Downtown HDR Corporate Headquarters

Proposed Development Projects that got Minarded.

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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by nebport5 »

mr. omaha wrote:
nebport5 wrote:Shall we rename this stretch of Dodge to First National "Wall Street"?
This almost justifies the name of Townsend's failed condo tower.

Oh yes, the tall wall that wasn't :cry:
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by MSizlack »

I haven't posted anything for a while as eomahaforum become such a opinionated and negative place to see what is happening in this city.
I'm absolutely dumbfounded about all the posts about HDRs new building. So many of you have been dreaming about development downtown and when it happens, the majority of those same posters are now bitching about it! This is the type of building where architecture and design has come to. I'm sure if this was a $500-$750M building they could do things to make it look like something in the UAE. Customers of firms like HDR are now needing to be environmentally friendly=good corporate citizens. LEED, energy efficiency, carbon footprint, are all overtaking dramatic design. And most of all, just like the projects that HDR builds for its clients, HDR has to work with in a budget. The cost to make a building meet things like energy efficiency and LEED are often more expensive. For those of you in this forum who don't like it, tough. 99% of the rest of Omaha and those who come to visit Omaha will see it for what it is and that's progress and growth that's leading to a more vibrant downtown. Whether or not they like or dislike the building, that's not going to stop them from going downtown or coming to Omaha.and certainly it's not going to keep them up at night like so many on this forum. So put away your rulers, stop whining about how it's not up to your architectural standards.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

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MSizlack wrote:I haven't posted anything for a while as eomahaforum become such a opinionated and negative place to see what is happening in this city.
I'm absolutely dumbfounded about all the posts about HDRs new building. So many of you have been dreaming about development downtown and when it happens, the majority of those same posters are now bitching about it! This is the type of building where architecture and design has come to. I'm sure if this was a $500-$750M building they could do things to make it look like something in the UAE. Customers of firms like HDR are now needing to be environmentally friendly=good corporate citizens. LEED, energy efficiency, carbon footprint, are all overtaking dramatic design. And most of all, just like the projects that HDR builds for its clients, HDR has to work with in a budget. The cost to make a building meet things like energy efficiency and LEED are often more expensive. For those of you in this forum who don't like it, tough. 99% of the rest of Omaha and those who come to visit Omaha will see it for what it is and that's progress and growth that's leading to a more vibrant downtown. Whether or not they like or dislike the building, that's not going to stop them from going downtown or coming to Omaha.and certainly it's not going to keep them up at night like so many on this forum. So put away your rulers, stop whining about how it's not up to your architectural standards.

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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by S33 »

MSizlack wrote:I haven't posted anything for a while as eomahaforum become such a opinionated and negative place to see what is happening in this city.
I'm absolutely dumbfounded about all the posts about HDRs new building. So many of you have been dreaming about development downtown and when it happens, the majority of those same posters are now bitching about it! This is the type of building where architecture and design has come to. I'm sure if this was a $500-$750M building they could do things to make it look like something in the UAE. Customers of firms like HDR are now needing to be environmentally friendly=good corporate citizens. LEED, energy efficiency, carbon footprint, are all overtaking dramatic design. And most of all, just like the projects that HDR builds for its clients, HDR has to work with in a budget. The cost to make a building meet things like energy efficiency and LEED are often more expensive. For those of you in this forum who don't like it, tough. 99% of the rest of Omaha and those who come to visit Omaha will see it for what it is and that's progress and growth that's leading to a more vibrant downtown. Whether or not they like or dislike the building, that's not going to stop them from going downtown or coming to Omaha.and certainly it's not going to keep them up at night like so many on this forum. So put away your rulers, stop whining about how it's not up to your architectural standards.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by RNcyanide »

MSizlack wrote:I haven't posted anything for a while as eomahaforum become such a opinionated and negative place to see what is happening in this city.
I'm absolutely dumbfounded about all the posts about HDRs new building. So many of you have been dreaming about development downtown and when it happens, the majority of those same posters are now bitching about it! This is the type of building where architecture and design has come to. I'm sure if this was a $500-$750M building they could do things to make it look like something in the UAE. Customers of firms like HDR are now needing to be environmentally friendly=good corporate citizens. LEED, energy efficiency, carbon footprint, are all overtaking dramatic design. And most of all, just like the projects that HDR builds for its clients, HDR has to work with in a budget. The cost to make a building meet things like energy efficiency and LEED are often more expensive. For those of you in this forum who don't like it, tough. 99% of the rest of Omaha and those who come to visit Omaha will see it for what it is and that's progress and growth that's leading to a more vibrant downtown. Whether or not they like or dislike the building, that's not going to stop them from going downtown or coming to Omaha.and certainly it's not going to keep them up at night like so many on this forum. So put away your rulers, stop whining about how it's not up to your architectural standards.
I'm as guilty as sin, but when it comes to all of us on this forum, we tend to have ... lofty ... standards when it comes to buildings. We see cool |expletive| being done on the coasts where they are ahead of us architecturally and urban-planningly speaking, and we expect to see it done here too. This city has a bit of a patchy history when it comes to urban planning and architectural design and has had some successes (FNB and 1200 Landmark are my favorites) and some horrific failures (ConAgra), so when we have a chance to make a statement, we expect nothing less than perfection. To be completely honest, this building could have been EXACTLY what we wanted (avant-garde design, ground level retail, the seven levels of parking on top, and 400' of offices above with a green roof, etc.) and we'd still find something to whine about.

At the end of the day, it's not a bad looking place. I'm actually starting to come around to it, after the height shock has worn off. The parking situation is a bitter pill to swallow but I'm working on it. All this whining and bitching only says that we want the best for our city because we really care about it and we want something to be proud of. Well, one of the largest architectural and engineering firms in the world decided to put their roots back in downtown - isn't that something to be proud of right there?
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by daveoma »

MSizlack wrote:I haven't posted anything for a while as eomahaforum become such a opinionated and negative place to see what is happening in this city.
I'm absolutely dumbfounded about all the posts about HDRs new building. So many of you have been dreaming about development downtown and when it happens, the majority of those same posters are now bitching about it! This is the type of building where architecture and design has come to. I'm sure if this was a $500-$750M building they could do things to make it look like something in the UAE. Customers of firms like HDR are now needing to be environmentally friendly=good corporate citizens. LEED, energy efficiency, carbon footprint, are all overtaking dramatic design. And most of all, just like the projects that HDR builds for its clients, HDR has to work with in a budget. The cost to make a building meet things like energy efficiency and LEED are often more expensive. For those of you in this forum who don't like it, tough. 99% of the rest of Omaha and those who come to visit Omaha will see it for what it is and that's progress and growth that's leading to a more vibrant downtown. Whether or not they like or dislike the building, that's not going to stop them from going downtown or coming to Omaha.and certainly it's not going to keep them up at night like so many on this forum. So put away your rulers, stop whining about how it's not up to your architectural standards.
I can't speak for everyone else, but personally I get tired of seeing Omaha with drab new developments. Obviously not all of them are drab, but anything that vaguely resembles the interior of our airport is bad for our image. It confirms the negative stereotype that Omaha is boring and not forward thinking. Some of these sentiments are in the forum as well. Regarding the HDR building some people said something to the effect of 'well, it's not TOO modern.' When is modern or innovative ever a bad thing for a city on the rise? I would love to see Omaha embrace something different and distinguish itself from other drab midwestern cities.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

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I love it.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Busguy2010 »

Yeah, I really don't see what there is to complain about. Its a sleek, pretty tall building that is occupying an empty lot. Not to mention a local business intent on moving from the suburbs to downtown.

Come to think of it, TD Ameritrade would look better downtown than in Old Mill, am I wrong?

This HDR building is progress.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by swgiust »

Overall I think it is a great project and a nice building.

I have been a business owner for more than 25 years and I keep my fingers on the pulse of the economy very closely. In the financial environment of today, companies simply do not have the money to throw around on fancy stuff. HDR has a board or directors that has to be answered to. These cost have to be justified. Between that and the building codes and environmental concerns, I am surprised anything gets built in this country.

So cheers HDR. Build a nice building. Keep it clean and well kept. Join the neighborhood!
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Athomsfere »

daveoma wrote: I can't speak for everyone else, but personally I get tired of seeing Omaha with drab new developments. Obviously not all of them are drab, but anything that vaguely resembles the interior of our airport is bad for our image.
At least our airport is more interesting then Atlanta Intl. :;):

But to MSizlack, This is what enthusiasts of things do.
Architecture enthusiasts critique, urban planning enthusiasts look at what has worked better than what is happening at intersection X, Y. Omaha enthusiasts want Omaha to really stand out and do everything a city does, but do it better.

My car groups do the same thing, take the new Mustang for example: First great Mustang since the 60's but there is always something more someone wanted here or there. And there is always someone who points out something like "the New Honda isn't mid engine, RWD, 500hp with a manual for $20k" sure we complain about it but we also realize our lofty ideals aren't realistic (at least I hope we do).

I really do like the new HDR building, I would prefer a few changes to it based on my beliefs of where Omaha is / should be heading in the next 40 years. I have other changes I'd like to see based on my own sense of style and somewhat to help HDR not outgrow this building too soon.

Not that HDR isn't a major firm that probably has all of this figured out just fine, but why can't an enthusiast wish this beautiful modern building had better integrated 7 stories of parking into 50 story, 1000ft tower that also left room for an entrance into Omaha's future subways system...
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Joe_Sovereign »

How unOmahan of us to want something unique or special that could be a landmark for our city, especially from a firm who designs buildings and I am sure has tons of designers dying to do something innovative. Building a plain glass walled tower with an attached concrete garage for the headquarters of a international architecture firm is sad honestly.

LEED certification for the building and 1000 parking spots for it's employees to each drive their own individual SUVs from Elkhorn to Downtown is the type of forward thinking we get from Omaha. Be grateful that HDR stayed in Omaha (they never threatened to leave), Be grateful for infill (The Holland is tearing down 100 year old buildings for a surface parking lot with 10 million from tax payers and HDR is colluding on it).

HDR is moving downtown and building a 14 story office tower, their massive parking garage has a couple stalls of ground level retail and they aren't building all the way to the street so there will be a small plaza along 11th street. That is very nice, but when amateurs like us can come up with a ton of simple ideas that are in use around the world and are not very expensive that could add tremendous interest to the building, it seems like a big missed opportunity.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by skinzfan23 »

I echo your sentiments Joe....I can see where certain things may be cost prohibitive but as I posted on the previous page....the height is ok but they could have designed something less boring. I am sure that once it is completed it will look fine, but if I own an architectural and engineering firm I am going to build my HQ's building to really stick out and make a statement. What better way to advertise your expertise and leading edge in the industry.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by asherballa »

My thoughts = a quick summary of previous posts: ecstatic for the progress but *meh* about the final details. I do like how the angled facade of the building suggests motion (albeit on top of a rectangular structure). I also don't think this is a design where in 20 years we'll look at it and wonder what the heck the creators were thinking.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by NEDodger »

MSizlack wrote:I haven't posted anything for a while as eomahaforum become such a opinionated and negative place to see what is happening in this city.
I'm absolutely dumbfounded about all the posts about HDRs new building. So many of you have been dreaming about development downtown and when it happens, the majority of those same posters are now bitching about it! This is the type of building where architecture and design has come to. I'm sure if this was a $500-$750M building they could do things to make it look like something in the UAE. Customers of firms like HDR are now needing to be environmentally friendly=good corporate citizens. LEED, energy efficiency, carbon footprint, are all overtaking dramatic design. And most of all, just like the projects that HDR builds for its clients, HDR has to work with in a budget. The cost to make a building meet things like energy efficiency and LEED are often more expensive. For those of you in this forum who don't like it, tough. 99% of the rest of Omaha and those who come to visit Omaha will see it for what it is and that's progress and growth that's leading to a more vibrant downtown. Whether or not they like or dislike the building, that's not going to stop them from going downtown or coming to Omaha.and certainly it's not going to keep them up at night like so many on this forum. So put away your rulers, stop whining about how it's not up to your architectural standards.
Should I ask you how I should think about other topics as well, or are you going to proactively tell me what my opinions should be there too?

My thoughts (which won't begrudge anyone else's opinions):

- It's FANTASTIC that it's taking up an ugly, cracked concrete surface lot downtown
- It's nice that they are going to have ground-level retail facing where the ground-level retail is going to be in the Shamrock Development
- That's....about all the nice things I can really say about it.

I guess my only comment about the height is that it seems incredibly odd/ignorant they are calling this 16 floors, as an architectural firm should know better - comes across as trying to build it up (no pun intended) to be more than it is.

It's a very bland looking building to me. As others have noted, it just reminds me of a some blinds or a large air vent. This is a top architectural firm and so I don't think it's unreasonable/unrealistic to have expected this to be one of the top 5 most impressive-looking large buildings in the city, and it's not. Check out the rendering - had it showed a little more to the south, it literally looks like a mashup between the old First National Building (shape-wise) and the Woodman Tower (façade-wise).

If I'm coming to them looking for a design, I've got to admit I'd be very disappointed that this is what their new headquarters looks like. Of course cost is an option but this building is likely a good deal cheaper than what it would cost for a non-architectural firm to build - for starters they're not going to have design costs as that's in-house and I'm sure they're able to get a steal on a lot of the contract/building work. Being LEED-designated or whatever doesn't need to be independent of looking sharp - if anyone should be able to balance the two, it's this firm.

I don't know....I guess I look at some of their portfolio work shown on the first few pages of this thread and find this to be a letdown. There are more options than "Surface Lot or Bland Building".
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Hawkeye »

Ol' Hawkeye has been as critical as anyone of this unremarkable design. BUT...in fairness to HDR, they did their due diligence. In fact, they hired an outside architect to develop some competitive designs in order to validate their own internal process. And compared to the third-party firm's recommendation, the final that HDR came up with looks pretty impressive.

Image

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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Midwestern »

It's an alright design... but I think it's safe to say that this did not come close to living up to the hype this was getting either height-wise or design-wise.

So all in all, I'm glad we're getting this building and it will be a good addition, especially since it is replacing a surface lot, but it definitely did not live up to the hype.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by TitosBuritoBarn »

The design is pretty standard for HDR. Judging from their portfolio, it isn't watered down compared to what they normally produce for clients.

That said, the hype was probably a little much. Or were we mostly hyping ourselves up?
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Omaha Cowboy »

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:The design is pretty standard for HDR. Judging from their portfolio, it isn't watered down compared to what they normally produce for clients.

That said, the hype was probably a little much. Or were we mostly hyping ourselves up?
I think you and Midwestern hit the nail on the head regarding the reactions on the forum to this new HDR HQ design. I can understand the disappointment to a certain degree.. I mean, it won't be a "skyline defining" "shiver me timbers" high rise.. But that all taken into consideration, how cool is it to have another Omaha born company commit to downtown and move their world headquarters there.. More people, more lively, more foot traffic, more sustainability.. Omaha's downtown is stronger with this HQ move.. Regardless the design..

And while I don't think, obviously, the design is "over the top", it will look much better once completed and placed within the skyline.. Than any rendering can do it justice..

In the end, I like it, I'll take it. And along with the Capitol District project, it will make Downtown more well rounded and complete..

It's not Shangra la folks, but honestly- what is? Well, maybe central Iowa.. But that's it, lol...

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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by S33 »

Omaha Cowboy wrote:
TitosBuritoBarn wrote:The design is pretty standard for HDR. Judging from their portfolio, it isn't watered down compared to what they normally produce for clients.

That said, the hype was probably a little much. Or were we mostly hyping ourselves up?
I think you and Midwestern hit the nail on the head regarding the reactions on the forum to this new HDR HQ design. I can understand the disappointment to a certain degree.. I mean, it won't be a "skyline defining" "shiver me timbers" high rise.. But that all taken into consideration, how cool is it to have another Omaha born company commit to downtown and move their world headquarters there.. More people, more lively, more foot traffic, more sustainability.. Omaha's downtown is stronger with this HQ move.. Regardless the design..

And while I don't think, obviously, the design is "over the top", it will look much better once completed and placed within the skyline.. Than any rendering can do it justice..

In the end, I like it, I'll take it. And along with the Capitol District project, it will make Downtown more well rounded and complete..

It's not Shangra la folks, but honestly- what is? Well, maybe central Iowa.. But that's it, lol...

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all of that is great. Obviously it speaks volumes for HDR's commitment to Omaha to not only relocate its headquarters downtown, but to build a new mid-rise structure.

But while specifically discussing the buildings aesthetics, everyone was being honest. If I think the building is ugly, I'm not going to instead say, well at least it's downtown; I'll say it's ugly.

That was just an example, as I don't think the building is ugly, I guess I just expected more from a group of architects who have work in their portfolio far more impressive than what they created for themselves.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

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That's fair S33...

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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Stargazer »

I think by the time you add Capitol District alongside, it will all certainly go a long ways towards broadening the skyline.

Consider the impact it will have on the north/south angles, such as from Abbott Drive. It's going to be a big improvement.

All that's needed to really complete the 'big city' skyline, is that 300-400 foot tower on the Lanoha block.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by S33 »

I'd be interested to know how the size of Omaha's urban core, where there is a certain degree of density with mid-high rise structures, compares with other cities its size.

There may be a few small gaps, but the core basically stretches from north downtown to UNMC, if I'm correct?
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Stargazer »

KC has a pretty impressive stretch between the river and Plaza, 5-6 miles, but yes... Dodge is pretty impressive. Hopefully our 'Brush Creek' is added along Saddle Creek in the years to come.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Coyote »

Begs a couple questions, on this thread...

With the HDR building, creating ground floor retail on Capitol Ave.,
With Shamrock building Capitol District with ground floor retail on Capitol Ave.,
With Tetrad designing the Civic Center project on Capitol Ave.,
What sort of DT core district is being created that will change pedestrian traffic in Omaha...

With the Even Hotel building on Farnam, and properties around 24th St being bought up,
Farnam 25 brewery being developed,
Midtown Crossing mostly centered on Farnam,
Blackstone District exploding on Farnam
Streetcar plans for Farnam St to UNMC...

Dodge is our '0' block, but in 15 years, will Farnam street be considered the 'Core' street?
Is a 'core' designation the thoroughfare or the business district?
Will we consider the Capitol District in the likes of the new Blackstone, Dundee, Benson designations?

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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Busguy2010 »

Coyote wrote: What sort of DT core district is being created that will change pedestrian traffic in Omaha...

Will Farnam street be considered the 'Core' street?

Is a 'core' designation the thoroughfare or the business district?

Will we consider the Capitol District in the likes of the new Blackstone, Dundee, Benson designations?
I think Capitol will shift night life and pedestrian traffic to the north. It will be sort of the dividing line between north and south downtown. Not necessarily taking people away from the Old Market, bur rather, helping it spread farther north. Good thing for north downtown in my eyes.

Dodge street will always be a traffic oriented street and thus it is the "thoroughfare", at least for traffic. I think Farnam will become the core in a sense of "aliveness". I do think the streetcar will happen, and as of now, I do think most of Omaha's future urban infill attention will be centered around it. Farnam did used to be Main street.

Capitol District I think is something we will have to pin against Midtown Crossing, Aksarben Village, And Crossroads. Take a look at all these developments in 10-15 years and then compare to the older neighborhoods.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Stargazer »

Little Bohemia is next.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by GetUrban »

Busguy2010 wrote:
Coyote wrote: What sort of DT core district is being created that will change pedestrian traffic in Omaha...

Will Farnam street be considered the 'Core' street?

Is a 'core' designation the thoroughfare or the business district?

Will we consider the Capitol District in the likes of the new Blackstone, Dundee, Benson designations?
I think Capitol will shift night life and pedestrian traffic to the north. It will be sort of the dividing line between north and south downtown. Not necessarily taking people away from the Old Market, bur rather, helping it spread farther north. Good thing for north downtown in my eyes.

Dodge street will always be a traffic oriented street and thus it is the "thoroughfare", at least for traffic. I think Farnam will become the core in a sense of "aliveness". I do think the streetcar will happen, and as of now, I do think most of Omaha's future urban infill attention will be centered around it. Farnam did used to be Main street.

Capitol District I think is something we will have to pin against Midtown Crossing, Aksarben Village, And Crossroads. Take a look at all these developments in 10-15 years and then compare to the older neighborhoods.
In Omaha, I think of the urban "core" as the area inside of I-480, which was kind of arbitrarily created by the routing of I-480. It is a real barrier separating areas to the west and north from the urban core. The Capitol District is simply a sub-district within the CBD, and badly needed infill to increase the density of the core... I think of UNMC/Blackstone/Midtown as a secondary urban core, but not necessarily part of the CBD. It's questionable whether "CBD" is really anything other than a zoning designation, especially when density is increasing in areas directly west of downtown. I don't think the Capitol District will "shift" pedestrian traffic from anywhere else, as much as simply adding to and expanding CBD ped. traffic. I should add that North downtown has the ability to be perceived as an extension of the urban core, since the raised portion I-480 is not a complete barrier, with all of the street connections between NDT and DT.
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by mcarch »

Coyote wrote:
mcarch wrote:Angled glass... nice place for freezing rain to accumulate and create ice sickles!.
I was told; the angled windows will allow a reflection of the sky and not other buildings, and that it would actually reduce the threat of falling icicles...
Thank you for the update. I'm glad they did their research. I'm glad I was wrong!
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by GetUrban »

mcarch wrote:
Coyote wrote:
mcarch wrote:Angled glass... nice place for freezing rain to accumulate and create ice sickles!.
I was told; the angled windows will allow a reflection of the sky and not other buildings, and that it would actually reduce the threat of falling icicles...
Thank you for the update. I'm glad they did their research. I'm glad I was wrong!
The lower part of the angled glazing will also create shadows/shading on the upper part of the glazing below.
Also, contrary to some other's comments, I would beg to differ that unless they change the design, the renderings are an accurate representation of what the building will look like.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
NEDodger
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by NEDodger »

I know they have a deadline move-in date, but when is construction supposed to start?
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skinzfan23
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by skinzfan23 »

NEDodger wrote:I know they have a deadline move-in date, but when is construction supposed to start?
They expect to break ground in early summer.
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RNcyanide
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by RNcyanide »

The planning board is set to review HDR's proposal today.
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S33
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by S33 »

Hawkeye wrote:

Image

:D
Haha!
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Spatial77
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Spatial77 »

S33 wrote:
Hawkeye wrote:

Image

:D
Haha!

Isn't that the Brady Bunch house??
bradybunch.jpg
bradybunch.jpg (3.17 KiB) Viewed 2700 times
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Hawkeye
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Hawkeye »

Spatial77 wrote:
S33 wrote:
Hawkeye wrote:

Image

:D
Haha!

Isn't that the Brady Bunch house??
bradybunch.jpg
Yeah. That was the running joke in "The Brady Bunch Movie" back in the 90s. In the original show it was made clear that Mike Brady, an architect by trade, designed the house that the newly-mixed family lived in. Of course, the house had like eleventy-four people living in it and only 1 bathroom or something. So it was kind of a post-Brady Bunch joke about how bad of an architect he must have been to design such a house.

Anyway, in the 1990's movie, Mike and Carol owe back taxes on their house and are the only holdouts in the neighborhood vs. their neighbor who wants to sell off the entire 'hood to a developer. He needs to sell one of his architectural designs in order to pay the taxes and retain the family's home. And one by one his firm brings him clients to pitch to, and one by one every design is the same.....his house, but with a different sign over the top. Burger joint, cowboy restaurant, workout gym, etc.

So Ol' Hawkeye was just poking a little fun at HDR for their relatively lackluster design.
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Seth
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Seth »

Hawkeye wrote:
Spatial77 wrote:
S33 wrote: Isn't that the Brady Bunch house??
Yeah. That was the running joke in "The Brady Bunch Movie" back in the 90s. In the original show it was made clear that Mike Brady, an architect by trade, designed the house that the newly-mixed family lived in. Of course, the house had like eleventy-four people living in it and only 1 bathroom or something. So it was kind of a post-Brady Bunch joke about how bad of an architect he must have been to design such a house.

Anyway, in the 1990's movie, Mike and Carol owe back taxes on their house and are the only holdouts in the neighborhood vs. their neighbor who wants to sell off the entire 'hood to a developer. He needs to sell one of his architectural designs in order to pay the taxes and retain the family's home. And one by one his firm brings him clients to pitch to, and one by one every design is the same.....his house, but with a different sign over the top. Burger joint, cowboy restaurant, workout gym, etc.

So Ol' Hawkeye was just poking a little fun at HDR for their relatively lackluster design.
Very clever. I guess I"m too young to get the reference, haha.
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S33
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by S33 »

Seth wrote:
Hawkeye wrote:
Spatial77 wrote:
S33 wrote: Isn't that the Brady Bunch house??
Yeah. That was the running joke in "The Brady Bunch Movie" back in the 90s. In the original show it was made clear that Mike Brady, an architect by trade, designed the house that the newly-mixed family lived in. Of course, the house had like eleventy-four people living in it and only 1 bathroom or something. So it was kind of a post-Brady Bunch joke about how bad of an architect he must have been to design such a house.

Anyway, in the 1990's movie, Mike and Carol owe back taxes on their house and are the only holdouts in the neighborhood vs. their neighbor who wants to sell off the entire 'hood to a developer. He needs to sell one of his architectural designs in order to pay the taxes and retain the family's home. And one by one his firm brings him clients to pitch to, and one by one every design is the same.....his house, but with a different sign over the top. Burger joint, cowboy restaurant, workout gym, etc.

So Ol' Hawkeye was just poking a little fun at HDR for their relatively lackluster design.
Very clever. I guess I"m too young to get the reference, haha.
The movie came out when I was pretty young, and I remember watching the movie, just thinking it was a sequel to the original series.

It wasn't until years later, when I was older, that I rewatched the movie and all the references made sense. The movie is all sexual innuendo, playing on the innocence of the original Brady Bunch family.

If you're ever really bored (I mean really bored), you should watch the movie.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. - Winston Churchill
Spatial77
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Spatial77 »

S33 wrote:
Seth wrote:
Hawkeye wrote:
Spatial77 wrote:
S33 wrote: Isn't that the Brady Bunch house??
Yeah. That was the running joke in "The Brady Bunch Movie" back in the 90s. In the original show it was made clear that Mike Brady, an architect by trade, designed the house that the newly-mixed family lived in. Of course, the house had like eleventy-four people living in it and only 1 bathroom or something. So it was kind of a post-Brady Bunch joke about how bad of an architect he must have been to design such a house.

Anyway, in the 1990's movie, Mike and Carol owe back taxes on their house and are the only holdouts in the neighborhood vs. their neighbor who wants to sell off the entire 'hood to a developer. He needs to sell one of his architectural designs in order to pay the taxes and retain the family's home. And one by one his firm brings him clients to pitch to, and one by one every design is the same.....his house, but with a different sign over the top. Burger joint, cowboy restaurant, workout gym, etc.

So Ol' Hawkeye was just poking a little fun at HDR for their relatively lackluster design.
Very clever. I guess I"m too young to get the reference, haha.
The movie came out when I was pretty young, and I remember watching the movie, just thinking it was a sequel to the original series.

It wasn't until years later, when I was older, that I rewatched the movie and all the references made sense. The movie is all sexual innuendo, playing on the innocence of the original Brady Bunch family.

If you're ever really bored (I mean really bored), you should watch the movie.
Thanks for explaining the joke to me... very good! I never saw the movie. I wasn't a big fan of the Brady Bunch TV show, but the few times I saw it in reruns during college I always thought that the house they lived in didn't look anything like an "architect's house". Of course I was in architecture school at the time, and Mike Brady didn't remind me of any of my professors. Then I came to realize that Mike Brady probably was not a principal in his firm. He was probably the guy who wrote the building specifications... or maybe he designed suburban strip malls in the LA basin. Around that same time I realized I didn't have the talent to be a good architect and would probably be the guy who wrote the building specifications... or maybe design suburban strip malls. I changed majors to geography.
"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future." -- Niels Bohr
Joe_Sovereign
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Joe_Sovereign »

Someone needs to photoshop the HDR logo on top.

Image
Torsten Adair
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Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

Post by Torsten Adair »

My criticisms of HDR's new HQ:

1) Corporate headquarters are an advertisement.
If done well, the buildings become iconic, and generate decades of free advertisement.
See: Sears, Chrysler, AT&T (now Sony), Petronas, Hancock, Apple, Woolworths...
Locally, Woodman of the World and First National get press (along with the TD Bowl).

2) HDR is an engineering/architecture firm. THIS is the best they could come up with?
They have an entire city block to work with.
It's embarrassing... a horizontal block topped with a vertical block which is situated on one edge of the property.
Even the surface treatment is uninspired.
Why not go back to an architectural textbook and find a style which is functional, but also unseen in Omaha?
For example... why not challenge your architects to follow the zoning guidelines of New York City?
Or add some color, especially downtown, near the convention center.

Heck... go big.
Design a skyscraper. Name it.
HDR can rent out the space and make some money on the construction and upkeep.
By adding another skyscraper, you add density to downtown Omaha.
Density which adds to vitality, both perceived (more people walking and biking) and implied (an actual skyline).
It's a PR boon for HDR, using their corporate muscle to make Omaha a better city.

Otherwise, Downtown becomes just another office park (compare to Miracle Hills...highway overpass, uninspired office buildings, parks, decent retail). Too many short buildings.
Kiewit... (see above) is building a TWO-STOREY training center downtown. WTH?!? WHY? Why not a skyscraper, and rent it out like they do at Kiewit Plaza? Why not place it out west, where the land is cheaper? Why not add two floors to HDR's building?
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