Louisiana City Skylines

[bluff2085]

Ok, I admit I wasn't taking notes in physics today, but I did make some adustments to the "skyline formula." The old one punished cities that had a relatively high number of buildings b/t 5-11 floors. Here's the new formula:

[#Bldgs >20 floors] X [#floors in Bldgs >20 floors] X [#Bldgs b/t 5-11 floors].

Divide that number by 10,000.

Then take square root of that number twice.

=skyline richter scale.

Did this for the same cities as before, and then added Nashville, Birmingham, and Shreveport. New Orleans still wins.

Baton Rouge: 1.31

Memphis: 2.19

Charlotte: 3.34

New Orleans: 4.18

Nashville: 3.05

Birmingham: 2.11

Shreveport: 0.90

[bluff2085]

Atlanta: 7.65

[dimebag1980]

Ok, I admit I wasn't taking notes in physics today, but I did make some adustments to the "skyline formula." The old one punished cities that had a relatively high number of buildings b/t 5-11 floors. Here's the new formula:

[#Bldgs >20 floors] X [#floors in Bldgs >20 floors] X [#Bldgs b/t 5-11 floors].

Divide that number by 10,000.

Then take square root of that number twice.

=skyline richter scale.

Did this for the same cities as before, and then added Nashville, Birmingham, and Shreveport. New Orleans still wins.

Baton Rouge: 1.31

Memphis: 2.19

Charlotte: 3.34

New Orleans: 4.18

Nashville: 3.05

Birmingham: 2.11

Shreveport: 0.90

Damn it, Shreveport needs to step it up! If you added the Horseshoe in Bossier (26 floors) I suppose it would help. Also, did you figure Sam's Town on the Shreveport riverfront (23 floors?)

You have quite an interesting technique here... you're a very intelligent guy, no doubt.

[bluff2085]

My bad, forgot to add the Horseshoe. That gives Shreveport 5 bldgs >20 floors with a floor count total of 115. Plug that in and:

Shreveport = 1.001 on richter scale

I estimated NYC's to be around 50 or 55

[dimebag1980]

My bad, forgot to add the Horseshoe. That gives Shreveport 5 bldgs >20 floors with a floor count total of 115. Plug that in and:

Shreveport = 1.001 on richter scale

I estimated NYC's to be around 50 or 55

Phew! As long as we're 1.00+ I'm happy.

Seriously, this is pretty cool. It blows my mind how you just came up with this, man.

@NYC: :shok: Wow!!

[richyb83]

That's some good stuff there bluff 2085 That's very interesting, I really like the topic! Great work, what a benefit to have you in the La. forum.

Your formula proves New Orleans is Ranked #5 in my Southern rankings; Charlotte #6; and Nashville next?? I'll have to check the Top 10 again, I forgot; it's been awhile.

Shreveport does a better-job with the cluster of high-rises in their CBD than Baton Rouge does; which is more spread-out.

Also... I only recently found out Memphis had a couple of impressive high-rises on the eastern side...(not in CBD) I believe one of them is the 27?(31??)-story Clark Tower and a couple others 15 to 20 stories??

Soon I will be making on new thread w/photo's for BR called "Taller buildings outside the CBD"...starting with the Mariott

[bluff2085]

Thanks for the comments, guys. Personal opinion works at judging skylines but numbers might supplement those opinions. I tried to factor in mid rise buildings b/c big cities always have a ton of them but they're overlooked in the skyline battles. If I finish studyin anytime soon I'll try and plug in the numbers and post the South's top ten "earthquakes"

[bluff2085]

an [unscientific] list of 24 Southern cities [no oklahoma or kentucky though] with the formula. Houston is number one pretty easily.

1. Houston = 10.51

2. Atlanta = 7.65

3. Dallas = 7.31

4. Miami = 5.83

5. New Orleans = 4.18

6. Charlotte = 3.34

7. tie...Austin/Nashville = 3.05

9. San Antonio = 2.86

10. Tampa = 2.58

11. Memphis = 2.19

12. Jacksonville = 2.12

13. Birmingham = 2.11

14. Fort Worth = 2.09

15. Orlando = 1.97

16. Little Rock = 1.47

17. Winston-Salem = 1.41

18. St. Petersburg = 1.34

19. tie..Baton Rouge/Raleigh = 1.31

21. Jackson, MS = 1.06

22. Mobile [including BH] = 1.03

23. Shreveport = 1.001

24. Columbia, SC = 0.81

[NCB]

an [unscientific] list of 24 Southern cities [no oklahoma or kentucky though] with the formula. Houston is number one pretty easily.

1. Houston = 10.51

2. Atlanta = 7.65

3. Dallas = 7.31

4. Miami = 5.83

5. New Orleans = 4.18

6. Charlotte = 3.34

Wow, it's very interesting that for the most part, this follows my view of top 6 skylines in the South. I guess Dallas and Miami might switch, but other than that, it's exactly the same.

[Rardy]

Also... I only recently found out Memphis had a couple of impressive high-rises on the eastern side...(not in CBD) I believe one of them is the 27?(31??)-story Clark Tower and a couple others 15 to 20 stories??

YES! East Memphis has an impressive skyline outside the CBD. Clark Tower is 400', Marriott 329', White Station 280', and quite a few others. Three of the 10 tallest buildings in Memphis are in East Memphis. Kinda reminds me of Metairie and its skyline.

[NCB]

The five tallest buildings in Metairie, in case anyone is curious:

1. Three Lakeway Center- 403 feet

2. The Galleria- 269 feet

3. Two Lakeway Center- 259 feet

4. Heritage Plaza- 245 feet

5. Executive Tower 1- 204 feet

And when stacked up against the major skylines in Louisiana, Metairie ain't to shabby for a suburban skyline.

Total height of five tallest buildings in Metairie: 1380 feet

Total height of five tallest buildings in Baton Rouge: 1500 feet

Total height of five tallest buildings in Shreveport: 1380 feet

Total height of five tallest buildings in New Orleans: 2884 feet

However if you were to combine the total height of the 10 tallest buildings in each of those cities, Metairie wouldn't even be close. But still, not too shabby.

[dimebag1980]

The five tallest buildings in Metairie, in case anyone is curious:

1. Three Lakeway Center- 403 feet

2. The Galleria- 269 feet

3. Two Lakeway Center- 259 feet

4. Heritage Plaza- 245 feet

5. Executive Tower 1- 204 feet

And when stacked up against the major skylines in Louisiana, Metairie ain't to shabby for a suburban skyline.

Total height of five tallest buildings in Metairie: 1380 feet

Total height of five tallest buildings in Baton Rouge: 1500 feet

Total height of five tallest buildings in Shreveport: 1380 feet

Total height of five tallest buildings in New Orleans: 2884 feet

However if you were to combine the total height of the 10 tallest buildings in each of those cities, Metairie wouldn't even be close. But still, not too shabby.

That's actually not bad at all! I really like the taller buildings in Metairie... very unusual for a suburb in the state of Louisiana. But then again, metro New Orleans is unlike any other metro in Louisiana (in a good way.)

[richyb83]

Metairie may not be incorporated for some reason; but I still consider it Louisiana's 4th largest city.

[richyb83]

1. Houston = 10.51

2. Atlanta = 7.65

3. Dallas = 7.31

4. Miami = 5.83

5. New Orleans = 4.18

6. Charlotte = 3.34

7. tie...Austin/Nashville = 3.05

9. San Antonio = 2.86

10. Tampa = 2.58

11. Memphis = 2.19

12. Jacksonville = 2.12

13. Birmingham = 2.11

14. Fort Worth = 2.09

15. Orlando = 1.97

16. Little Rock = 1.47

17. Winston-Salem = 1.41

18. St. Petersburg = 1.34

19. tie..Baton Rouge/Raleigh = 1.31

21. Jackson, MS = 1.06

22. Mobile [including BH]= 1.03

23. Shreveport = 1.001

24. Columbia, SC = 0.81

I really am impressed with your work bluff 2085. That's a nice list. Very close to what I have been thinking. I can't wait to see this list in another 3 to 5 years to see all the changes. I am kinda suprised Atlanta is ranked ahead of Dallas; then again...Atlanta does have Mid-Town to go along with their downtown..where Dallas has a more compact CBD in terms of their "Skyline"

[krazeeboi]

an [unscientific] list of 24 Southern cities [no oklahoma or kentucky though] with the formula. Houston is number one pretty easily.

1. Houston = 10.51

2. Atlanta = 7.65

3. Dallas = 7.31

4. Miami = 5.83

5. New Orleans = 4.18

6. Charlotte = 3.34

7. tie...Austin/Nashville = 3.05

9. San Antonio = 2.86

10. Tampa = 2.58

11. Memphis = 2.19

12. Jacksonville = 2.12

13. Birmingham = 2.11

14. Fort Worth = 2.09

15. Orlando = 1.97

16. Little Rock = 1.47

17. Winston-Salem = 1.41

18. St. Petersburg = 1.34

19. tie..Baton Rouge/Raleigh = 1.31

21. Jackson, MS = 1.06

22. Mobile [including BH] = 1.03

23. Shreveport = 1.001

24. Columbia, SC = 0.81

Interesting formula and listing, but it doesn't take into account other factors like architecture, placement of towers, topography, etc. For instance, I would definitely place Raleigh above Baton Rouge and there's no way Jackson ranks ahead of Columbia.

[NCB]

Alright guys, something we suprisingly haven't done yet is rank our favorite skylines in Louisiana, so I figured I'd bring that idea up. I won't make it too hard, so I'll just rank my top 5 in the state.

1. New Orleans

2. Shreveport

3. Baton Rouge

4. Metairie

5. Lake Charles

Now for my analysis:

#1. I don't think anyone could argue with New Orleans being #1, nothing else in the state even begins to compare in terms of height, density, number of buildings, overall size, etc.

#2. Shreveport has a very nice and impressive skyline in nearly every way, especially considering the area isn't that big. Though a metro of 450,000 is obviously nothing small, either. Anyway, the density is great, the buildings look great, the height is definately good, and the casino hotels outside of downtown add even more to the skyline.

Photo courtesy of Nicholas West at City Data

#3. Baton Rouge's skyline, while not bad, ain't that great either. Not much height or density, and most of the buildings aren't that great, but it's still pretty nice, IMO, and the Capitol helps it out big time. Now, after these new towers come up, especially RiverPlace, I wouldn't be suprised if they move up to #2. A little more height and a little more density could make the Baton Rouge skyline look much better.

4. The last two can probably be switched with ease, but I decided to put Metairie in front of Lake Charles because to me, it has better height, and just looks better. They are both spread out, but I like the newer glass buildings that Metairie offers, and the fact that there are multiple nice sized buildings, though One Lakeway Center is obviously the center of the skyline. And hey, you have to be impressed that a Louisiana suburb actually has a pretty decent skyline.

Note* this image does not show The Galleria, which is over 200 feet tall, but is just outside of the viewing area along I-10.

5. Again, you could probably just have switched the last two out and put Metairie here, but I decided to make Lake Charles my #5. The overall skyline isn't that amazing, but it's still pretty impressive, and the 300 foot tall Hibernia Bank Tower really is nice and makes the skyline what it is. Not bad at all for a metro of only about 200,000.

And just for FYI purposes, my #6 would have to be Monroe, there's just something about that skyline and its look that I really like.

[dimebag1980]

And just for FYI purposes, my #6 would have to be Monroe, there's just something about that skyline and its look that I really like.

I like the old, gritty look of Monroe's skyline. I don't know why, but I've always liked the view of it from I-20.

And I'm glad to see Shreveport as your #2, though I hate to think that may soon change. With Baton Rouge's imminent skyline transformation, we have some VERY serious competition there.

[dan326]

#3. Baton Rouge's skyline, while not bad, ain't that great either. Not much height or density, and most of the buildings aren't that great, but it's still pretty nice, IMO, and the Capitol helps it out big time. Now, after these new towers come up, especially RiverPlace, I wouldn't be suprised if they move up to #2. A little more height and a little more density could make the Baton Rouge skyline look much better.

You're right. If Huey hadn't built the state capitol, the skyline wouldn't have been nearly as good. Maybe the developers thought that Baton Rouge would continue to grow because of oil, even if the building was spaced out from the next building, another one would come in and fill the gap. And definitely B.R. isn't known for it's inovative skyscrapers. Except for the Shaw Plaza and maybe Marriot and State Capitol, all of B.R.'S buildings are essentially blocks.But that'll change with RiverPlace and 2 City Plaza.

You know, I find it kind of strange that the building is named 2 City Plaza instead of City Plaza 2. But I guessed that doesn't matter as long as it gets built.

[richyb83]

That's a very old picture of downtown BR. Trying to remember how OLD ?? None of the New state buildings or Shaw Center are on that pic.... 3 of those buildings around One American Place have been "Emploded" !!!

Yes Baton Rouge is still #3......but it's Skyline is better than that old pic

Look at new wikipedia pic.

[dimebag1980]

That's a very old picture of downtown BR. Trying to remember how OLD ?? None of the New state buildings or Shaw Center are on that pic.... 3 of those buildings around One American Place have been "Emploded" !!!

Yes Baton Rouge is still #3......but it's Skyline is better than that old pic

Look at new wikipedia pic.

The Wikipedia photo is awesome. The photographer deserves major props!!

[richyb83]

This a little better, still 3rd place.

This has 1 out the 4 New State Buildings visible (between Capitol & One American Place) One is being built in this pic.... the other two cannot be seen, not sure if(when) they began??

The Chase Buildings may be hiding Galvez bldg.??

2007 is gonna be nice.

WOW Brian...that was a quick reply. Yes he does.

[richyb83]

This adds to the density....4 large buildings on 4 blocks. The 2 in the middle were opened for 2,000 state workers this past Summer.

These are two of the new state buildings behind the new State Museum at the Capitol Park Complex..

Galvez (left) is my favorite

Edit* I downsized the top picture for you, Richy.

[richyb83]

Locating a recent downtown BR aerial seems impossible; That BR aerial pic posted above had to be around 1990. The Sheraton hotel is not there....

The Centroplex is only 1/2 what it is now as the River Center.

BTW...yes New Orleans wins by a landslide; Shreveport has good density. Lake Charles Hibernia Tower is tall for the size of the city. Metairie has a nice skyline esp. for a suburb.

[NCB]

So Brian and Dan, and anyone else if they would like to contribute, what are your top 5 skylines in the state? You don't need to go into detail or anything, I'm just curious how you guys would rank them?

[dan326]

Well, I'd have to say

1. New Orleans

2. Shreveport

3. Baton Rouge

4. Lake Charles

5. Metairie

I put Lake Charles before Metairie because I just like the Hibernia bank a little better thant the Metairie buildings, but I'm just going by the pictures.If the Bestwestern of Galleria where in there, that might have changed things. Even with B.R.'s two new building Shreveport will still be tough competion with there density and nice hotels.

While I'm on the subject of hotels I think that Pinnacle should not put it's casino/hotel were they bought that land, because it will just turn into a big mess from all the complaints. They should put it in West Baton Rouge Parish in Port Allen. Then all the big LA cities could have suburban skylines.