FORT WORTH, TX | The Tower | 488 FT / 149 M | 38 FLOORS | 1974
 

Just a quick B&W of Fort Worth's tallest residence, The Tower, taken by yours truly:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/3...136937ec_o.jpg

Flickr page

(Note: I'm renovating my Flickr photo stream for the new year, and there are about a zillion more architecture pics to come.)

wasn't this the tornado building or something?

^I remember the tornado building. I dont think it was this one. Im not sure though, so dont mark my word on it. I just remember walking under the tunnels on the side walks preventing any glass from falling on the pedestrians. It was right around Thanksgiving and I remember it started to snow (very lightly). We were at the Thanksgiving Parade in downtown Fort Worth.

This is the former BankOne tower that was hit by the tornado. Its much better looking now.

and nice pic AG

This belongs in the Buildings & Architecture section of the forum, so I'm moving it.

Yes, that building was one of the hardest hit in the storm. It was nearly demolished. This was the old Bank One Tower, built in 1974. It was the city's tallest at the time.

Several of Fort Worth's talls were heavily damaged by the tornado. Several other smaller buildings were either completely destroyed, such as the Calvery Cathedral. This is the site of the new Pier 1 Imports Headquarters tower. The 9-story Mallick Tower and Cash America Building were also almost destroyed. They were repaired however. One highrise was demolished due to the tornado damage and years of decay as it had been vacant for 15 years. The Landmark Tower at 380 feet tall with 30 floors was demolished. Not only was it Fort Worth's tallest building when built in 1957, but it is also the tallest building to ever be demolished in Texas.

Aerial image of the implosion of the Landmark Tower.
http://mfile.akamai.com/8173/wmv/vod...99666.200k.asx

View from another building.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yK9XLRb1u8

I remember that storm all too perfectly well. We were living in Lake Dallas at the time and saw the hail come across the field in front of us in waves. We were scared to death we'd get hit by a tornado, but it hit FW instead.

The building was hit very badly. I remember there being very little glass left afterwards. The new facade is great & the restaurant on top is even back in place I understand. I've been by since it was finshed and it looks great on the skyline. Very glad they were able to save that building.

The building's appearance is dramatically better than its original form. In its original '70s office tower appearance, it was just black glass, flat-topped, and the base was a slanted black glass affair that sat far back from the street. In its new guise, it is more translucent green glass with creamy concrete and new balconies, has a white crown structure, and a new four-story base made of limestone that sits right up on the sidewalk and features ground-level retail. The top of the base serves as greenspace for the residents.

Kelly - the restaurant that occupied the top floor, the Reata, is no longer in the building. They moved to a space a couple of blocks over in a restored three-story building from 1884 in Sundance Square, and also use that building's roof for a dining area. The top floor of the Tower has been altered - the former mechanicals on the last floor were relocated to the roof (hidden by the new crown), and the last two floors of the tower are now the location of four "super-penthouses" which occupy two floors and feature 20-foot ceilings. Check these pics from a resident who got to check one out during an open house:

http://fortworthology.com/blogpics/towerpenthouse1.jpg

http://fortworthology.com/blogpics/towerpenthouse2.jpg

http://fortworthology.com/blogpics/towerpenthouse3.jpg

http://fortworthology.com/blogpics/towerpenthouse4.jpg

http://fortworthology.com/blogpics/towerpenthouse5.jpg

Wow, that's even better having residences up there. I thought the restaurant had moved back, thanks for clearing that up and the pics!

They've really done a superb job with it. :)

Couldn't they come up with a more original name than that...

Dude,It Fort Worth,they needed something Imposing:wizard:

Some pics From Dallassky
http://www.dallassky.com/fwtornado.htm


Absolutly amazing.

You guys should post some before and after shots (I know JohnR has some incredible tornado shots).

The difference in this building from the Portman years to The Tower years is staggering.