More Towers on the Way

Other tall buildings proposed/underway in big cities around the nation.

Redevelopment of L.A. Times Complex

Plans for redevelopment of the L.A. Times headquarters in downtown Los Angeles includes building multiple towers, The Architect’s Newspaper reported. The plan includes 37- and 53-story residential towers designed by L.A.-based AC Martin and developed by Canadian company Omni Group. Tribune Media Co. is also planning to build a 30-story, mixed-use tower designed by Gensler connected to the existing L.A. Times building by indoor and outdoor retail. The original Art Deco Times headquarters would be preserved, while a 1970s addition designed by William Pereira would be demolished.

Seattle Office Tower Keeps Public in Mind

2+U, named for its location at Second Avenue and University Street in downtown Seattle, has a design that entails its 38 stories rising above an “outdoor urban village” with restaurant, entertainment and retail space, Commercial Property Executive reported. Skanska USA Commercial Development has likely already started work on the project, which is close to the Pike Place Market and Seattle Art Museum. Scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2019, it will aim for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification. Prospective tenants will get to take virtual-reality tours of the property with Microsoft HoloLens, the same technology now being used by thyssenkrupp technicians (ELEVATOR WORLD, November 2016).

New Renderings of Tribeca/FiDi Condominium Tower

New renderings show a 43-story, 642-ft.-tall tower that will contain more than 50 residences where Tribeca and the Financial District (FiDi) meet in New York City (NYC), Curbed New York reported. Construction began in summer 2016 on the tower at 45 Park Place, which is also set to have 1,089 sq. ft. of retail. Soho Properties is the developer, with SOMA Architects the design architect and Leyva Architects the executive/residential architect. If the developer’s vision comes to fruition, it will have an Islamic museum and cultural center next door, on the site of the proposed Park51, also called the “Ground Zero mosque.” Completion is anticipated by the end of 2018.

Denver Office Tower Nearly Complete

1144 Fifteenth, the tallest office tower to be built in Denver since the 1980s (EW, September 2015), is nearing completion, with the building’s core surpassing 32 stories in February and topping off anticipated by the summer, The Denver Post reported. When it’s finished, the Hines-developed tower will stand 40 stories and 603 ft. at the corner of 15th and Arapahoe streets. It will be the fifth-tallest building in Denver when completed in 2018. Hines reports leasing is going well, with approximately 30% of 670,000 sq. ft. under contract earlier this year.

Residential Tower Shimmers Over Boston’s Fenway Park

Distinguishing features of the 30-story Pierce Boston residential tower, overlooking the city’s Fenway Park baseball stadium, are starting to appear, SkyRise Cities reported. Arquitectonica is behind the slender, angular design, which features shimmery blue and metal elements. Samuels & Associates is the developer of the project, set to include approximately 350 units, along with a host of resident amenities and 20,000 sq. ft. of retail. Delivery is anticipated in 2018.

KONE Lands Order to Outfit “Unique Dallas Landmark”

KONE has won a contract to supply Park District, a mixed-use development in downtown Dallas that KONE Americas Executive Vice President Larry Wash describes as a “unique landmark,” with 18 elevators. Located at 2101 Pearl Street, Park District will span 916,000 sq. ft. and have a 19-story office tower and 32-story residential tower, along with retail and parking both above and below ground. Overlooking Klyde Warren Park, the project is being developed by Trammell Crow Co. and Metlife Inc. and was designed by HKS Architects. The elevator system will include 10 MiniSpaceTM, six MonoSpace® and two EcoSpace® elevators. Nine units will be equipped with KONE Destination, which implements a destination operating panel, rather than traditional up-and-down buttons, to enhance traffic flow.

Schedule Set for Safety Summit

The schedule for the Elevator Industry Safety Summit, to take place in Phoenix at the Sheraton Grand on May 21-23, has been released. In addition to meals, cocktails and dancing, there will be the following educational sessions: “Lock Out Tag Out” by Rob Merlo and Ray Downs, “Car Top & Pit Access” by Bob Rodriguez and Kevin Dix, “Fall Protection and Jumpers” by Aled Jones and Cory Ward, and “Preventing Elevator and Escalator Accidents by Addressing All Safety Factors” by a Liftinstituut representative(s). The opening speaker is behaviorist Peter Susca, presenting “Changing Behavior for Fatality Prevention.” Additionally, multiple panels will be held, moderated by Dave Turner and Jack Day. For inspectors, it is approved for up to 0.2 QEI continuing-education units. For more information or to register, visit www.naesai.org/news/11.  