[sundevilgrad]

Great to hear that they're going higher again! I still wish they'd fix that damn webcam though!

Love the news about the crown. That'll be a very disctinctive feature on the Phoenix skyline!

[nbrindley]

definitely good news. I think it's funny (sad?) that the sales team uses an AOL email account. They couldn't get their own email, like sales@44monroe.com ?

[HX_Guy]

Hello 9th floor! Woooo! :D

http://www.nitnelav.com/Monroe/Monroe14.JPG

[JimInCal]

ALL RIGHT!!! Let's get that baby crankin now, a floor a week minimum please :D

[Azndragon837]

You can see the light rail tracks being laid to the left on 1st Avenue....pretty cool!

[soleri]

You can see the light rail tracks being laid to the left on 1st Avenue....pretty cool!

I was downtown around noon and took this picture. The light-rail tracks veer from the east side of 1st Avenue just south of Van Buren to the west side north of Washington. I can't help but wonder how traffic will flow over these tracks - will they demarcate the lanes over the diagonal?

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/882/p1010148rj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sekkle]

^ Wow, I was downtown around 10:30 this morning and took almost the exact same picture... (sorry if this doesn't work, it's my first time posting a photo)
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/9807/img09462bh9.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img09462bh9.jpg)

As far as the LRT vs. traffic flow, I doubt that there will be a diagonal weave through a traffic lane at this location. It looks like they have placed curb along the east side of the tracks, which would keep car traffic away from there (there will most likely be a curb on the west side as well). My guess is that the right lane north of Monroe will be a "right turn only" lane, forcing southbound traffic on 1st Ave to turn right and head westbound on Monroe. I could be wrong, though. I'll check to see if we have a copy of the design plans for that line segment in my office on Monday.

I wonder if I saw you while I was down there. I walked past a guy taking photos on Central (walking south) near the ASU building. Did you have a backpack on?

[Vicelord John]

sorry Soleri, but fourateoh has a much better camera. :haha:

thanks for the pictures guys, and to explain the train, it's crossing the street so as to be able to make the left turn onto Jefferson. if it were going from the east side of 1st avenue, it would be to sharp. The light at Monroe will stop traffic when the train needs to cross the street, otherwise traffic can drive over the tracks in their normal lanes.

[CANUC]

Someone had mentioned that the elevator shaft may have been covered because of safety reason, seems they may have been correct. I guess SCS didn’t have this issue because it’s core was developed ahead of the rest of the structure.

I’ve driven over that portion of the LRT many times and this is the first time I’ve noticed the cross over move the tracks will make on 1st avenue, thanks for the pics. I agree that the lights will need to halt traffic well in advance of the train, I’m guessing as far north as Van Buren, in order to allow not just this lane merging move but as well as the left turn from 1st avenue onto Jefferson St. It will make driving down 1st ave a pain in the buttocks. But hey maybe then people will prefer to use LRT.

[soleri]

^ Wow, I was downtown around 10:30 this morning and took almost the exact same picture... (sorry if this doesn't work, it's my first time posting a photo)
I wonder if I saw you while I was down there. I walked past a guy taking photos on Central (walking south) near the ASU building. Did you have a backpack on?

Not me.

I get the part of the right-turn lanes but unless they completely dead-end First Avenue, there will have to be traffic moving over the diagonal. When you think about it, traffic will be flowing over any number of diagonals so maybe this isn't really an issue, although keeping the bulk of the tracks separate from the traffic does appear to be the goal.

[HX_Guy]

I assume the boutique grocery store will be available for all to use? Not just the tenants of 44 Monroe? Should be great for people living there as well as at Orpheum Lofts and people working in the downtown area who need to pick something up during the work day.

[HooverDam]

^I wonder if the boutique grocery is still going to go in there w/ AJs going in just a few blocks away in CityScape? I guess its sort of a different market, we'll see.

[Upward]

Have they changed the rendering on the site fence yet? When I was in town a couple weeks ago, they still had the old rendering with the mostly-brown building with no crown.

[sundevilgrad]

From the constuction update pic on 44s website it looks like the columns are in place for the 10th floor, hopefully they'll start putting it in place soon. However, we're probably in for another slow-down phase because of the holidays.

[HX_Guy]

They poured the concrete from the 9th floor over the weekend, now they will probably pour the columns then start on the 10th floor.

http://projects.weitz.com/webcams/monroe.jpg

Maybe they will finally be following the 1 floor per week, with the concrete for each floor being poured on the weekend so there is time for it to dry.

[CANUC]

I was watching a program called Mega Builders, I believe on the Discovery Channel in which they highlighted a high rise condo tower called the Turning Torso in Sweden. The construction of that tower seemed far more complicated than what we see here in 44 Monroe.

However they were indeed adding a floor per week. They had crews that would alternate every seven days. This allowed for none stop construction on the building even on weekends. The only time construction stopped was during a strong winter storm. It seems that shouldn’t be a problem here and it would stand to reason that the holidays should only have a minimal slow down on this project especially when cost is taken into account.

[sundevilgrad]

I hope you're right Canuc, I'm just a pesimist. After the long delay when they finished the 8th floor it seemed to me they were dragging their feet a little.

P.S. I really like the design of the residential floors!

[HX_Guy]

Don't worry, they are moving along ok. Scroll up a bit and take a look at the picture of construction from today...it looks like they are putting together the elevator core for the 9th floor...and soon probably the floor plates for the 10th floor.

[sundevilgrad]

Don't worry, they are moving along ok. Scroll up a bit and take a look at the picture of construction from today...it looks like they are putting together the elevator core for the 9th floor...and soon probably the floor plates for the 10th floor.

Wow, that's pretty cool HX_Guy, the picture you linked to show the construction of the tower is automatically updating itself.

[nbrindley]

that is cool, that pic should be linked on the first page.

[HX_Guy]

Things seems to be moving along pretty well at 44 Monroe.

Here's a GIF I put together showing development over the past week, Dec 13th - Dec 20th.

http://www.nitnelav.com/Monroe/Monroe44.gif

http://www.nitnelav.com/Monroe/Monroe44.gif

[JimInCal]

HX_Guy...

Major KUDOS to you :bowtie: That's a great way to see the progress. I'd love to see a .gif of a month's progress now that their beyond the podium.

Muchas Gracias Muchacho!!!

[sundevilgrad]

Right on! Really cool thanks!

[PHX31]

hA! That is awesome.

[sundevilgrad]

Is it just me, or are they already putting the 10th floor up?

[HX_Guy]

No, it's not just you...they are putting up the tenth floor. :D

[sundevilgrad]

Wow, now they're moving!

[CANUC]

I’ve said this before but I still don’t think it has the same impact that SCS did to it's surroundings when it reached similar heights. For some reason SCS looked more impressive at just 8 floors. I know it has a lot to do with reference points but still I don’t think this building will start to draw attention until…my bet is 15 floors.

[sundevilgrad]

At the rate they're going right now, a floor a week isn't out of the question, so in a couple of month it'll pass SCS.

[soleri]

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5834/p1010128il1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

They're working on the 10th floor now. Paving work on 1st Avenue is nearly done around the newly completed tracks. It's taller now than the previous building on that site, so it's a milestone of sorts.

[HX_Guy]

They also have a new banner(?) on the fence around the worksite showing the tower with the crown. :D

I wonder how much longer until the crane rises in height? Summit at Copper Square's crane rose when the elevator core was at floor #12 I believe.

[kevininlb]

Not sure if this is coming through in the photos, but in my opinion, this building is already architecturally (?) interesting. I think it may be the columns going from the ground up (presumably) to the crown. I'm really excited to see this shape up in 2007.

:D

[HX_Guy]

It will look great mixed in with the rest of downtown because it's the first building in Phoenix's downtown without the hard edges that the rest of the box towers have...Chase, US Bank, and Wells Fargo. 44 Monroe has a somewhat rounded shape which will look great.

[sundevilgrad]

Looks like they're moving up to 11! (Even I'm dissappointed with how lame my post is, sorry)

[HX_Guy]

They are moving very quick compared to before. Two days ago (Wednesday) rebar was covering the whole floor of the 10th level, yesterday the concrete was poured and dried, and today they are already putting down the floor boards for the 11th floor.

[JimInCal]

Not a great shot...but here's the latest image from the web cam:

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/9510/monroevt4.jpg

[Azndragon837]

Wow, once the building is cladded with a shiny exterior, and with the light rail running next to it, that is true urbanism right there. So awesome to see it go up so fast!

-Andrew

[HX_Guy]

10 completed floors, work being done on #11...

http://www.nitnelav.com/DowntownJan08/DowntownJan08%20002.jpg

[DracoCaifan]

Beautiful!!! :D

[JimInCal]

Nice perspective HX_Guy...sure beats the overhead shot from the web cam. Can't wait to see it with another 10 floors added. I chuckle when I think back about the paranoia a few weeks ago when some thought they might be stopping at the parking podium. :haha: The Hotel Monroe and 44 Monroe should make good neighbors!!!

[nbrindley]

is there a thread for this building in the highrise construction forum? It may be pretty short by international standards, but I think people should see that Phoenix is growing taller, try to start cyhanging people's perceptions of Phoenix.

[HX_Guy]

I've noticed they are constructing differently then before...I wonder why? Maybe they are going to start rising with the elevator core first now?

The latest picture from the webcam shows they are already working on the elevator core for the 11th floor, but they havn't poured the concrete for the floor yet...

http://projects.weitz.com/webcams/monroe.jpg

They used to pour the concrete first, then when it set, they would start on the elevator core and then install the floor boards (?) for the next level...

http://www.nitnelav.com/Monroe/Monroe44.gif

[nbrindley]

so before they would pour the slab for the 10th floor, for example, and then pour the elevator core between the 9th and 10th floors? What they are doing now makes much more sense to me, build everything up to the slab, and then pour the slab, especially since the core must be part of the support for the slab.

[HX_Guy]

Maybe not before, but at the same time I guess. They would have a completely flat concrete slab floor...then put up the forms for the elevator core, then the forms for the next floor...then pour the concrete.

Now they already have the elevator forms up and they have not yet poured the slab for the prior floor. Maybe the elevator core will rise faster then the floors, so they can work on both simultaneously...I guess we'll see how it progresses in the next week.

[HX_Guy]

I know we've gone back and forth on this rendering and whether or not it was for 44 Monroe or something else...but it does appear it was for 44 Monroe and apparantly a design that lost out to the current one that they decided to go with.


http://www.nitnelav.com/WHotel/Monroe44Edge.JPG


I like it, even a bit more then what they did decide to go with. It's edgier.

[Sekkle]

^ Edgier, plus 10 stories taller! Oh well.

[JimInCal]

HX Guy, We've seen this rendering before. If I remember correctly, it was determined that this was a San Diego proposal (though, I'm sketchy on the details...just a vague memory). It is around 46 floors as well, so I doubt it was ever intended for 44 Monroe. Would have been nice though.

[JI5]

/\
I like the current rendering much better. That one looks like it belongs in Shanghai or Hong Kong.

In other news, I went to San Diego last weekend.. and all I can say is I'M TOTALLY JEALOUS!

[HX_Guy]

HX Guy, We've seen this rendering before. If I remember correctly, it was determined that this was a San Diego proposal (though, I'm sketchy on the details...just a vague memory). It is around 46 floors as well, so I doubt it was ever intended for 44 Monroe. Would have been nice though.

Actually it's from dfdch.com and specifically says "Monroe Place Phoenix AZ" :)

[JimInCal]

:previous: My bad...I think we may have gotten some wrong info way back in the thread about this design. I certainly like the added height and the blimp-shreader crown.

[HX_Guy]

January 18th

http://www.nitnelav.com/DowntownJan18/DowntownJan18%20007.jpg

http://www.nitnelav.com/DowntownJan18/DowntownJan18%20016.jpg

[sundevilgrad]

I think this building is going to make DT look a lot more dense. It'll make a nice string a tall buildings (Phelps, Ren. I and II, B of A and 44 Monroe)

[JI5]

I'm glad its hiding the ugly US BANK building!!

[Sekkle]

http://www.nitnelav.com/DowntownJan18/DowntownJan18%20016.jpg

I'm surprised that it never really hit me how close 44 Monroe is to the parking structure next door. No alley or anything. Looks great. I can't wait till they raise that tower crane up a bit more. Thanks for the updates, HX_guy!

[PHX602]

I'm glad its hiding the ugly US BANK building!!

You think the US Bank tower is ugly? I really like it, it reminds me of the Aon Center in Chicago...except about 700 feet shorter.:D

[HooverDam]

You think the US Bank tower is ugly? I really like it, it reminds me of the Aon Center in Chicago...except about 700 feet shorter.:D

I think its super ugly, however I do like it. I don't really mind ugly buildings, as long as they are unique. I like the pointed edges of the USBank buildings roof, its a little less boxish than a lot of Phx buildings.

The US Bank tower is like 370 feet, whats 44 Monroe going to top out at? Does anyone have a estimation? Its 34 stories, but a few of them with real high ceilings, so I'd think it would be close to 370.

[HX_Guy]

Are you sure it's that short? I thought it was 407', according to the diagram on Skyscraperpage.com

44 Monroe should be around 400' with the crown.

[PHX602]

Are you sure it's that short? I thought it was 407', according to the diagram on Skyscraperpage.com

44 Monroe should be around 400' with the crown.

Yeah, US Bank tower is listed at 407' on emporis. I believe 44 monroe will be 370' to the roof and 411' with the crown.

[Vicelord John]

Looking at the last picture posted, I've never noticed that video camera before. I guess I should stop picking my nose when I walk by there!

[PHX31]

Just for reference again:
http://www.monroeplacelofts.com/images/tower_large2.jpg

I love the darker glass and gray and silver... I know supposedly the crown is going to be built, but I really hope they follow through on it and it really is.

It's cool how you can pick out features on the building currently and compare it to the rendering, ie, the vertical concrete columns in the center of the tower, etc.

[CANUC]

It also appears from the renderings that the vertical columns on the south façade seem to end at about the 12th floor and recommence on the 24th. I wonder if they are going to stick with that design or run the columns all the way up the exterior. By the way John V what camera are you referring to?

[HooverDam]

I was down by 44 Monroe today, and peaked into the window across the street where their model is. I noticed on the model that the future "Hotel Monroe" was all lit up and done in detail, as was 44 Monroe. The other buildings (Chase, USBank, etc) are just white, nondescript boxes. Does this mean the people involved in 44 Monroe are also the ones doing the Hotel Monroe renovation?

Also, does anyone know what the Hotel Monroe building was used for previously?

[PHX31]

/\ I can't remember right now, but your post brings up the question... what type of night lighting does everyone think 44 Monroe (and Summit) will have? Will it be minimal due to the residences, or will it be lit up in a way to not bother people inside the building?

[combusean]

The Monroe Hotel was once the Valley National Bank Building....BankOne bought them out in 1994. The penthouse is an addition constructed in the '50s or '60s by the then owner. Soleri can probably fill in the details.

In 1990 or so, the building was on the market for $1 million. It of course needed to be brought up to code, as is the case now, but this shows you the massive swings in Phoenix real estate.

[Vicelord John]

It also appears from the renderings that the vertical columns on the south façade seem to end at about the 12th floor and recommence on the 24th. I wonder if they are going to stick with that design or run the columns all the way up the exterior. By the way John V what camera are you referring to?

on the left side of the picture it looks like another light post but its a camera.

[loftlovr]

Yes- Grace is doing both projects...

[sundevilgrad]

The only problem I have with the crown on 44 Monroe is that in the renderings it faces south. I wonder why they wouldn't face it north?

[HooverDam]

The only problem I have with the crown on 44 Monroe is that in the renderings it faces south. I wonder why they wouldn't face it north?

The entire building "faces" south. To the north is a parking garage and no way to enter the building. The tower facing north might look good from a distance, but up close would look odd.

[Sekkle]

Here's another thing I never really noticed... the parking garage will be the first several levels (8 floors, right?). Well, it's pretty obvious that there is some parking being built if you go down there and check out the construction, but I never really noticed it in the renderings until now. I circled a car in yellow on the rendering below. Will the parking garage portion be enclosed in glass? It kind of looks that way on the rendering... I have never seen that in any other buildings, though, so it's kind of interesting (to me anyway)
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4223/447ol.png (http://imageshack.us)

[HooverDam]

^In a larger version of the rendering I noticed that as well. It doesn't look like glass, but rather like fencing of some type. Tightly woven metal lattice work type thing (does that make any sense outside of my own mind?).

[PHX_PD]

Metal lattice work makes more sense because it would allow CO2 fumes to vent easily.

[Sekkle]

^ Good point, I agree. It doesn't really make sense that they'd put glass over the parking structure... it just looks from the rendering like there is some kind of (non-concrete) barrier between the parked cars and the... air... Maybe it is just something that they included in the rendering so that it wouldn't look like a huge parking garage beneath the building. I guess it doesn't make much difference. I was just mainly noticing how the structure being built (at least the first 8 floors) looks a lot more like parking than the rendering implies. I'm sure it will look different when it is finished, though.

[DevdogAZ]

That's odd that the parking is visible from the exterior. I've seen above-ground parking in high rises, but usually it's hidden on the interior and the exterior has offices or other leasable space. Seems like a waste of prime square footage to put the cars on the edges of the building.

As for CO2 fumes, that's not a problem if it's enclosed. Think of underground garages. They would be deathtraps if they didn't have a way to vent the fumes. Also, I'm not sure how many of you drive the 202 in Tempe very often, but when they first started building the Mondrian project on the north bank of the lake, they built a huge concrete parking structure that was completely enclosed. I remember thinking it was very strange, because typically an above-ground garage has openings on the sides. But then it made more sense as they built the entire project around the garage to the extent that you can't even see the garage anymore.

[nbrindley]

I haven't seen any renderings that show the north side of the building. Perhaps the crown will be mirrored on that side.

[HX_Guy]

The model of the tower in the sales office shows the north side, and the crown isn't mirrored, it tapers off sort of like a shark fin.

On another note, they are moving pretty quick now, seems to be one floor per week. They pour the concrete over the weekend, then Monday begin the column work, about Wednesday they have the next floor "plates" up, rebar by Friday evening, and concrete on Saturday...ready to start again on the next floor Monday. :)

[PHX602]

It looks like they're going to need to zoom out or tilt the camera soon. :)

[HX_Guy]

Yea they are really kicking ass over there and I'm loving it! :D

The floor plates (will someone please tell me the correct term I'm supposed to be using here please! :) ) for the 13th floor are 1/2 way installed, will probably be done by the end of the day today. This thing is rising nicely.

[CANUC]

Some one else pointed this out but the tower crane at SCS was raised when construction hit the 12th floor. I wonder how much longer they will continue to work with the crane at its current height at 44 Monroe.

[PHX602]

Judging from this view I'd guess 2-3 more floors.

http://www.nitnelav.com/DowntownJan18/DowntownJan18%20007.jpg

[HooverDam]

Well I don't understand why some of my pics are getting flipped when I upload them. Ah well, crank your head when looking at them- its fun and good exercise!

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/7723/dsc01483zo.jpg

FIRE
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7413/dsc01496uq.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/3669/dsc01500cm.jpg

[HX_Guy]

Yeaaa...that's a little hard to view. :D

I'll take some new shots Thursday before going to the CityScape meeting. :)

[sundevilgrad]

I love how you can't see the crappy little parking garage to the north anymore...

It would be cool if someone could make a new time-lapsed picture so we could watch the garage fade. Unfortunately, my horrible computing skills don't allow me to do such things. :(

[PHX31]

Once it gets higher than the first security building to the east, it will have arrived...

[HX_Guy]

Is it just me, or does that look like a piece of a tower crane? :D

http://www.nitnelav.com/44MonroeCrane.JPG

I sure hope so because they aren't on track this week as they have been, the concrete should have been poured already. I guess if they are working on raising the crane, that would explain the delay.

[Azndragon837]

^ Hmmm, interesting. Once they raise the crane, you will be able to REALLY see it from I-10 going west from I-17. Also, the tower is now visible from I-10 (the approach towards the tunnel, just before it dips under grade). That is one tall building. Look at those light rail tracks! Whohoo!!!

-Andrew

[CANUC]

HX Guy, you may be correct. Take a look at todays update picture and on the southwest portion of the building there seems to be some type of structure that has been erected it seems to reach the 12th floor.

[soleri]

^it's a temporary elevator attached to the south side of the building. The orange container in this picture is attached to the tracks.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9476/p1010613nq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[HX_Guy]

HX Guy, you may be correct. Take a look at todays update picture and on the southwest portion of the building there seems to be some type of structure that has been erected it seems to reach the 12th floor.

That's actually been up for quite some time, it's not new.

Has anyone been by there and seen if they are working on raising the crane? In the picture I posted above, the part I drew a box around definately seems like a crane piece.

[NorthScottsdale]

i will be downtown friday. ill see if i can take some pictures and give you guys an update. another 5 floors and this thing will really start getting noticable!

[PHX31]

http://projects.weitz.com/webcams/monroe.jpg

That potential crane segment is gone from the picture. I guess I'll see tonight if they raised the crane. Does anyone know?

[HX_Guy]

They finally repositioned the camera to show more of the tower and less of the street, looks pretty nice!

[TalkToTracy]

Long time lurker....
I took photos yesterday. You can view them here (http://www.sonorancity.com/photos/44_monroe/condo_006.html). If I can figure out how to post them in this forum, I will.

[HX_Guy]

Nice photos.

It looks like the crane hasn't gone up, and still no concrete poured, I wonder what the old up this week is?

The other thing, how come the crane doesn't have one of those contraptions on it which does the work to life the crane heigher? You can see what I'm talking about in the picutre from the Sheraton hotel.

http://www.nitnelav.com/SheratonCrane.JPG

[PHX31]

It probably does, it just might be lower, hidden by the building.

[nbrindley]

Long time lurker....
I took photos yesterday. You can view them here (http://www.sonorancity.com/photos/44_monroe/condo_006.html). If I can figure out how to post them in this forum, I will.

just a tip, once you have the pictures hosted somewhere (which apparently you do), you can copy the url of the pics into your post using the tags.

Example:

[IMG]insert your url here

Alternatively, when creating your post, you can just click on the little icon with the mountain and sun (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/images_pb/editor/insertimage.gif), copy your url into the window that pops up, and it will add the IMG tags for you.

BTW, a couple of floors ago, soleri had mentioned that it was now taller than the building it replaced. Does anyone have a pic of that previous building?

[PHX31]

Nice photos.

It looks like the crane hasn't gone up, and still no concrete poured, I wonder what the old up this week is?




Just what you were asking for, a concrete pour:

http://projects.weitz.com/webcams/monroe.jpg

[HX_Guy]

It's about damn time! :D

[TalkToTracy]

nbrindley - Thank you. I kept doing it and the picture would not show up in the preview so I assumed I was doing something wrong.

[Vicelord John]

i walked over to seamus last night for a couple drinks and 44 monroe is really making a presence, but I'm more thrilled with the bruder building.

[sundevilgrad]

http://projects.weitz.com/webcams/monroe.jpg[/QUOTE]


Looks like there going higher, how many is that 14 now? :cheers: