Foster + Partners has released new renderings of Oceanwide Center, a pair of 605- and 850-ft.-tall towers planned in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood downtown, dezeen reported. Together, the buildings will span 2 million sq. ft., with the taller tower housing a Waldorf Astoria hotel, offices, stores and entertainment venues, and the shorter one housing residences. Designed in conjunction with local firm Heller Manus Architects and planned for the South of Market neighborhood, the project consists of the shorter, rectilinear building and the taller one that boasts a glassy, diagonal-patterned façade. Ample public space at ground level is planned.
Project Fuels Downtown Chicago’s Residential Boom
Chicago’s Murphy Development announced it has partnered with CIM Group of Los Angeles to develop a glassy 46-story residential tower at 1326 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s South Loop area downtown, Curbed Chicago reported. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) and bearing a resemblance to Studio Gang’s emerging Vista Tower (ELEVATOR WORLD, July 2016), 1326 S. Michigan would contain approximately 500 rental units, retail and parking. CIM is developing several other residential high rises in Chicago, and it hopes its stake in 1326 S. Michigan will help the project land financing.
Tallest Building in Grand Rapids Proposed
Design details were being hammered out earlier this year for a 40-story, 420-ft.-tall mixed-use building in the historic district of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Michigan Live reported. If built, it would be the city’s tallest. Historic preservationists had previously signed off on the building’s height but, in August, were scheduled to review design details before approving the project. Portage, Michigan-based Hinman Co. is the developer of the building, which would have up to 140 hotel rooms on the first 10 floors with approximately 250 apartments above. The location is 10 Iona Avenue, N.W.
Downtown Austin Hotels Continue to Multiply
The hotel market in downtown Austin, Texas, is growing, with 1,000 new rooms coming online that include a 30-story, 615-room Marriott near the Austin Convention Center downtown, the Austin American-Statesman reported. White Lodging Services Corp. of Merrillville, Indiana, is the developer of both the Marriott and a shorter Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel near the University of Texas. White Lodging recently completed or is building three hotels in Austin. Although the market has absorbed approximately 1,500 new rooms since the start of 2015, occupancy and rates remain strong. White Lodging plans to break ground on the Marriott in May 2017 ahead of a 2019 opening.
Annual Manufacturing Day Addresses Skilled Labor Shortage
The fifth annual Manufacturing DaySM is planned on October 7, when thousands of manufacturers plan to open their doors to give people an up-close look at the high-tech, impactful jobs available. It is a program of The Manufacturing Institute, the nonprofit arm of the National Association of Manufacturers. The guiding principle of the events, intended to address the skilled labor shortage, is that “seeing is believing.” Research shows it works: a new Deloitte poll of participants revealed the vast majority of students and educators came away from Manufacturing Day believing careers in manufacturing are both interesting and rewarding. Participation continues to grow, with more than 2,600 events attracting more than 225,000 students and 55,000 parents, educators, job seekers and officials last year.
Boston Garage Site Plans Revealed
The Boston Redevelopment Authority is weighing proposals for redevelopment of a shuttered garage. Six projects have been put forth for the downtown Winthrop Square Garage site, which the Boston Globe reports will include one of the tallest buildings in Boston. To cost an approximate US$1 billion, the winning development will be chosen from a few finalists to be further pared down over the summer.
Get more of Elevator World. Sign up for our free e-newsletter.
