Commercial Real Estate Blog

In another sign that rampant drug-use is becoming an epidemic amongst architects working in Dubai, Dr. Fisher is proposing a rotating skyscraper in Dubai, and another in Moscow, and eventually one in New York City. This building will supposedly have its floors pre-fabbed in Italy, and assembled on-site in Dubai. Estimated selling prices are about $3,000 per square foot, and the estimate is that the building will be delivered in 2010.

If there is one thing money has shown us, it is that with enough of it, nearly anything is possible. Architects, engineers, financiers, and contractors all over the world have proven this. But this 80-story dream is a bit far-fetched, particularly when it is supposed to be delivered in two years and is brought to us by an architect whose education is in question, admits he hasn’t practiced architecture regularly in years, and has never built a skyscraper before.

Interesting concept for sure, and it’ll be fantastic if it works, but I’m a bit skeptical if of this one. But who can blame them for trying? After all financing is plentiful when you can sell the black gold beneath your feet for $130/barrel oil.

In Singapore, the Nanyang School of Art has taken the definition of green building to another level. The building features a verdant turfed roof which doubles as a functional space people can use and access via sidesteps along the roof edge.

The roof helps lower roof temperature as well making this design both functional as well as environmentally friendly.

I see a lot of trade publications that feature architecture from cosmopolitan cities in Europe and Asia. Then there are the projects coming out of the ground in Dubai which are amazing to say the least. But I came across a project today in Louisville, Kentucky which peaked my interest. It’s called Museum Plaza and it is being developed by the Poe Companies.

Despire the turmoil in credit markets, construction has begun on this project which is slated for completion in 2010. When finished it will encompass 1.5 Million Square Feet and soar 62-stories. The architecture firm behind the project is REX (Ramus Ella Architects). The project will include a 1-acre “island” located 22-stories up which will be open to the public. Additionally the project will encompass 1,100 stall car park, 300-room hotel, and 160 luxury units and lofts, and an office tower.

Amazing! To learn more about the project you can visit the official project site at www.museumplaza.net. I’ve also embedded a project video from youtube below that is interesting.

Scott Herhold, a writer for the San Jose Mercury News wrote an article for Sunday’s paper outlining some of his favorite contemporary architecture in Silicon Valley. His list included:

• Plaza De Cesar Chavez, Downtown San Jose
• Stephen Schott Stadium, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara
• San Jose Marriott Hotel, Downtown San Jose
• Central Park Library, Santa Clara
• Googleplex, Mountain View
• Circle of Palms, Downtown San Jose
• Mountain View Civic Center, Downtown Mountain View
• 60 S. Market Street, San Jose (Downtown)

While Scott’s list is heavily focused on public spaces and places, my list would include:

• Santana Row
• 225 W. Santa Clara Street, Downtown San Jose
• VMWare Headquarters in Palo Alto
• Oracle Headquarters in Redwood Shores

If there are buildings or projects in Silicon Valley that are on your list of favorites, please comment!

China and the United Arab Emirates seem to be on the forefront of architecture these days. The UAE is benefiting from the high price of oil and is feverishly building out man made islands, swaths of high-rise residential towers, and large civic, entertainment, and retail projects across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. China on the other hand is benefiting from its rapidly expanding economy and the associated creation of wealth.

Some of the world’s most noted, bold, and cutting-edge architectural designs are being carried out in these two countries. Amongst the projects being constructed right now is the headquarters of the China Central Television in Beijing, which is designed by Rem Koolhaas of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture of the Netherlands.

The building will feature 54 floors and be 755 feet tall, and the entire project will encompass over 540,000 square meters (over 5.8M square feet) across the CCTV and TVCC buildings, where 10,000 people will work and visit every day! This will make it the largest single structure in the world after The Pentagon.

Unlike a traditional skyscraper, this building is constructed with the intention of not competing for height. The building is built using a continuous loop of horizontal and vertical sections. What makes this project even more impressive is the fact that it lies within a seismic zone, and that it is being built in two sections. Once the sections finally meet (I suspect a lot of people might be out of a career, or worse if they don’t!), they will be joined during the middle of the night when the steel is at its coolest point.