The Vortex Tower

AZCorey · Post by **AZCorey** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 6:53 pm

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???

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 7:10 pm

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

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 7:29 pm

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.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:49 pm

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?

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:58 pm

I think I speak for my self, the toaster, and a few illegal immigrants lurking on this forum when I say: huh?

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:00 pm

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=103176

redfield · Post by **redfield** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:09 pm

Wow, that would be pretty cool in downtown O.

A perfect spot for it would be where the old plant is just south of Con Agra on the riverfront.

edsas · Post by **edsas** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:18 pm

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.

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:54 pm

edsas wrote: 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.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:06 pm

Why wouldn't Daub or Fahey want a 610 ft observation tower in downtown???

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:53 pm

Look at the thing, it's a disaster.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:00 pm

DMRyan, do you have a picture?

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:16 pm

It looks just as silly as the giant tornado observation tower proposed in KC. The Jetson's would be proud though.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:16 pm

I think it was one of those things some guy dreamed up with no clue how to fund it. I thought of it as dead on arrival.

Greg

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:25 pm

I agree Ryan. Looking back now I don't know why I was so interested in getting this thing built. I don't really care for it either.

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:27 pm

I'm all for Omaha getting an observation tower, but this design is a joke.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 5:20 pm

WOW, i see now why they didn't want that in downtown. It would have made our skyline a freaking joke! I think an observation tower would be great in downtown though. I mean it would give a great view of the bluffs and river. Just as long as it doesn't look like it is from the Jetsons though.

jborg · Post by **jborg** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 5:54 pm

I don't know how long ago this was, but I thought he had redesigned it since that picture and took off the ugly legs at the bottom.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 6:26 pm

Taking away the legs would help a lot, but it would still need a lot of work.

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 6:49 pm

doesn't matter. I don't think any tax dollars were going to be used for the thing and I doubt there would be enough private dollars to get it off the ground. The pedestrian bridge would be a lot better choice.

redfield · Post by **redfield** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 7:27 pm

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.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 7:41 pm

I'm glad we appear to have a solid consensus.

KansasCityCraka · Post by **KansasCityCraka** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 7:50 pm

It looks just as silly as the giant tornado observation tower proposed in KC. The Jetson's would be proud though.

Amen

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 8:40 pm

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.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 3:41 pm

Its funny if you have been reading this forum long enough, about every year this stupid Vortex tower seems to show up.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:13 pm

It was a unique vision. Someone wanting an "Arch" type of monument for Omaha. I think people are trying to hard.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:52 pm

Where's our damn tornado tower that looks nothing like a tornado?

Tornado · Post by **Tornado** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:06 pm

Wow..........blast from the past.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:42 pm

reminds me of the jetsons.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:41 pm

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. ’

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:55 pm

Finally found it:

Welcome to the Vortex

S33 · Post by **S33** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:52 pm

I'm surprised nobody was willing to fund that given all the credibility within the web page. The renderings and name dropping sure sold me.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 8:05 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.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:19 pm

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.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:29 pm

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.

DTO: I'm glad to see you posting!

and for what it's worth, i agree. 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.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:13 pm

So...How about that Sarpy County...

Post by **Brad** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:15 pm

Good pull!

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:56 pm

Whereas Tapei apparently is getting this bit of awesomeness.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:05 pm

Whats that project called? ^^^^

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:31 pm

Linkin5 wrote:Whats that project called? ^^^^

The tornado tower in tapei
http://plusmood.com/2009/03/tornado-tow ... us-wagner/