The Vortex Tower
Moderators: Coyote, nebugeater, Brad, Omaha Cowboy, BRoss
-
- Home Owners Association
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:26 pm
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Contact:
The Vortex Tower
Okay...obviously I'm a little bored today, so I'm surfing the net.....and I get to http://www.skyscrapers.com , I click on Omaha....I do some snooping and start reading about this 'Vortex Tower'??? It says its 60 stories tall...and of course my head says....'that would be an amazing addition to the downtown skyline!'....what is this tower and what's the likelihood???
The vortex is the brainchild of a graphic artist by the name of Robert Hogenmiller. It's been around for quite some time, but there's never been any serious effort as far as I can tell in developing it. I personally never cared for it... like it more with the bottom things removed, even then don't like it downtown (he proposed it somewhere along I-80 out by Mahoney)...
Here's a link to his website...
http://www.rchjr.com/vortex1.htm
Here's a link to his website...
http://www.rchjr.com/vortex1.htm
Vortex Tower could have been next to the Qwest Center.
I heard back from Mr. Hogenmiller today about the Vortex Tower. I had asked him if he had considered a DT location. He said that was actually his first choice, to place it next to the Qwest Center. He was encouraged to do it but his plan was later nixed by Hal Daub in 98-99. (Why Hal? Why?) He has tried to set up a meeting with Mike Fahey, but has been unsuccesful. He said the I-80 426 exit was an option because it was approved by govt. authorities quickly. He said if I or anyone else had the power to sway city officials that he would appreciate the help. DT was obviously his first choice after all. I will try to piece something together on my own for Jim Vokal since it will be in his district.
DTO
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 595
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:12 pm
- Location: Omaha, someplace in middle America
Vortex Tower
I was looking on emporis.com tonight, and stumbled upon the page for the Vortex tower. Anyone know how long ago this came about or have and pictures of it?
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 595
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:12 pm
- Location: Omaha, someplace in middle America
Neither Daub nor Fahey wanted it downtown, so the designer sought to put it along the interstate near Ashland. Cass County gave its approval about 5 years ago and that's about the last we've herd of it. The cost was supposed to be something like $35 million which, apparently, was never raised. The project is all but dead, I'd say.
Yeah, I'd agree. I wrote to the designer about a year ago and inquired as to how I could be of assistance in making it a reality. Not to sound like I'm bashing him, but when he found out I could not provide financial assistance, he never returned my e-mail. So...I got to assume its pretty much dead too.edsas wrote: The project is all but dead, I'd say.
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 595
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:12 pm
- Location: Omaha, someplace in middle America
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 595
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:12 pm
- Location: Omaha, someplace in middle America
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 645
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 8:07 pm
- Location: Des Moines, IA
- Contact:
It looks just as silly as the giant tornado observation tower proposed in KC. The Jetson's would be proud though.
DesMoines Forum: https://urbandsm.com/forum/
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 645
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 8:07 pm
- Location: Des Moines, IA
- Contact:
I'm all for Omaha getting an observation tower, but this design is a joke.
DesMoines Forum: https://urbandsm.com/forum/
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 595
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:12 pm
- Location: Omaha, someplace in middle America
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 595
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2004 6:12 pm
- Location: Omaha, someplace in middle America
Gah! That is ugly, but I still like the idea of an observation tower downtown. That sort of thing becomes a nice draw for tourism.
As much as I like the pedestrian bridge, the only tourism it will bring is a few folks from CB walking downtown.
Once the bridge gets completed, I'd love to see this idea come back to life....with a better design.
As much as I like the pedestrian bridge, the only tourism it will bring is a few folks from CB walking downtown.
Once the bridge gets completed, I'd love to see this idea come back to life....with a better design.
-
- New to the Neighborhood
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:45 pm
- Location: Kansas City
- Contact:
I have emailed the guy who designed it, Robert Hogenmiller, and he said he approached HDR about developing it and possibly being a part of the North DT area somewhere near the Qwest Center. I'm sure that that design won't be final but an observation tower would be nice for DT. I am supposed email him back after news years about some other questions I had.
I've been to towers like this in Niagara Falls and Toronto and they were both really cool. If it was 610' it'd be taller than the Space Needle. I would like to see it or something like it built DT and I think that as more people are in the area that they will want more recreational opportunites and this would be a unique one.
I've been to towers like this in Niagara Falls and Toronto and they were both really cool. If it was 610' it'd be taller than the Space Needle. I would like to see it or something like it built DT and I think that as more people are in the area that they will want more recreational opportunites and this would be a unique one.
DTO
-
- Human Relations
- Posts: 868
- Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:44 pm
- Location: Millard/Sarpy County
- Coyote
- City Council
- Posts: 33200
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
- Location: Aksarben Village
- Contact:
From the Omaha World-Herald dated October 2, 1997:
""Paris has the Eiffel Tower. St. Louis has its Gateway Arch. Seattle has the Space Needle. Now, Robert Hogenmiller Jr., an Omaha commercial artist, proposes a 610-foot-high stainless-steel landmark for Omaha: Vortex, the Tornado Tower. The tower, at an estimated cost of $35 million, would include a restaurant, a tornado museum, a virtual-reality theater depicting a tornado, an education-conference center on tornado safety, an amusement ride to the top and observation decks with 25-mile views. At night, lasers would give the tower the illusion of spinning counter-clockwise like a tornado, said Hogenmiller, who doesn't yet have financial backing for his idea..... ' We certainly wouldn't want people to think Omaha is glorifying a tornado,' said T.J.Knight, president of Downtown Omaha, 'But once you get beyond that, the tower would be a wonderful educational and entertainment facility. ’
""Paris has the Eiffel Tower. St. Louis has its Gateway Arch. Seattle has the Space Needle. Now, Robert Hogenmiller Jr., an Omaha commercial artist, proposes a 610-foot-high stainless-steel landmark for Omaha: Vortex, the Tornado Tower. The tower, at an estimated cost of $35 million, would include a restaurant, a tornado museum, a virtual-reality theater depicting a tornado, an education-conference center on tornado safety, an amusement ride to the top and observation decks with 25-mile views. At night, lasers would give the tower the illusion of spinning counter-clockwise like a tornado, said Hogenmiller, who doesn't yet have financial backing for his idea..... ' We certainly wouldn't want people to think Omaha is glorifying a tornado,' said T.J.Knight, president of Downtown Omaha, 'But once you get beyond that, the tower would be a wonderful educational and entertainment facility. ’
-
- City Council
- Posts: 6865
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 4:46 pm
Wow, what a joke that was.
For some reason, and I guess this was because I was never interested in it as a serious proposal, I never realized that the Vortex was proposed for along the interstate between Omaha and Lincoln, which is an even more hair brained idea.
For some reason, and I guess this was because I was never interested in it as a serious proposal, I never realized that the Vortex was proposed for along the interstate between Omaha and Lincoln, which is an even more hair brained idea.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
DTO: I'm glad to see you posting!DTO Luv wrote:I don't think some sort of observation tower would be a bad idea for the CB side of the bridge down the road. Obviously something much less obtrusive but the views of the bridge, skyline, and bluffs would be great.
and for what it's worth, i agree. Â It'd be nice to have it near the narrows with a couple different levels so you could still get a good view of the river/natural surroundings and another for long range views.
Go Cubs Go
-
- City Council
- Posts: 105451
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 1:34 pm
- Location: Somewhere between downtown and Colorado
- Contact:
Good pull!
Omaha Skyline Photos, Omaha Aerial Photos, and More.
Website: www.bradwilliamsphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bradwilliamsphotography
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bradwphoto
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bradwilliamsphotography
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@bradwilliamsphoto
The tornado tower in tapeiLinkin5 wrote:Whats that project called? ^^^^
http://plusmood.com/2009/03/tornado-tow ... us-wagner/