designcritic
-
Posts
201 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Project Database
User Guide
Store
Events
Posts posted by designcritic
-
-
I think we won't see vertical construction for a while anyway. I would imagine the walkway over Michigan from Towers will come down soon? They are apparently going to start demolishing the current parking ramp for the Children's Hospital in the Spring.
You are correct. There won't be any construction above grade for over a year. The deck contains about 2300 spaces so you can imagine it is going to take some time to build. Over the course of the project there will be four different tower cranes on the site. It sure would be nice if they could all be going up at the same time but that can't happen due to the phasing issues.
-
The Cancer Center is going to be built first, but they are prepping the site for construction of the massive parking ramp under the entire complex (I believe). I think designcritic is on the construction/design team, so maybe he/she can give us another rundown.
Picture the site as three pieces: east, center and west. The east and west sections are currently under construction and the center will begin as soon as the first new tower is complete. Construction work is currently being done on the temporary support to retain the earth so the deck can be built. Once this work is complete a tunnel about 50' below Michigan Street will be built connecting the LHCP to the Future Children's Hospital. Then the parking structure work can begin. Once the deck is complete the towers will be built on top of it. This first tower will be occupied by the current Towers Medical Building tenants as well as some new ones and it will sit on the east half of the west section. There will eventually be two towers on the west section, one on the center section and the Lemmen Holton Cancer Pavilion on the East section. There will also be a bridge connecting to the Children's Hospital and one connecting to the Van Andel Institute. This is a huge multi year project with many phases so don't expect it to be done in two years.
-
I agree, and I think the point you raise is a good one, as hospitals and their accessory functions seems to be notorious for a lack of connection with the life of the street or the neighborhood in which they are located. Just because it is a hospital shouldn't mean the developer/architect gets a blank check to build whatever god-awful box they feel like building. It is just important that a hospital connects to the surrounding area as it would be if an condo building or hotel were getting built, IMO.
Does the plan for this development include ground-floor retail? If so, that would be cool. I'll bet that not many health-related centers in the USA include retail in the design. Anyone have details??
There is ground floor food/retail in the project but it will not front the sidewalk. Do to the sloping site there will be a plaza level where vehicles enter from Michigan Street. The retail will be at that level. If you go to the GR Development Briefs Topic you can see the plan for the plaza level.
-
I noticed that, too. Does anyone know if the service road they're putting in along 196 will connect to Division?
Yes it will
-
The Towers Building is coming down now? I saw fencing around it this morning, but YIKES, that was fast! I'll have to see if I can get pics tomorrow morning.
The towers will be staying put until the first new tower is built. Then the current occupants will move into the new tower thus allowing the old building to be torn down making way for the rest of the development.
-
The Children's Hopsital is slated to begin after the construction of the Cancer Center. This has always been the plan. Spectrum has a policy of one project on the hill at a time to reduce congestion.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The Cancer Center will start first but they will both be under construction at the same time.
-
Is the entire North side of Michigan going to be a parking garage? The area is going to be stunning visually from afar, but on a human scale this is going to be one of the most boring areas of town.
Do we have any contractors that post or lurk? Somebody should know what the schedule is.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It will not be boring. The area north of Michigan from Coit to Division will be parking deck but it steps down as the hill does so it has less of a presence. I have seen the design and once complete it will be very nice. It is certainly a challenge do to the severe grade change however.
Medical Mile/Michigan Street Developments
in Grand Rapids
Posted
No pictures but I did notice this morning that they have started work on the tunnel which will eventually connect to the Children's Hospital.