SLC: Performing Arts Center and 111 Tower

[DMTower]

Here's one from this afternoon

[airhero]

Jeez, that wrecking ball is gonna give the metro building an inhumanely slow death.

[StevenF]

Originally Posted by airhero

Jeez, that wrecking ball is gonna give the metro building an inhumanely slow death.

I agree. It needs to be put out of its misery much quicker with a few well placed TNT.

[SLC Projects]

That's going to take awhile.

[utenation]

Took some pics of some demo. They're using a long arm excavator and the wrecking ball in combo.

[DMTower]

here's another angle

[justiny]

Remind me again... This was an office building?

It's a damn fortress. No windows... Looks like a fortified prison.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by justiny

Remind me again... This was an office building?

It's a damn fortress. No windows... Looks like a fortified prison.

It makes me so sad that many people, perhaps out of ignorance, have no respect for this building. This building was built as a bank and was designed by the same architect who designed the transamerica pyramid in San Francisco. It had skylights over the main floor-to-roof atrium and had floor-to-ceiling windows on the front middle section, as well as perpendicular slot windows to let in additional light. When it was built, it featured two gardens, one sunken (where the outdoor steps are now), and another on the roof. Inside and out, the architecture reminded me of something out of starwars . The building was built as a sort of campus expansion for the bank next door (the one that had the beautiful barreled ceiling). They were both good sturdy buildings, that did not detract, but added to salt lake city's architecture portfolio. But instead of using the theater project as a great excuse for more infill, the city decided to tear down much of what was once our most densely built up block. Unfortunately, we've lost a few gems.

[utenation]

Metro building

Metro building

image

image

image

image

image

image

Metro building

PICS BY SKIERFORLIFE17

[Future Mayor]

Pulled from the SLC Thread.

Originally Posted by Orlando

What's a tragedy here is that this proposal proposed by Mayor Becker, back when there was the fear that Sandy would get a big theater venue, was that he initially proposed this site because it would save cost. He proposed using the existing buildings. Now, look what has happened!!! One could claim that this was a deception. I know he was trying to find an affordable solution at the time. But, seriously! a world class theater squeezed into existing buildings?! We have so many open lots in downtown, that it does not justify demolishing our existing building stock of significance. Ya, some of you don't care about those buildings, but they were of much better quality than Carl's Junior, Eat a burger, the Zephyr Club, and so on. What a shame! and what a trajic loss.

The only discussion of using existing buildings for the PAC was the discussion of the possibility of converting the Utah Theater into the PAC, with an expanded back of stage and an enlarged house for more seating. Those were ideas that were initially thrown around for discussion, but where found to not be feasible and new construction would be less expensive, then what would have been required to convert the Utah. Using the existing buildings on this site however was never proposed, as like you said, it would be impossible.

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by Old&New

It makes me so sad that many people, perhaps out of ignorance, have no respect for this building. This building was built as a bank and was designed by the same architect who designed the transamerica pyramid in San Francisco. It had skylights over the main floor-to-roof atrium and had floor-to-ceiling windows on the front middle section, as well as perpendicular slot windows to let in additional light. When it was built, it featured two gardens, one sunken (where the outdoor steps are now), and another on the roof. Inside and out, the architecture reminded me of something out of starwars . The building was built as a sort of campus expansion for the bank next door (the one that had the beautiful barreled ceiling). They were both good sturdy buildings, that did not detract, but added to salt lake city's architecture portfolio. But instead of using the theater project as a great excuse for more infill, the city decided to tear down much of what was once our most densely built up block. Unfortunately, we've lost a few gems.

Appreciating a building for its history doesn't necessarily mean you have to like its architectural design.

[DMTower]

Here are a few more pictures taken of the demo today

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Pulled from the SLC Thread.



The only discussion of using existing buildings for the PAC was the discussion of the possibility of converting the Utah Theater into the PAC, with an expanded back of stage and an enlarged house for more seating. Those were ideas that were initially thrown around for discussion, but where found to not be feasible and new construction would be less expensive, then what would have been required to convert the Utah. Using the existing buildings on this site however was never proposed, as like you said, it would be impossible.

Future Mayor,
I am a little surprised at this comment. Usually, you are one of the most informed people on this forum.

Back in 2006 or so, Mayor Becker proposed this site to save cost. He proposed using the building that had the beautiful old coffered & vaulted ceiling as the entry into the new theater. The theater portion was to be built in place of the Deseret News publishing building behind all of the buildings fronting Main Street. His brother or friend, who was a known specialist at doing feasibility studies for theater venues, etc., helped him explore downtown site options. Mayor Becker chose this option because he could minimize the cost of a new theater by using existing buildings, which to me was very unrealistic. His proposal essentially hid the new theater behind the existing architecture of Main Street. Look it up Future Mayor, I am sure you will find the information that backs all of this up.

[ToysNoiz]

[Utaaah!]

Originally Posted by Old&New

It makes me so sad that many people, perhaps out of ignorance, have no respect for this building. This building was built as a bank and was designed by the same architect who designed the transamerica pyramid in San Francisco. It had skylights over the main floor-to-roof atrium and had floor-to-ceiling windows on the front middle section, as well as perpendicular slot windows to let in additional light. When it was built, it featured two gardens, one sunken (where the outdoor steps are now), and another on the roof. Inside and out, the architecture reminded me of something out of starwars . The building was built as a sort of campus expansion for the bank next door (the one that had the beautiful barreled ceiling). They were both good sturdy buildings, that did not detract, but added to salt lake city's architecture portfolio. But instead of using the theater project as a great excuse for more infill, the city decided to tear down much of what was once our most densely built up block. Unfortunately, we've lost a few gems.

I'm with you, Orlando! I always loved that block of Main Street, and especially the bank buildings. I greatly prefer adaptive reuse of existing structures and infill on vacant/parking lots to demolition. These buildings could have served someone well for many more years.

[Future Mayor]

I remember the notion of attempting to use the small bank building or at least the barrel vault ceiling as part of the entrance, but as for using the remainder of the buildings such as the press buildings I don't believe that was the proposal.

I honestly think that he initially proposed saving a building or two and building around/incorporating those into the overall theater complex, but fitting the entire theater house in the press building I don't remember that as part of the proposal at all. I could be wrong.

I look at it this way.
What buildings did we lose, and which of those were really treasures vs what are we gaining?
--The Bennion Jewlers/Old Navy/Montgomery - it had no identifying features of the original Montgomery Ward building, due to the many remodels and facelifts it had gone through over the years. IMO, not a huge lose
--The tall Prudential Building - the sculpture was cool, and the original, long ago removed water feature was cool, but obviously it wasn't constructed all that well in the first place considering that when SLCC purchased it they had to install that steal reinforcement system throughout the building. IMO, a small loss.
--The small Prudential savings bank with the really cool barrel vault - IMO, Yes this is a loss to Main St and the city.
-- Inkleys - Not a loss
-- Other random small building - Not a loss
-- NAC advertising/Mr Mac building - Not a loss.
-- Press Buildings - Not a loss.

What are we gaining? A world class performing arts center, a very tall office tower, and new life on Regent St.

[jedikermit]

More...

CAM01357 by JediKermit, on Flickr

[utenation]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

More...

CAM01357 by JediKermit, on Flickr

Looks like the beef is getting pretty lean in the middle.. I wonder how they are going to bring down the main beams.

I still say they should have blown this whole thing to shreds.. Much faster than watching paint dry with a wrecking ball that is the size of a water balloon..

[jedikermit]

They were actively using the "wrecking ball" just now, and it was just kind of chipping away at it. Tap....tap....tap....

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I remember the notion of attempting to use the small bank building or at least the barrel vault ceiling as part of the entrance, but as for using the remainder of the buildings such as the press buildings I don't believe that was the proposal.

I honestly think that he initially proposed saving a building or two and building around/incorporating those into the overall theater complex, but fitting the entire theater house in the press building I don't remember that as part of the proposal at all. I could be wrong.

I said that the theater portion would be built "in place" of the press building ,not in it. What I meant to say was that Mayor Becker's initial proposal was to keep all of the existing buildings on Main Street and to build the theater behind them, ie. in place of the press building.