TAMPA | SouthGate | 20 stories | 450,000 sq. ft. office | APR

[smiley]

Umm - it did not say there was no retail (as far as I could tell) and almost every office building has some retail - the question is where . . . and we have no idea.

[Quegiebo]

I agree with Jason. The concept of an office tower in Channelside is a good thing; and as mobster pointed out, when I saw this rendering, the first thing that came to mind was a mini-me version of the County Center - although I actually like the C.C. tower.

So... is the proposed site located where Pinnacle Place was initially proposed a few years ago? Secondly, why not take advantage of the height allowed and build a taller tower? I think it would be far more attractive (as FF suggests) if it were taller and maybe I'm mistaken, but I think even the FAA would approve a taller structure as long as it falls shy of 400 ft. in that general location.

Gotta admit... I do appreciate the attempt to establish silver LEED certification. That's definitely a plus for the project.

[tampasteve]

I have to say that I actually do like the design, personally I have also ben a fan of the C.C. Tower. While this new tower may not be ground breaking in engineering, it is a nice, subtle tower that would fill a desperatly vacant area of town. I applaud them for attempting Silver LEED certification as well. Also, I think the green building would bring a nice change of color in the area.

I believe that it is also good for econmics to have an office tower in the channelside district; it will add people in the area in the daytime hours that will serve the restaurants well during lunch. To have an area that is nearly all residential and entertainment does not make a integrated DT community, just look at HI, that is a rather dense residential area that at one time had a mall, and it has contributed little to the development of the greater DT area. A good, lively community, is a varied combination of residential, office, and entertainment, that is the building blocks of a 24hr city neighborhood.

Also, if I am not mistaken, it is the first office tower that is right off of the TECO Line. Haveing it right off of the street car line is a major advantage for someone that might be working or visitingthere as they could truly park in a structure in Ybor and ride in; or, residents in Ybor and channelside could ride to it as well, not to mention the possibility of riding to Ybor for a quick lunch....

With all that said though, I do wish that the tower were on top of the garage and had some retail in the ground floor, but who is to say that it will not be added as the project moves forward, these things seem to change as the day goes on, so we shall see.

Steve

[tamparican]

^ Good Points you bring up, that was my sentiments exactly as well..as much as Channelside is a residential district, Having 1 0r 2 office towers would not hurt the daytime business around the neighborhoods, and might even CREATE more of an interest in future residences as people who work there might grow accustomed to the area, or other company execs and employees from the tower who might be in to pay a visit to the office might actually like channelside.. It would also IMO help bring in more retail to the area as businesses might see a def. daytime sales potential , with the locals capping it off at night-time...Hopefully the tower will take everyones advice and realize the gains in the project itself by placing the tower on top of the garage, and leasing the retail spaces at the bottom...maybe sort of disguise the garage like that other project..(what is it grand central? drawing a blank here!)

[Robert.Maddrey]

Originally Posted by FloridaFuture

Having an office tower in Channelside is nice, but I would've rather had a 400'+ over by Franklin Street or in Northern Channelside around the Finergy site.

Agreed

[tampasteve]

I do agree with that statement, but why not both? Surely they are not mutual exclusive? IMO they would both be good places for office towers.

Steve

[FloridaFuture]

Originally Posted by tampasteve

I do agree with that statement, but why not both? Surely they are not mutual exclusive? IMO they would both be good places for office towers.

Steve

Sure they'd both be fine for an office tower and could both exist, but this particular project isn't good enough quality for its location. It's a somewhat outdated tower design, (it'll end being slabbish) with little to no retail along Channelside and the layout isn't dense enough. The height is the only thing going for it and that's just because it is as tall as the FAA tops alows for that location. At around 300' this project would be pretty close to the Towers @ Channelside height. So as long as POK exist that's all we'll likely get at that location as far as height goes.

[Jasonhouse]

I just don't understand the shitty, lame design. Why go so cheap at a location so prominent?

Again, I would just as soon this lot stay vacant until someone is willing to put up a quality project. This isn't some filler at Jefferson and Whiting. This is Channelside and the terminus of Meridian. It's a very high visibility location, and needs to be treated as such.

[randommichael]

^ Agreed. Its the "Gateway" of Tampa, and I don't think we should allow such a boring being to be put there.

[tampasteve]

I have to say, and I hope that I am not stepping on toes since I am a rather noob here..., that I happen to like the design, as I also like the CC building. While they are not flashy, they are subtle and, frankly, I like the green color that is planned. Is not design like or dislike merely perception? Personally, I like the edge on the side that is made by the front and back windows, I also like that there is another garage close to the TECO line that could easily be used by commuters, especially since this garage will have more space than most....

just my .02.

Steve

[Quegiebo]

Well put - and b.t.w., welcome aboard.

Look, the fact is out of the dozens of projects proposed and approved already, the only tower currently under construction is Element. All those pretty, fancy, expensively designed towers' blueprints sit on a desk somewhere - most of which will probably never see a construction crane.

This proposal hasn't even gone before the city council yet and who really knows with any certainty that the current rendering is the final design they'll actually present? I wouldn't put it past the council that they raise the bar because, as some have correctly pointed out, this IS a prime location which almost begs for a quality project with silver LEED certification, even. But like you, Steve, I don't think it's really thaaat God awful. I mean come on... can ya say the Martin? Talk about painful.

Must say, I am always impressed with the passion many here have where quality seems the primary consideration. Maybe some of you should send the guy e-mail and express your opinion before the council meeting. Who knows, he might respect your passion just as much and actually listen to your advice.

[Havatampa]

Yeah it would be nice if every tower built in Tampa was a work of art, but that ain't going to happen. This one seems OK and I like the 'green' aspect of it. I'm hoping a lot of that empty space gets filled in someday and Tampa has a dense urban core with a vibrant DT. Weed covered parking lots aren't going to make that happen. Therefore I tend not to be overly critical of the proposed designs. Beggars can't be that choosy.

[Jasonhouse]

^We're not beggars. Tourism is a big part of our local economy, and increasing it downtown is a major goal for the city. Putting up rather poorly schemed buildings that are better suited to a suburban office park isn't going to help our image, which in turn isn't going to help tourism, or the general perception of downtown... The scale of the project is fine. The concept is great. Just alter the mass a bit and spiff up the look, and I would be ok with it... Oh, and it's on a major street corner, across from a trolley station... the entire facade fronting the street should be all retail (or lobby), period. There should be no driveway of any kind on Channelside.

[JBrisco]

I'm so depressed with the architects hired to do projects in downtown Tampa, this building is more suited for West Shore, but, atleast it doesn't have a huge parking lot and not an "island" building.
This looks absolutely stupid, We need stuff like detroit has, modern art-deco, since most of our art deco is gone.

[youngkg]

By DAVE SIMANOFF, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

TAMPA - In the architectural renderings, Prime Meridian Center is 20 stories of cool blue arched glass, banded with strips of precast concrete the color of sand.

It's not hard to imagine the building growing orange and pink in the late throes of a Florida sunset, or reflecting the violet and purple skies after a rainstorm.

But the most important color at Prime Meridian Center is the one you won't see in a sketch or on its facade.

That's the color green.

Prime Meridian Center, the first major new office building to rise in Tampa since 100 North Tampa opened in 1992, will follow the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED promotes sustainability, conservation and environmental protection through smart design, an emphasis on reusable and recycled materials, and saving power and water through efficient heating, cooling, plumbing and lighting systems.

Trammell Crow Co., Prime Meridian Center's developer, has registered the office building's plans with the Green Building Council. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

The Green Building Council will only certify a building as LEED compliant once it is completed. Trammell Crow expects to finish Prime Meridian Center in January 2010.

Right now, only three buildings in the Tampa Bay area have LEED certification: the Happy Feet Plus shoe store in Clearwater, a community building in Dunedin and a small office building in St. Petersburg.

Decision Came As An 'Epiphany'

Veteran developer Robert Abberger is Trammell Crow's senior managing director in Florida. Ask him to explain his decision to pursue an environmentally sustainable, LEED-standard office building, and he will earnestly use terms like "epiphany" and "eye opening."

Abberger explained that clients in Orlando and Sarasota recently hired him to work on LEED-standard office and condominium projects, which helped him realize how important sustainable development is - and how much more efficient a LEED-certified building can be, when it comes to energy usage, than a traditional building.

Abberger also said about a year ago, Trammell Crow was purchased by commercial real estate giant CB Richard Ellis, which had made a massive commitment to sustainable development. As the two companies integrated, Abberger was tapped to join several task forces that worked on environmental issues, which deepened his commitment.

LEED-standard buildings "are not only healthier to be in, but also good stewards of our limited resources, and also have a positive impact on our community," he said.

Prime Meridian Center will cost about $150 million to build, or about $333 a square foot. Abberger said some of the building components - such as the more sophisticated power systems or plumbing fixtures - will cost more than they would have cost in a traditional building, but that investment in efficient infrastructure will save Trammell Crow money in operating costs.

The water and power bills for office buildings vary greatly, depending on how the structure was built, how old it is and how the tenants use the space. Abberger estimates that most of the major office buildings in downtown Tampa cost about $12 a square foot a year to operate, and Prime Meridian Center will "conservatively" cost $1 to $1.50 a square foot a year less.

Josh Bomstein, vice president of the Florida Gulf Coast chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, said that Trammell Crow's example will show other developers that LEED standards and sustainable development have moved into the mainstream.

"Trammell Crow doing it says to me that it's the smart thing to do. It raises the bar in the industry," he said. "They are not in the business of spending foolishly on their construction dollars."

Bomstein, who is also vice president of business development for Clearwater-based Creative Contractors, said many tenants may start to start to seek out space in sustainable office buildings, just as many shoppers are looking for green options in supermarkets and malls.

"Green in general - whether you're talking about green buildings or green anything - is everywhere," he said. "You can't pick up a newspaper or magazine without seeing some green things. You have to be in a cave not to have been exposed to it."

Trammell Crow isn't the only office developer with green plans in the Tampa Bay area.

Crescent Resources intends to build its next two office buildings in the West Shore district to LEED standards. Rubenstein Partners has registered plans for a West Shore office park with the U.S. Green Building Council. Liberty Property Trust also has a LEED-standard building in the works for its Woodland Corporate Center, according to the building council listings.

Building Will Set Other Standards, Too

Abberger said he is not worried about competition from new office buildings in the suburbs. He said Prime Meridian Center will provide the comforts of new suburban office buildings - such as large floors that can accommodate a lot of employees efficiently - as well as a bevy of downtown amenities to keep workers happy, such as easy access to the Channelside Bay Plaza entertainment center, The Florida Aquarium and the St. Pete Times Forum.

Compared with a suburban office building, many of the existing downtown towers don't provide very big floors, forcing tenants to divide their staffs onto many levels, Abberger said. Also, many downtown buildings don't provide a lot of parking for tenants, whereas Prime Meridian Center's adjacent parking deck will provide tenants with about the same amount of spaces they would receive in a suburban lot, he said.

Trammell Crow expects rental rates to run about $30 a square foot a year, which is comparable with rates in the West Shore district, but about 30 percent higher than other downtown buildings.

Abberger said he thinks Prime Meridian Center will stand out from the competition because it's the only suburban-style building with a downtown address. And, he says, because it's only a matter of time because tenants and office workers won't want to work anywhere that's not green.

Abberger will be one of those tenants. Trammell Crow and its parent company, CB Richard Ellis, will consolidate all of their local operations in the new building.

Abberger couldn't be prouder.

"I have three amazing daughters, and of all the things I've done over the years that have changed the skyline, this was the first time I saw them get excited about what their dad was doing," he said.

Reporter Dave Simanoff can be reached at dsimanoff@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7762.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec...ses-standards/

[TampaMike]

So this got approved? Damn, I wish it didn't. Look at the render at the link and look at that garage. That is a big waste of land. I wouldn't had mind this if it was built on top of the garage, even though I believe thsi whole project doesn;t belong in Channelside, but having that much of land just for what it looks like a 7 floor parking garage is just stupid. And another thing is retail. It might be an office building, but Channelside is an entertainment district and this doesn't even qualify close to that. Maybe move this more down West.

[jonknee]

I wonder if they will open up the garage at night for parking. At least for special events, it could come in handy.

[HARTride 2012]

I wouldn't mind an office building in west Channelside. YEah the parking garage thing is ridiculous, I agree. But to me, the overall plan isn't that bad. Neither is the design of the building itself.

[JBrisco]

I like how it contours meridan. Not many buildings in Tampa do that.
it is although, not a channelside style building, it'll look way out of place.

[smiley]

IF approved, it jsut shows how ridiculous the city council can be in approving this with a apparent lack of any street retail or shading but complain about everything in so many better projects.