Intell/Intel Tower

[NoyokA]

I was browsing Frank Williams' website and found this project, the Intel Tower from 2001.

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Intell03.jpg

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Intell01.jpg

It looks like a marriage between the Bertelsmann Building and the Americas Tower. I would hope that there is some validity to this project, I am a fan of post-modernism when its done right, and this looks to be done right.

[NYguy]

Very interesting. Looks to be about 830 to 840 ft.

[sfenn1117]

Gives us an idea (size) on what we can expect from Extell on that site.

[NoyokA]

Very interesting. Looks to be about 830 to 840 ft.

It's not a conventionally massive building, but if built it would effectively block the grouping of Cityspire, Carnegie Hall, and Metropolitan Towers.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/skyscrapers/carnegie_hall_tower/carnegie_hall_tower_sheep_meadow.jpg

[stache]

Yes but it would only block them from the North.

[NoyokA]

Hence the photo I posted.

[antinimby]

Well, like everything in this city, if a proposal is nice you can bet it won't have much of chance of happening.

Whereas ugly McSams seem to pop up faster than you can say "what the..."

[NYguy]

It seems these days that when a new tower comes up, the concern is over what it will block. But with any tower, something is inevitably going to be blocked. Usually depending on the angle or side of view. In either case, the city can't just stay frozen in time.

[lofter1]

The three towers in close proximity there (Metropolitan / Cityspire / Carnegie) have always seemed, IMHO, oddly crowded. One more across the street will just make it more so. Not a complaint really -- but I do wonder what's the point of living up high if you're looking across the street into the windows of another tower (fat chance I'll ever have that opportunity / problem :cool: ).

For you brokers: What would this do to the values at the Metropolitan's north-facing units?

[Derek2k3]

Nice find. This is the same development site as this (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5465&page=3). Intell was the former name of Extell. Sad to hear that cluster will be blocked though.

[londonlawyer]

Nice find. This is the same development site as this (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5465&page=3). Intell was the former name of Extell. Sad to hear that cluster will be blocked though.

This tower is awesome! It's reassuring to know that Intell and Extell are the same entity. However, isn't Cetra/Ruddy the architect for Barnett's 157 W. 57th Street project? This proposal is not only tall and shapely, but it seems to have a lot of stone in the facade. It would be a shame if a blue glass monster, a la Ariel, rises above the CPS skyline.

[londonlawyer]

What's Frank William's web address? I looked on google and couldn't find it.

[Derek2k3]

http://www.archfwa.com
Nicely designed site, with good pics. I'm no fan of his work though, especially of his most recent stuff. (The Marc, W Hotel)

[londonlawyer]

http://www.archfwa.com
Nicely designed site, with good pics. I'm no fan of his work though, especially of his most recent stuff. (The Marc, W Hotel)

Thanks. I had no idea that he designed so many awesome projects. He has a R.A.M. Stern flair for classical buildings. Perhaps shortfalls on the towers you referred to above relate to the developers' budgets, etc.

Does anyone know what his involvement was with the Four Seasons? I thought that Pei designed that.

I had hoped that he would be affiliated with Cetra/Ruddy since they're apparently designing 157West 57th Street. I don't really care for that firm's work. It's garish and not inventive.
Anyway, since Williams does not appear to be affiliated with that firm, this tower likely will not be built.

[antinimby]

^ I think you hit the nail right on the head.

Notice the renderings Stern posted are from 2001. That might as well be ancient history.

I suspect that Williams design has been replaced by a new one from Cetra-Ruddy.

With their track record, I'm afraid (just like londonlawyer) that it will indeed be Ariel-like, that is, another glass box.

[MidtownGuy]

I'd bet money on it. Get ready for another boring box.

[lofter1]

Considering the location of this building -- The Park Belvedere (http://www.archfwa.com/default.aspx?page=5&type=90&project=335&focus=3) at 79th Columbus -- the design should be much better.

IMO this is one ugly pile of bricks ...

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Belvedere04.jpg

[czsz]

The elegant setback-taper has become all too rare. He should get some credit for maintaining it.

[lofter1]

If it were actually elegant I'd give him credit.

This is merely a jumple of increasingly smaller boxes piled atop one another. Particularly from the north south it has no grace whatsoever.

[drcronex]

I was browsing Frank Williams' website and found this project, the Intel Tower from 2001.

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Intell03.jpg

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Intell01.jpg

It looks like a marriage between the Bertelsmann Building and the Americas Tower. I would hope that there is some validity to this project, I am a fan of post-modernism when its done right, and this looks to be done right.
I am, personally, not a fan of any particular style. I think the massing here is kinda interesting and the plan. But what does the building do for the street it will live on? I mean, how will it contribute to bettering the street? Will it provide a stop for pedestrians, i.e. shop, coffee stop, public interior space...
I hope its not just another wall on the sidewalk with a private entryhole, can't judge by the 2 images.
Nice post.

[MidtownGuy]

You've expressed a very legitimate concern. Most of these new towers are horrible at the base. I can now confidently say, that if given the choice, I would rather have smaller buildings (for which some on this board have scatalogical names) that enrich my life at street level, over towers that decimate street life and close established businesses in favor of chainstore hegemony.

[lofter1]

For how NOT to do either the facade treatment or the street level then check out the Rihga hotel on W. 54th, a similar sized site a couple of blocks south of this one:

http://members.aol.com/smurphy109/photos/rihga.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/hotels/rihga_royal/rihga_royal.jpg

[pianoman11686]

We're overdue for a good post-modern highrise. I sincerely hope that the high quality of this potential tower's neighbors (Cityspire, Metropolitan, Carnegie Hall Tower) compels the architect/developer team to go for something iconic and classy-looking. I also hope that Cetra/Ruddy is only the architect of record, and that someone better will be hired.

RE: street level at the Rihga: I believe the hotel recently changed ownership and name to the LondonNYC, which may have involved a reworking of the entrance. Anyone pass by there recently?

Oh, and if you really want to see an example of how not to do a hotel base, walk a couple blocks over to the Sheraton. Hideous.

[czsz]

Agree; there are worse examples. Hotel entrances are almost excused from taking up street space; in contrast to condo towers, which tend to have many absentee owners, hotel lobbies are almost constantly busy and contribute to the life of the street.

[londonlawyer]

I speculate that 157 West 57th may contain NY's first Shangri-La hotel. The following is from Shangri-La's website:

Shangri-La Appoints Brian Windle Vice President Sales And Marketing, North America

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, has appointed Brian Windle vice president sales and marketing, North America. Mr. Windle will assume this newly created, New York-based position June 1, 2007, reporting directly to Chief Marketing Officer Martin F. Waechter.

Mr. Windle will be responsible for North America inbound and outbound sales and marketing including distribution channel development; loyalty and partner marketing; revenue generation of Shangri-La’s New York and Los Angeles regional sales offices; and successful marketing launches of Shangri-La hotels opening in Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Toronto and others soon to be announced.

[Alonzo-ny]

What is the current situation for this site? its obviously zoned to be big, is there a seperate thread?

[antinimby]

^
Nice find. This is the same development site as this (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5465&page=3). Intell was the former name of Extell. Sad to hear that cluster will be blocked though.Since these two threads are about the same project, why don't we just merge them?

Moderators?

[NoyokA]

^Since these two threads are about the same project, why don't we just merge them?

Moderators?

Seeing as this is most likely a DAB (Dead and Buried) project I think its fine to have two threads, one as the current proposal and the other as the what could've been proposal.

[NoyokA]

Thanks. I had no idea that he designed so many awesome projects. He has a R.A.M. Stern flair for classical buildings. Perhaps shortfalls on the towers you referred to above relate to the developers' budgets, etc.

Does anyone know what his involvement was with the Four Seasons? I thought that Pei designed that.

I had hoped that he would be affiliated with Cetra/Ruddy since they're apparently designing 157West 57th Street. I don't really care for that firm's work. It's garish and not inventive.
Anyway, since Williams does not appear to be affiliated with that firm, this tower likely will not be built.


I've always liked Frank Williams. He has flaws which sometimes appear blatantly obvious on some of his buildings and he is also somewhat shortsighted, but I think he overall has a good eye for design.

Some of my favorite projects by him:

The Columbia.

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Columbia02.jpg

Probably my favorite project by him, many people overlook this building, I know I did for many years until I was forced to look at it waiting for the cross-town bus at 96th street. The geometries, the cuts, the cantilevers, emphasis on the horizontal as well as the vertical, and the earth tones, this might as well be Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Rhiga.

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Rihga03.jpg

I love the concept, the tower’s geometry dissolves into a blossoming flower, unfortunately in applied application this building is wholly forgettable.

Trump Palace.

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/TrumpPal06.jpg

Tied as my favorite Frank William design with the Columbia. The giant windows accentuate the setbacks and the beautiful Chanin inspired crown complete it.

South Ferry Plaza.

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/SF02.jpg

This building has a couple rough edges, a couple bad tendencies, but I absolutely love this proposal, always have. Sure it’s a near copy of the Chrysler Building, but I think New York can never have enough of extravagant landmarks and the location is ideal. This was a competition in the mid 80's and I've seen the designs from Jahn, KPF, Fox and Fowle, and Arquitectonica, and none seemlessy fit like this one did, I could just imagine this being the glorious final piece of the lower Manhattan skyline as one approaches from the Staten Island ferry.

[antinimby]

South Ferry Plaza.

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/SF02.jpgOMG, this would have been such a fabulous addition to the Lower Manhattan skyline.

What a total shame it was never built.

What was the reason?

[NoyokA]

It was proposed in the late 1980's right before the real estate market headed south. Does anyone know if anything can still be built at this site?

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/5/2000/08/110993.jpg

[lofter1]

For the most part I agree with you here, but would go farther to say this building is a miserable failure. Whether that is because the developer decided to do it on the cheap and down-graded materials from what Williams originally proposed or because the design was flawed from the beginning I don't know.

But if an architect, after consulting with the client and seemingly understanding the needs / constricts of a project, designs something that can go from promising to terrible as clearly as this one does then shouldn't the architect be held accountable -- to some degree?



The Rhiga.

I love the concept, the tower’s geometry dissolves into a blossoming flower, unfortunately in applied application this building is wholly forgettable.

Comparing the model to the actual building ...


http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Rihga03.jpg..........http://members.aol.com/smurphy109/photos/rihga.jpg

[pianoman11686]

I don't know if it's that obvious, but those images show different sides of the building. For some reason, it's exceedingly tough to find images of the front (the better side), but you can tell in this view that it does look much more like the rendering:

http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2005_4th/RihgaRoyalExteriorPhotoNov2005.jpeg

[NYatKNIGHT]

The top was lopped off, for one thing.

[NoyokA]

Frank Williams updated his website and updated this project, its now called the Extell Tower, which in my mind proves this is an Extell Development, I still suspect this project is dead, but here's another teaser:

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/Dscn6737a.jpg

From this angle and its relation to the Metropolitan Tower I would guess it is shorter than I previously guessed, I would say about 750 feet to the roof and 800 feet to the top of the spire, regardless I still hope its built.

[BrooklynRider]

Handsome building. I wouldn't mind seeing more designs like this.

[Viktorkrum77]

What do they build these models out of? Is it truly foam-core board? Because I can't see how someone can carve it so well.

[TREPYE]

For all of its legendary and majestic architecture NYC lacks a great waterfront tower. Too bad this beauty didn't come through.

http://www.archfwa.com/files/project_images/SF02.jpg

[tmac9wr]

Stern mentioned that the South Ferry Plaza wasn't built because the real estate market headed south...why wouldn't they build it once the real estate market picked back up? This building is just too much of a beauty to not ever build it.