Indianapolis Development News

[cityfan]

Does anyone know the exact location the Merril Tower will be moving to? I'm glad it's not dead.

[OSUBucks#1]

Originally Posted by IndyYeah

Indy has enough safe designs. Even in the 1980's, the design of buildings were still very safe. A number of buildings were built that were not even close to several cities I was in a the time. It is about time something gives and some great "awe" effect happens with designs in Indy. If that thing passes, then it is another missed chance for better. Then the next building will be another safe haven. Before you know it with every building people will say"Well it cannot clash with the buildings next door." Then affter 10 buildings of more blandness, all the neighborhoods around the mile square will think that anything different will screw up the area around them. Bring on the limestone, and brick!

I completely agree with your statement. For some reason, people have this perception that buildings built in the same region/neighborhood should have the same materials to "blend" in. I have never really understood this argument. I almost feel the complete opposite should be true. Why do we want everything to look the same?? If we used the logic of "respecting the character of the surroundings" by using the same materials (such as brick), we would end up with an entire city that looked the exact same.

I personally do not want to see a 24 story brick tower. I am not against brick, just not on a structure of that height. Anyway...let's hope for some redesign.

On a positive note, I do like the development at the north end of Mass Ave. I think those would be some pretty nice apartments to live in. I'm just not sure I am crazy about the base of the building. Doesn't really look like it goes with the upper levels.

[thundermutt]

Originally Posted by pig

thundermutt, you're exactly right about Columbus, of course, and I'd be interested to know how the civic interest in architecture got started there, and if there's any interest or hope of emulating it in Indianapolis. So if anyone has any thoughts about that I'm keenly interested. In the meantime I'll be in the corner overthinking a plate of beans.

LOL. I actually did understand the distinction you were making. (I first heard that idea expressed by a sociology professor several decades ago.)

Columbus had J. Irwin Miller, who was the guiding hand of Cummins for many years. He was their "Lilly".

Civic leadership has passed from the benevolent rich (the Lillys, Clowes, Fortunes, Efroymsons and other families interested in enhancing culture, arts, and education) to those interested in promoting economic development, sports teams and making deals. Perhaps it's too fine a distinction, but that's my view.

Perhaps if the Lilly Endowment regularly paid for international architectural contests or commissions for design of our public and significant private buildings (as the Cummins Foundation did in Columbus), things would change here. Could you imagine the outcome if one of the strings attached to city incentives for the Simon HQ and JWMarriott were an international architectural competition for the design?

[benjaminooo]

[Babbage08]

With all the architecture critics around, here's a job posting that might catch your interest:

http://careers.vurvexpress.com/jobpr...9753&szStart=1

[OSUBucks#1]

Back to the Merrill Street Tower...For those of you who claim to like the design...look at some of the developments for Minneapolis and Milwaukee. I came across a proposed tower for Minneapolis and thought it was just a prime example of a much better design. It's the Penfield, and I thought it was comparable for one because it seems to have a similar cap on it (but done much better). Anyway...just thought I would put it out there.

[billionbucks]

Originally Posted by OSUBucks#1

I personally do not want to see a 24 story brick tower. I am not against brick, just not on a structure of that height.

Merrill Street Tower: 80m

Barnes and Thornburg Building: 75m


Hyatt Regency/National City Center: 82m

[benjaminooo]

I love the B&T building. I love the way it's used, the way it looks.. I wish all of our high rises were utilized this way.

[thundermutt]

Babbage wrote: With all the architecture critics around, here's a job posting that might catch your interest:

Sr. Architectural Reviewer Mar 5, 2008
Department of Metropolitan Development

Position Summary
Position is responsible for providing architectural assistance and technical advice to the Preservation Commission, the staff, the City and the public regarding the restoration, rehabilitation and preservation of historic and architecturally significant structures within Indianapolis and to administer the Certificate of Appropriateness process in locally designated historic areas.

Job Knowledge, Experience, and Skills Required
Master’s Degree in Architecture or related field (Historic Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning or Urban Design). A related Bachelor’s Degree and an additional two (2) years directly related work experience is possible. A valid Indiana driver’s license required. Ability to communicate effectively verbally, graphically and in writing. Knowledge of the Secretary of the Interiors Standards. Ability to read and interpret construction drawing and specifications. Understanding of construction materials, restoration techniques and historic architectural styles. Knowledge of zoning and land use laws. Ability to perform work assignments in a professional manner. Knowledge of the principles and practices of preservation. Ability to use a personal computer and become familiar with computer hardware/software.

Attendance at monthly IHPC meetings required. They occur the first Wednesday each month, begin at 5:30 p.m. and last for 1-5 hours.

Compensation:
$34,021.00 Annually

---

That's not enough money to get me to sit through every IHPC meeting.

[Unionstation13]

I think brick can look good on highrises its just that most of the time the architect isn't very good and ends up making some cheesy design. If done properly its rather elegant.
The idea that things should blend well together isn't bad. But at the same let's look at the Murat theater and the German house. They are totally different styles and designs and they clash! But very elegantly. Clashing isn't bad, neither is blending. It just has to be done right!

[Babbage08]

thundermutt: That's not enough money to get me to sit through every IHPC meeting.

It's really not a whole lot of money for a job requiring a master's degree either. I suppose if you really have a passion for architecture in this city though.....

[SpiderMonkey]

Originally Posted by thundermutt

Babbage wrote: With all the architecture critics around, here's a job posting that might catch your interest:

Sr. Architectural Reviewer Mar 5, 2008
Department of Metropolitan Development

Position Summary
Position is responsible for providing architectural assistance and technical advice to the Preservation Commission, the staff, the City and the public regarding the restoration, rehabilitation and preservation of historic and architecturally significant structures within Indianapolis and to administer the Certificate of Appropriateness process in locally designated historic areas.

Job Knowledge, Experience, and Skills Required
Master’s Degree in Architecture or related field (Historic Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning or Urban Design). A related Bachelor’s Degree and an additional two (2) years directly related work experience is possible. A valid Indiana driver’s license required. Ability to communicate effectively verbally, graphically and in writing. Knowledge of the Secretary of the Interiors Standards. Ability to read and interpret construction drawing and specifications. Understanding of construction materials, restoration techniques and historic architectural styles. Knowledge of zoning and land use laws. Ability to perform work assignments in a professional manner. Knowledge of the principles and practices of preservation. Ability to use a personal computer and become familiar with computer hardware/software.

Attendance at monthly IHPC meetings required. They occur the first Wednesday each month, begin at 5:30 p.m. and last for 1-5 hours.

Compensation:
$34,021.00 Annually

---

That's not enough money to get me to sit through every IHPC meeting.

So, do you only have to work about 12 hours a year for $34k? I think I could dig that.

[ablerock]

Originally Posted by OSUBucks#1

Anyway...let's hope for some redesign.

I'm not putting any hope into this one. :-) MSA redevelopment, (foolishly) yes. Merrill Street Tower? Hell no.

Prince/Alexander have designed absolutely nothing that makes me think they can suddenly pull something out of you-know-where that I would ever look at by choice.

Please, Please, Please, someone find something they've been involved in that is well-designed. Not earth-shatteringly avant-garde, just good. Not crazy-contemporary, just good.

I will then put 1% of my downtown-Indianapolis-development-hope reservoir into the project.

[pig]

Originally Posted by thundermutt

Civic leadership has passed from the benevolent rich (the Lillys, Clowes, Fortunes, Efroymsons and other families interested in enhancing culture, arts, and education) to those interested in promoting economic development, sports teams and making deals. Perhaps it's too fine a distinction, but that's my view.

So maybe there's something to be said for having someone's ego involved? (And I don't mean that in a bad way.)

[IndyYeah]

Yes brick can and is used well. I think Indy needs somewhat a different look for a few buildings. I have said my likeness for Dallas over the past year at times, because Dallas uses different materials and designs. And yes I like their new Ritz-Carlton tower going up. It is part of a complex, and well done. I am not however a big fan of their downtown. As to international competitions, take the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, word was out and a guy from Germany had some ideas. I am glad the JW has been redesigned. The modern, and artsy look is different and will go well with the area. It will add something that will show that sameness is not always the way to go.

[thundermutt]

The Hyatt/Nat City complex is a good example of why NOT to have overly "modern" development downtown. It is a successor of the Brutalist school that I have taken to calling "Battlement Modern". Downtown buildings built in the 70's often included stylized moats, "castle walls", huge skylit interior courtyards (modern-day "castle greens"), and relatively impermeable exteriors. It is a visual reminder of the era of downtown decline, development turned inward, and I think those design elements served to promote a vision of "safety" and exclusion of "those people". Hyatt/Nat City embodies most of these design features, including a moat along Washington St. Those features all work to the detriment of the building today.

I hasten to add that I am not quick to see racism and classism everywhere. In places like Detroit, Atlanta, and Washington DC, I have seen enough examples, mostly hotels or mixed hotel-office projects, that lead me to believe that the genesis of the style was the same in many big cities at the same time. Renaissance Center is a prime example, surrounded by a 20-ft. concrete wall breached only by driveways to the parking garage.

[thundermutt]

Originally Posted by pig

So maybe there's something to be said for having someone's ego involved? (And I don't mean that in a bad way.)

That's our hope for the future, I think. My generation (Boomers) typically ties its ego into business and financial achievement. We're all old enough now to have the awakening that there's more to life, and we're also the richest generation in US history.

Look at Bill and Melinda Gates: they're giving away 98 or 99% of their fortune. Steve Hilbert gave a lot away and got his name on the Circle Theater when he was still super-rich on Conseco stock options.

[indyfiend]

From IBJ:


After a 12-year run, upscale Italian restaurant Bertolini’s has closed its Circle Centre location. The restaurant, on the first floor of the mall next to P.F. Chang’s and Champps, was part of Chicago-based Morton’s Restaurant Group. The company, like most upscale chains, has struggled in recent months as the economy flounders. In a statement to IBJ, Morton’s said the local restaurant wasn’t profitable. Bertolini’s still has two locations: in Las Vegas and King of Prussia, Pa. The Circle Centre space doesn’t have street access, but with exterior signage it could be a great location, said retail broker Steve Delaney. What sounds good for here?

I never got around to eating at this place. I hate to see any restaurants close, but I think this sends a good message about downtown. If you want your restaurant to be a success, it's best to have street access.

[ablerock]

From March 11 indystar.com:

Indy a finalist to be USA Basketball headquarters

Indianapolis is one of four finalists to become the headquarters for USA Basketball, the organization said today.

Glendale, Ariz., Louisville, and Colorado Springs also are competing.
USA Basketball will visit each city over the next two months and will announce its decision this summer.
The winning city will host the office and national training facilities.

-------

More info at USA Basketball

[Unionstation13]

From IBJ.

Developer details Penn Arts plan March 11, 2008
Posted by cschouten , trackback
A 23-year-old entrepreneur plans to spend $3 million to transform the 82-unit Penn Arts apartment building at 16th and Pennsylvania streets into 45 upscale apartments, Tracy Donhardt reports in today’s IBJ Real Estate Weekly. Piazza also is planning to add a gym and sauna and will give the outside a new façade with old-style double doors and awnings. Locally based Halstead Architects is designing the units. Piazza bought the building from JAB Real Estate Investment Group LLC in January for $1.4 million. The Penn Arts is Piazza’s seventh apartment building since launching his company, Reverie Estates, 18 months ago. Piazza, a 2005 graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, hopes to have an open house within five months. He also owns Village at Fall Creek, Monon Court and Essex Apartments. Piazza would not name his financial backer.
----------------------------

I like how its apartments and not condos. Like we need more condos.
I don't see however what the issue is with the facade. Its a very attractive turn of the century building with a stable charming facade. I don't understand their motivation.