designcritic

This sure doesn't seem like a very high visibility site for a cutting edge med school. Things aren't always what they seem and just because MSU might buy some property doesn't necessarily lead to the conclusion that the med school will sit on it.

Vinoly had included in his first contract that he had first right of refusal for the phase 2 work. He is doing the main building architecture but various other pieces have been given to a local architect. Bill Culhane is the owners representative.

I think they should build the base with no relief at all. You know, where it looks there were once windows and then they filled them with brick.

It didn't just have a large guitar incorporated into the design. The plan was actually in the shape of a guitar with the neck being a pedestrian bridge over a road. The only place I have liked the use of this technique is the kent county jail. In plan it is the shape of handcuffs but you would never know that unless someone told you.

I'm sorry but ever since I went to the Hard Rock cafe in Orlando shaped like a guitar I haven't been a fan of representational architecture. Different and modern is good but purposefully making it look like building blocks because it is a Children's Hospital is too much. Just my $0.02

The sidewalk in front of Riverhouse is 615. The first floor of Riverhouse is 620. The Coit street elevation is 747. I'm not sure of the elevation of the first floor of the HDVCH

The next level poured will be the first floor of the LHCP. They will be starting the framing for it in a matter of days.

The tunnel is for private use the bridge is public.

It depends exactly what you are looking for. The site is very chalenging in that it drops 100' from Coit down to Division. The first floor of the Cancer Center is at the Coit elevation and the first floors of the remaining three towers are 30' below Coit. Those three towers will be connected by a plaza which is very walkable. Will this project increase foot traffic along the street? Only time will tell I suppose. It certainly isn't the most walkable street due to the slope.

The new one will be the same height but with a slightly shorter reach.

UPDATE: If the weather holds out the tower crane for the West construction area will be going up on Sunday.

The south elevation (at street edge) has stayed pretty much the same. The rendered elevation doesn't do it justice in regard to what areas are closer and what areas are set back. There is still the stepping feature as before on the south side. You can barely make out the steps in the elevation. The north elevation is much different due to the fact that the building no longer steps on that side. The main reason for the change was the need for more square footage.

The tower crane for the west section should be going up on May 19 or sometime during that weekend.

I'm sure they look opaque because the interior was not modeled when the rendering was done.

The following are responses to various posts: Dad, you came within about 5 feet with each circle you drew. Move #2 north and CC east. The penthouse would be the mechanical penthouse and each tower will have one. My bet for the hotel would be Tower 2. Tower 2 looks much more detailed because it was the first designed and thus the furthest along in the construction drawings. All will eventually have the same amount of detail at the first level.

You are correct. Level 4 sits on grade in this area and level 5 is currently being formed. Level 8 is the first floor of the Cancer Center so we have many parking levels to go before the building can even start contruction.

The X is correct. It is located in the elevator core that extends up through the office tower.

And based on designcritic's and MrsB's crane descriptions, I would say this is the crane foundation in front of the tunnel That would be correct. They are certainly moving fast.

I was told there were going to be a couple but that was months ago. I haven't heard anything since.

Some of the crane parts are currently stacked on the north side of the Towers building. The tunnel crew needs to get out of the way before they can pour the massive footing for the crane. The east crane should go up in the next couple of weeks. The one for the site west of the Towers building should follow shortly after.

They have also started digging the tunnel under michigan street that will eventually connect the Cancer Pavilion to the Children's Hospital. It's no Big Dig or Chunnel but still it's not something you see every day.

Once Tower 2 is built, the people in the existing Towers building will move into it and then the building can be torn down making way for the connector piece and Tower 1

In the near term there will be one tower crane for the Cancer Pavillion and one for the second tower from the west. Both will be up at the same time. After that there will also be individual tower cranes for the two remaining towers. There are numerous reasons for the tower cranes. There won't be complete access around all sides of the towers, don't want to close a lane of Michigan Street, need to reach up to 150' above elevation of Michigan Street,... The cranes should be going into the air in a few weeks.

It will be 58 feet from the lowest parking level to the first floor of the cancer center and will have four parking levels below grade in that area.