New Kiewit HQ

Taco · Post by **Taco** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 5:31 pm

Linkin5 wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2020 7:48 am Omahacritic is Rockharbor. Discuss.

Average words per post is far too low. He doesn't love urban sprawl enough either.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:43 pm

Garrett wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:54 pm
Omahacritic wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:34 pm The “three sisters” are not in Paris. Go back to your Full House reruns.

You mention Paris but leave out Pompidou Center. Or the Louvre pyramid. But even as you go down the Champ de you notice subtle changes.

London ... don’t forget the “Walkie Talkie”, the Lloyds building, or even the television tower.

The point about the other buildings I showed ... they are a dime a dozen.

Ticky Tack .., actually, words to a song. And appropriate because really, the new Kiewit building is an extension of 50’s Leavittowns.
The Kiewit being north downtown should be irrelevant to its architecture.
I mean he does note in his post that the cities shown are Paris, San Francisco, and New York. And those aren't the Three Sisters anyway. The buildings you note are all monuments, not neighborhood buildings as Kiewit is trying to build. In the vast majority of Paris, you will find buildings that look exactly like the ones Tito pictured. Take Park Slope in Brooklyn: one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city and most of the streets look like this:

Did you even look at the pictures you referenced? Look at them again. Tell me what you don’t see.
Then look at Kiewit and tell me what you see.

Comparing Kiewit to those buildings is like comparing a pasture to Yosemite Valley.

I’m certain you won’t notice. But that’s okay. Some are fine with a PBW. And others enjoy living in the middle of a field of corn.

Oh ... and they placed a sky bridge across 15th street now. Connected their plain brown wrappers.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:45 pm

Linkin5 wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2020 7:48 am Omahacritic is Rockharbor. Discuss.

To paraphrase a famous playwright ...

I haven’t words, nor the wit to stir men’s souls. I only speak right on!

PotatoeEatsFish · Post by **PotatoeEatsFish** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:55 am

I'm gone for a month and people are comparing a company's headquarters to monuments...

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 4:27 pm

Linkin5 wrote: Wed Apr 01, 2020 7:48 am Omahacritic is Rockharbor. Discuss.

Nah. He hasn't started enough threads about random cities with pictures taken on a camera phone from 2006.

Dundeemaha · Post by **Dundeemaha** » Fri Apr 03, 2020 4:05 pm

Quit being jerks to each other and just discuss your differing opinions in a productive way. Someone disagreeing with you isn't a personal attack, but comments like:

Linkin5 wrote:Omahacritic is Rockharbor. Discuss.

and

Omahacritic wrote:I’m certain you won’t notice. But that’s okay. Some are fine with a PBW. And others enjoy living in the middle of a field of corn.

don't have any place here. Stop attacking each other just because you disagree

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:22 pm

3/4 of the building still ugly as sin. But I will backtrack on the other 1/4 ...

They have been installing glazing on the SE corner. Pretty good looking. Makes me wonder why they put up so much of that god awful Z-Brick. But in the end , it’s still a basic rectangle.

buildomaha · Post by **buildomaha** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:35 pm

I agree it’s not the most groundbreaking architecture, but it’s not ugly. My concern still isn’t with the mediocrity of the building but with the lack of concern to walkability. A 2 story parking garage is already travesty downtown, but this has zero ground activity in an area adjacent to what’s supposed to be a hub of good urbanism and creativity.

I will take it over a relocation though...

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:00 am

I will actually have to work in the building and the outside aesthetic doesn't bother me since it'll match Kiewit University next door. You also have to keep in mind what this company does. Lots of suit wearing people here at headquarters, but they bring in a lot of people from the fields for training in town. Imagine a bunch of construction superintendents and foremen coming into town that typically are in the dirt all day. If they saw a building like the new HDR headquarters in Aksarben then they would probably feel really out of place. This building suits the hard working people we'll see much better.

The only real problem I have with it is the open floor concept they're going with when most people in the current Plaza have their own office.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 11:24 am

This is the new McDonalds headquarters in downtown Chicago (west Loop neighborhood). To me resemble’s Kiewit to some extent.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 11:51 pm

Stan wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:00 am I will actually have to work in the building and the outside aesthetic doesn't bother me since it'll match Kiewit University next door. You also have to keep in mind what this company does. Lots of suit wearing people here at headquarters, but they bring in a lot of people from the fields for training in town. Imagine a bunch of construction superintendents and foremen coming into town that typically are in the dirt all day. If they saw a building like the new HDR headquarters in Aksarben then they would probably feel really out of place. This building suits the hard working people we'll see much better.

The only real problem I have with it is the open floor concept they're going with when most people in the current Plaza have their own office.

Except for the z-brick it hardly matches.

Did you ever notice other buildings where Kiewit has offices? I don’t think they are worried about project superintendents feeling out of place.

But, as I said, SE corner looking better. Maybe they will surprise with what they do on the north side.

Have they given yo7 a target date for the move-in?

NewDoom · Post by **NewDoom** » Wed May 13, 2020 4:27 pm

Drove around last night and grabbed some street view iphone photos

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed May 13, 2020 5:16 pm

That southeast corner really does look sharp.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Thu May 14, 2020 1:18 pm

yeah but the north side of the building looks horrible. Why are there no windows in the middle of the building?

SunMan · Post by **SunMan** » Thu May 14, 2020 2:05 pm

Elevators shafts?

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Thu May 14, 2020 2:07 pm

That might be, but they could do like some of the parking garages downtown and have glass looking out from the elevator. I think this is such an eyesore looking from Cuming St.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu May 14, 2020 6:37 pm

Louie wrote: Wed May 13, 2020 5:16 pm That southeast corner really does look sharp.

I agree..

I was in North Downtown this past Saturday to survey the developments.. This building passes my eye test. It really does look sharp from several angles, looks very functional and blends in nicely with the area overall..

Most importantly, it’s not what any of us think of the building good or bad, it’s what Kiewit thinks fits best for their world HQ’s.. Like I’ve stated numerous times in this thread, I’m grateful Kiewit not only stayed in Omaha, but committed to our downtown core..their sheer presence in the area is a feather in the cap for future developments in North Downtown...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Thu May 14, 2020 9:50 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Thu May 14, 2020 1:18 pm yeah but the north side of the building looks horrible. Why are there no windows in the middle of the building?

That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all! Same for the west side, though it’s not so huge as to be a glaring blob.

Immediately to north is parking but it’s maxed at about 3 floors. But I am thinking there is going to be another building where Burt street used to be. It will be tall enough that nobody really sees the north side.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri May 15, 2020 8:57 am

Omahacritic wrote: Thu May 14, 2020 9:50 pm
skinzfan23 wrote: Thu May 14, 2020 1:18 pm yeah but the north side of the building looks horrible. Why are there no windows in the middle of the building?
That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all! Same for the west side, though it’s not so huge as to be a glaring blob.

Immediately to north is parking but it’s maxed at about 3 floors. But I am thinking there is going to be another building where Burt street used to be. It will be tall enough that nobody really sees the north side.

We can certainly hope for a building there.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Fri May 15, 2020 1:50 pm

I think everyone would of rather of had a 15 or 20 story highrise. But this building I believe will look good when finished, especially the southside. Glad they chose to stay in Omaha. They could of easily jumped ship to another city in another state. I like the way the building looks driving on I-480 from the northside of DT.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:23 pm

Today, huge improvement over what was there. Another surface parking lot gone, increase in density for the neighborhood.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:49 pm

Cermak wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:23 pm Today, huge improvement over what was there. Another surface parking lot gone, increase in density for the neighborhood.

It’s looking pretty darn good..

I’ll take swapping an over abundance of surface parking for built up density any day of the week...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:46 pm

Cermak wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:23 pm Today, huge improvement over what was there. Another surface parking lot gone, increase in density for the neighborhood.

Think again.

Not exactly a surface lot but a huge fat ugly garage. I wonder what happened to making things pedestrian friendly where Burt St used to be.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:50 pm

What I come back to, is this HQ’s development is 10x..he!l 20x’s better than what was there before. Is it perfect? No. Rarely any development ticks all the boxes with everyone..People will find fault with anything (and usually do)..

What’s truly important is, who this development is the right fit for..Obviously Kiewit..They’re the ones who rolled the dice, spent the money and made the commitment to the north DT core.. They could have decided to move “out west”.. Or worse yet, out of the state of Nebraska entirely (would we be complaining about an attached parking garage if that’s what Kiewit’s decision to stay or leave boiled down to? I think not)..

In reality- We lost a surface lot, gained the dentistry of an office building and kept an Omaha born business in Omaha and especially, within our urban core. I’ll make sure and keep score- that’s a win, win and win in my book.. 3 to zip.. Regardless how ugly some think an attached parking garage might be.. when looking at the final score, it’s a relatively small price to pay...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:19 pm

North Downtown’s first skywalk. I know skywalks never caught on in Omaha like they did in Minneapolis or Des Moines. But at least North DT can now say they have at least one, must say it looks nice! Especially when you consider what this neighborhood looked like 15-20 years ago.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 10:52 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:50 pm What I come back to, is this HQ’s development is 10x..he!l 20x’s better than what was there before. Is it perfect? No. Rarely any development ticks all the boxes with everyone..People will find fault with anything (and usually do)..

What’s truly important is, who this development is the right fit for..Obviously Kiewit..They’re the ones who rolled the dice, spent the money and made the commitment to the north DT core.. They could have decided to move “out west”.. Or worse yet, out of the state of Nebraska entirely (would we be complaining about an attached parking garage if that’s what Kiewit’s decision to stay or leave boiled down to? I think not)..

In reality- We lost a surface lot, gained the dentistry of an office building and kept an Omaha born business in Omaha and especially, within our urban core. I’ll make sure and keep score- that’s a win, win and win in my book.. 3 to zip.. Regardless how ugly some think an attached parking garage might be.. when looking at the final score, it’s a relatively small price to pay...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

The discussion is architecture, not the benefits of Kiewit putting an office on a red square or a black square.

Just because your Prom date was the only girl to accept your offer, doesn’t make her the belle of the ball.

We are talking about the building. Buck teeth and pretty hair. Not the occupant.

The garage is a part of the structure. As such, it must be considered. The entire North side is a disaster. So much more could have been.

And if Kiewit leaves because of what we type on a message board .....

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:04 pm

Cermak wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:19 pm
North Downtown’s first skywalk. I know skywalks never caught on in Omaha like they did in Minneapolis or Des Moines. But at least North DT can now say they have at least one, must say it looks nice! Especially when you consider what this neighborhood looked like 15-20 years ago.

Maybe this skywalk will start a North Downtown trend, lol..

It’s not anything earth shattering, but I like it too...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:55 pm

Omahacritic wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 10:52 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:50 pm What I come back to, is this HQ’s development is 10x..he!l 20x’s better than what was there before. Is it perfect? No. Rarely any development ticks all the boxes with everyone..People will find fault with anything (and usually do)..

What’s truly important is, who this development is the right fit for..Obviously Kiewit..They’re the ones who rolled the dice, spent the money and made the commitment to the north DT core.. They could have decided to move “out west”.. Or worse yet, out of the state of Nebraska entirely (would we be complaining about an attached parking garage if that’s what Kiewit’s decision to stay or leave boiled down to? I think not)..

In reality- We lost a surface lot, gained the dentistry of an office building and kept an Omaha born business in Omaha and especially, within our urban core. I’ll make sure and keep score- that’s a win, win and win in my book.. 3 to zip.. Regardless how ugly some think an attached parking garage might be.. when looking at the final score, it’s a relatively small price to pay...

Ciao..LiO...Peace
The discussion is architecture, not the benefits of Kiewit putting an office on a red square or a black square.

Just because your Prom date was the only girl to accept your offer, doesn’t make her the belle of the ball.

We are talking about the building. Buck teeth and pretty hair. Not the occupant.

The garage is a part of the structure. As such, it must be considered. The entire North side is a disaster. So much more could have been.

And if Kiewit leaves because of what we type on a message board .....

No. The discussion is about Kiewit HQ’s..and this can encompass numerous other related discussion regarding its presence and effect on North Downtown..beyond simply talking about the architecture of the building.. It’s about the architecture because that’s all you want to talk about exclusively here.. It’s well known your disdain for this building. So nothing new there..

Prom dates? Belles of the ball and buck teeth? Lol..

Since the architecture of this building is such a painful cavity you’ve yet to see a dentist to repair.. Perhaps it’s time you make it known to Kiewit your disappointment and what “could have been” regarding the architectural design of their building. As stated, we already know what you think on our discussion forum. Step it up a notch and go straight to the source..

If you choose to do so, please let us know what they think of your opinion and disappointment...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

PotatoeEatsFish · Post by **PotatoeEatsFish** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:30 am

I really love this building and how it looks in North Downtown. It cancels out the garage, its better than a surface lot atleast.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:59 am

The Hilton has had a skywalk since 2005, when it was built.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:14 am

I do like the look of the Kiewit building. Really stands out when looking down from Central.

It's something we desperately needed. That North Downtown area has not developed yet as we hoped. Hopefully this is more of a springboard. It followed the arena/convention center in that regard. I am really glad we finally got the Capital District (too bad it opened at the worst possible time). The North Downtown area is similar in it's development. Hopefully once Kiewit opens down there, more projects and people follow.

I agree with Omaha Cowboy in how vital and a big win this was. Losing Con Agra and so many of it's employees downtown, followed by HDR backing out and going to Ak Sar Ben, Kiewit was absolutely essential.

Greg

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:04 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:59 am The Hilton has had a skywalk since 2005, when it was built.

I thought about that skywalk, for some reason that just doesn’t feel like North Downtown to me. Seems like North DT doesn’t really start till you get east of 13th street and north of Cass. Just my opinion of course. Either way we now have two skywalks north of I-480.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 12:03 am

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:55 pm
Omahacritic wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 10:52 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:50 pm What I come back to, is this HQ’s development is 10x..he!l 20x’s better than what was there before. Is it perfect? No. Rarely any development ticks all the boxes with everyone..People will find fault with anything (and usually do)..

What’s truly important is, who this development is the right fit for..Obviously Kiewit..They’re the ones who rolled the dice, spent the money and made the commitment to the north DT core.. They could have decided to move “out west”.. Or worse yet, out of the state of Nebraska entirely (would we be complaining about an attached parking garage if that’s what Kiewit’s decision to stay or leave boiled down to? I think not)..

In reality- We lost a surface lot, gained the dentistry of an office building and kept an Omaha born business in Omaha and especially, within our urban core. I’ll make sure and keep score- that’s a win, win and win in my book.. 3 to zip.. Regardless how ugly some think an attached parking garage might be.. when looking at the final score, it’s a relatively small price to pay...

Ciao..LiO...Peace
The discussion is architecture, not the benefits of Kiewit putting an office on a red square or a black square.

Just because your Prom date was the only girl to accept your offer, doesn’t make her the belle of the ball.

We are talking about the building. Buck teeth and pretty hair. Not the occupant.

The garage is a part of the structure. As such, it must be considered. The entire North side is a disaster. So much more could have been.

And if Kiewit leaves because of what we type on a message board .....
No. The discussion is about Kiewit HQ’s..and this can encompass numerous other related discussion regarding its presence and effect on North Downtown..beyond simply talking about the architecture of the building.. It’s about the architecture because that’s all you want to talk about exclusively here.. It’s well known your disdain for this building. So nothing new there..

Prom dates? Belles of the ball and buck teeth? Lol..

Since the architecture of this building is such a painful cavity you’ve yet to see a dentist to repair.. Perhaps it’s time you make it known to Kiewit your disappointment and what “could have been” regarding the architectural design of their building. As stated, we already know what you think on our discussion forum. Step it up a notch and go straight to the source..

If you choose to do so, please let us know what they think of your opinion and disappointment...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

We know how you feel too. Yet you keep repeating the broken record. “Since it’s Kiewit it must be good.”

It seems you are saying a big Omaha business could build a gray, concrete underground bunker and you’d praise the exterior aesthetics.

If you don’t like opposing opinions, the mirror is a wonderful resource. It only reflects what you show it.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:13 am

Omahacritic wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 12:03 am We know how you feel too. Yet you keep repeating the broken record. “Since it’s Kiewit it must be good.”

It seems you are saying a big Omaha business could build a gray, concrete underground bunker and you’d praise the exterior aesthetics.

If you don’t like opposing opinions, the mirror is a wonderful resource. It only reflects what you show it.

This post reminds me of a baseball player at the plate, last out of the game bottom of the 9th..he must yak the ball out of the park for his team to win the game..The count is 3 balls, 2 strikes.. The pitcher winds up and throws the pitch.. the player at the plate closes his eyes and takes the big cut..

Swing and a miss..

Back to Kiewit related discussion...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Chungus · Post by **Chungus** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:51 am

Building's fine. It's a good fabric building. Not everything needs to be an icon.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:24 am

Chungus wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:51 am Building's fine. It's a good fabric building. Not everything needs to be an icon.

True, in fact, that would look strange if a city was comprised entirely of iconic buildings. Like the smorgasbord of famous buildings I'd shove in every city in Sim City 3000.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:35 am

Louie wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:24 am
Chungus wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:51 am Building's fine. It's a good fabric building. Not everything needs to be an icon.
True, in fact, that would look strange if a city was comprised entirely of iconic buildings. Like the smorgasbord of famous buildings I'd shove in every city in Sim City 3000.

Agreed..

Like I’ve stated numerous times in this thread, the building is nothing earth shattering..but it is fine and looks like it fits well in North Downtown..

And the sentiment has never been “since it’s Kiewit, it must be good”.. Rather that it’s good Kiewit committed to the downtown core and built their HQ’s there..as opposed to a suburban location or much worse yet- move out of the Omaha area/Nebraska completely...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 12:46 pm

I like the building too. it has a simple, yet solid look about it, looks like it belongs here.

edsas · Post by **edsas** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:45 pm

I like the building in general. I'm just a little baffled by the inconsistent exterior materials. Couldn't the black and glass have extended all the way on the south front? Leave the brick to the north?

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:40 pm

Louie wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:24 am
Chungus wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:51 am Building's fine. It's a good fabric building. Not everything needs to be an icon.
True, in fact, that would look strange if a city was comprised entirely of iconic buildings. Like the smorgasbord of famous buildings I'd shove in every city in Sim City 3000.

Doesn’t have to be cookie cutter either.

And at least one or two iconic buildings with visibility would be good. Instead, our downtown gets another West Omaha rectangle. Oh well.

But it’s not about Kiewit ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ...