it is going to be apartments.  I think I would get annoyed if I had multiple colors shining in my window at night.  I hope that they at least install colored LED lights shining on the top of the building, making somewhat of a colored crown rather than just black.