Reynolds Tower Tweaked

The article did say that some tweaking would be done to the top. I am wondering if the old rendering is the same building but from a different angle.

I’m not an architecture critic really, but the name. “The Raleigh”? How corny can you get?

I agree with Rob – the name is corny and pretentious. I would even like Reynolds Tower better.
It does look like the same building to me too. The addition of the “trees” or shrubs below the taller part of the tower make it look less sleek though.
Compared to buildings like North and the Dawson though this is much more 21st Century.

This is quite an opportunity to get to watch and critique these first contemporary towers in Raleigh, a whole batch at a time. I wonder if this is what it felt like in Chicago after the fire, when it was time to rebuild. We (our developers, designers, commissioners, public) have an opportunity to decide what character raleigh architecture will take on. Will we be uber-efficient and faceless like NewYork or tactile and historical like Chicago or modern and expressive like Minneapolis? Please stay involved. Stay conversational – make the architects and developers talk about what they’re doing, make sure they have reasons behind their designs.

Ummm … it’s all right — but what is with the L-shaped theme all the time? I too think the original was for more in the way of taking a risk. I guarantee they scaled back their rendering to appease the FAR too conservative City Council. Raleigh needs “iconic” architecture, and that is certainly not it. Maybe the next round of skyline will be more daring, like say a series of (oh my goodness) 50 story buildings.

Having spoken to David Reynolds more than a few times, I have come to believe that he and his father (Ted Reynolds) are two individuals who truly love this city (downtown, in particular) and want to do their absolute best. It is my belief that this tower will not be their swan song, but merely the beginning of more similar high-rises to follow.
Whether this high-rise will be the signature tower everyone wants to see, or not, I couldn’t tell until it is actually delivered. Will it be significant? You bet. Will it make an impact? Most definitely. Will it serve downtown well? In more ways than we can possibly imagine. Will it make a statement that will last for the next 50 years? I truly hope NOT. Because if we expect this tower to dominate Raleigh’s skyline in the year 2056, we are in deep trouble. Overall, it is a nice high-rise and will not overwhelm the surroundings. I never felt overwhelmed by the 430ft Two Hannover Square, nor I expect to be with this tower. Maybe when we get our first 700ft tower
One observation: The previously published image seems to show the North-East elevation, while the latest one appears to show the South-East elevation. I may be wrong about it, but I will try to confirm this.

Thanks for the input, Ernest! I do have to say that my criticism comes from only seeing this one side. Who knows what features the building has on its back side. The old rendering showed the main tower stairstepping with balconies on the back side, but in an interior L-corner of the building.
This rendering appears to look like a pack of Wrigley’s gum on its end. Of course, I am assuming that the back side is exactly like the front. With condos in the top floors, one has to wonder if these people will get balconies like their counterparts over on the U.S.S. RBC.
I always assumed we were looking at the NW corner, but I think that you are right. I think this is the NE corner. We must be standing at Hillsborough Place looking to the SW at this view (http://tinyurl.com/k4pa4). That would be Hillsborough Street disappearing to the right, and the large face of the building pictured faces Salisbury St. Morgan Street borders the left side of the building. Because the featured face appears to be on a short block in both renderings, I feel these two are of the same NE corner.
That name, “The Raleigh”, has go. I’ve got a better name:
The Monte Tower

does anyone see a taller, upgraded, glassy quorum center?? coincidence the reynolds are involved with both? no big deal really, i like it, but that was the first thing that came to mind

Leo, there are huge differences between the two buildings (Quorum Center and Reynolds Tower 1). Not only architecturally, but structurally. It should be obvious by now, but I can see why some people see resemblances. My guess is that once the new tower is completed, it will be clear. One more thing, I have a feeling that the North side of the tower will look a bit different than the South side. This is a speculation, so don’t quote me. If I am correct, then the balconies may be on the Hillsborough side.
As for the name, it will be weird to call this tower “The Raleigh”. Here is another guess: the hotel’s name may be “The Raleigh”, in which case it would not be as bad. I am anxious to learn more because now I am more confused than ever before :LOL:

Did I read that right?
Construction won’t start till NEXT July?
July ’07?

How about “the Raleighing”??? You’re right though, “the Raleigh” just doesn’t roll off the tongue right. I would imagine they would sell the rights to SunTrust
Ernest — that’s what I’m waiting for too, the 50 story buildings, and downtown river/canal/rapids, and multiple downtown sports facilities (for Wolfpack Basketball and MLB), and trains to connect suburbia.
OK, OK, I’m waiting for a real city.
Thanks for the info, that’s awesome.

I would be curious to find out if anyone has done a market analysis to determine, based on estimates of annual demand for various types of downtown space, how many 30 to 50 story towers can be built in Raleigh, and over what period.
A prominent urbanist has pointed out that a high-rise may consume all the real estate demand in its area for four or five years, leaving empty lots (and a poor, discontinuous urban experience) around it.

Betsy, it sounds a little extreme to say that a high-rise can hurt demand for the next 4-5 years. No “prominent urbanist” knows it all. I am sure that any expert would have to evaluate Raleigh first – downtown, in particular – prior to guesstimating how many high-rises are needed before the local market gets saturated.
In the residential area, the issues we face here are not related to the number of units built, but the prices of those units. When developers will be able and willing to offer a 2000sf unit for less than $300,000, then we can talk. No need for top of the line/high tech amenities. Just a plain condo unit, with a simple floor plan. If developers stay within a reasonable price range, the momentum for residential high-rise living will only increase.
Office space is a bit trickier. Saturation in more urban/established environments, came some time ago. Slower and stagnant economies cannot feed their real estate market with additional high-rises easily. Growing economic centers like Charlotte, Tampa and Raleigh will absorb a lot of space before reaching saturation. Of course, there is no golden rule that applies to all cases. Things can change in a short-time. DT Raleigh is on the rise, but I do not envision super tall buildings any time soon. It will take several years and probably 3-4 major corporate relocations (with over 1000 employees) before we manage to go above 50 stories. Expect a lot of mixed-use projects to become the norm.
Back to this project, I think that it will look far more impressive in real life. I remember when Two Progress Plaza was first presented on the paper. I wasn’t impressed, at all. However, the design grew on me and now I enjoy looking at that building. This new proposal, however, could please the eye and improve the skyline significantly, once delivered. The top of the tower looks fine, but some tweaking could help, without a doubt.

Unless it’s condos we won’t have a 50-story building without a major corporate addition to DT. It’s that simple. And a corporation is also not going to want to spread it offices throughout various available vacancies. So I doubt a 50-story building would dry up anything in the surroundings.

Right, Ernest, we don’t know. That is why I posed the question if anyone has done such a study or market analysis to find out.
I’m not willing to draw any conclusions without that information, which is why I said “may,” not “will”.
And that’s also why I asked about “various types” of space, because as you point out, office, residential, and retail components would all come with their own supply/demand numbers, which would affect the ability of downtown to absorb each of them.
I think we are on the same page, for when you say “I am sure that any expert would have to evaluate Raleigh first – downtown, in particular – prior to guesstimating how many high-rises are needed before the local market gets saturated” — you belabor my point!

I think a study would be great. We could measure the validity of something that doesn’t exist, and then draw a conclusion based on that study and adopt that conclusion as gospel. Maybe the City Manager could do it? We’ll kill those taller, riskier projects BEFORE they even get a chance to see the light of day. (Boy — that sounds REALLY familiar.) Perfect!

Any kind of high-rise would be an improvement as the Raleigh skyline is currently pretty pitifil for a city and metro area of this size.
I know Atlanta is a much larger area but check out what is going on there… http://www.urbanplanet.org/UP.Dynamic/atlanta.php.
29 towers planned about the size of the one being discussed here. Pretty mind blowing!

Or we can just throw straw-men around whenever someone poses an interested question.

Betsy — I think we should have questions like that, but your question seemed to answer itself with the “prominent urbanist” paragraph. It doused the original fire a bit. What’s your vision of Raleigh in 30 years? 50 years?
I mean the 50 story buildings and such is just more or less thinking out loud or rather “envisioning” out loud. I imagine we have some right and left brain people in this blog and that may garner some defensiveness from each side.

Betsy, I have heard that the City of Raleigh – or is it DRA? – is currently contacting a study to determine the maximum capacity for residents in the downtown area. I am sure we will hear about it once it is over.
As an update, the rendering that N&O; posted wasn’t done with the developer’s approval. Currently, it only shows the massing and not the architectural details. There will be a lot of changes in the design, so try to look beyond the rendering. This information is the latest update, directly from the developers.

I think this building will be a great start for this part of downtown which is currently one of the most unwalkable parts of downtown. I think we may see Hillsboro St. become the next Fayetteville St., at least from St. Marys to the churches and with a little more history. I think high-rises around historical structures are pretty cool, kind of like in Atlanta. This can become Glenwood Souths gateway to the rest of downtown which currently seem like 2 different cities. Just think of Raleigh’s tallest towers being built between our current skyline and the Reynolds towers. Whats shaping up in Glenwood South can only brighten this picture. I just worry that we are waisting our best lots for our “money shot” between these locations to build low-rise condos that barely break the tree line,(ie. The Dawson). Raleigh CAN do better, I think it has been proven.