Boise: 8th & Main Tower/Zions Bank Idaho HQ: 323' and 18 Floors - Page 59

jakor21 · #**1161** Posted **Oct 17, 2013, 4:21 AM**

It does look ''squatty'' when viewed from distances greater than a mile particularly northeast and southeast perspectives and I-84 coming into Boise. The buildings height to width ratio is not proportional hence the squatty appearance. I like the building when your in the downtown region, but honestly I think it distorts downtown from farther away, presenting a 'big' box sensation, and not giving downtown the central peak it desires to better define the skyline. The spire is negligible from a distance. The US bank building and the Zions building are basically the same height. The building would feel taller if it were to go straight up rather than cascading inward towards the top.

Hawk · #**1162** Posted **Oct 19, 2013, 9:08 AM**

SUB13-00040 / Eighth & Main Condominiums
Location: 800 West Main Street
PRELIMINARY/FINAL CONDOMINIUM PLAT FOR 22 UNITS AND ONE
COMMON AREA LOT. THE 0.6 ACRE SITE IS LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST
CORNER OF EAST MAIN AND NORTH 8TH STREETS IN A C-5DD ZONE.

http://pds.cityofboise.org/media/310732/10-22-13_pzagenda.pdf

Hawk · #**1163** Posted **Oct 19, 2013, 9:46 AM**

some renderings from a story on Boise State Public Radio's website. Found them just randomly searching for pictures of our skyline. It's an old article from April 24, 2013

http://boisestatepublicradio.org/term/zions-bank-0

Sawtooth · #**1164** Posted **Oct 19, 2013, 7:42 PM**

Sorry for sharing my photos in this thread and offending the grump. Where else on the web can one see as many perspectives of this tower as are in this thread?

I think the spire is nice and looks dashing when viewed with the Foothills in the background. I think the 3 people who complained to the mayor about the spire are anti religion and trying to push their agenda.

CaliforniaKid · #**1165** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 2:19 AM**

LOL.. like I said before.. That thing does resemble a mormon temple. But a bank and a temple.. I ask what is the difference anyway?

"The mayor's office has received three complaints about the spire atop the 8th and Main building in Downtown Boise. The Gardner Co., the building's owner, has heard comments about its resemblance to a Mormon temple."

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/10/22/2829179/buildings-look-inspires-buzz.html

Boiseguy · #**1166** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 4:10 AM**

who cares if it looks like the top of a mormon temple.. what did you think we were getting with ZIONS bank anyway? as boring cookie cutterish as mormon temples are...it's still a lovely new addition to the skyline and it's across the street from a gay bar...so all is well in zion...lol...

ToysNoiz · #**1167** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 5:28 AM**

An LDS temple is one of the last things that comes to mind when I see this building. People are seriously sending complaint letters about the spire? Maybe if the top skinny part was lit gold at night I would kind of understand. But my hell, people. Haha.

boisecynic · #**1168** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 1:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

An LDS temple is one of the last things that comes to mind when I see this building. People are seriously sending complaint letters about the spire? Maybe if the top skinny part was lit gold at night I would kind of understand. But my hell, people. Haha.

First of all, go back to page 2 of this thread: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=194091&page=2 And Hawk's post above.

The early renderings did not show what has been built. So, when did the final design of the spire get implemented and did it go through design review? And I don't mean to start a flame war but it 100% reminds me of a LDS temple. How could it not? You're telling me the spire's design is a coincidence? When Zion's Bank is based in SLC? If not a LDS temple, exactly what is it supposed to resemble? I don't recall seeing anything like it, except on LDS temples.

Forget the LDS angle though. In my humble opinion, I think it's flat out ugly. It clashes with the rest of the building. It clashes with the rest of downtown and it clashes with the foothills when they're in the background of the view. Maybe if it had been the same blue as the glass. The white is really garish. And to top it all off, it looks like a giant middle finger flipping off the city for miles around. I swear, I am not picking a fight with LDS. I don't like white picket fences in Boise or white vinyl which is barely a step up from chain link. The bright high desert sunshine makes any pure white exterior paint jobs painful to look at.

Look around. Pure white is rarely chosen by any developers around here. Look at the vinyl fencing industry especially the new products. They're coming out with lots of new colors and textures. The spire's white was without a doubt purposefully chosen for maximum impact.

Also, Banner Bank didn't need a spire.

You know what's going to happen now? The future construction of spires is going to be debated at city hall. A lot. And I wouldn't be surprised if we get new P&Z rules with respect to any future spires.

boisecynic · #**1169** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 2:28 PM**

Update on 8th and Main condos

Since Visualize's comment on Oct 8th got buried by a slew of pics which we've all seen a thousand times,

I'm reposting it. And there has been an update as of Oct 23rd.

http://pdsonline.cityofboise.org/pdsonline/details.aspx?id=SUB13-00040&type=doc

Quote:

On October 22, 2013, the Boise City Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the Preliminary and Final Plats of the Eighth & Main Condominiums to the Boise City Council, subject to compliance with the Conditions of Approval listed below.

Unless otherwise specified, all conditions shall be completed prior to signing of the Final Plat by the Boise City Engineer.

ToysNoiz · #**1170** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 10:54 PM**

Yeah, I'm no fan of refrigerator white either. But I still like the building. How would you feel if it was covered with steel or aluminum instead of it being white? SLC's Zions Bank tower has both white and steel, and it looks great.

Both towers are in the same style. I wonder if Boise's tower would look different if Salt Lake's tower wasn't ever refaced?

Sawtooth · #**1171** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 11:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

Yeah, I'm no fan of refrigerator white either. But I still like the building. How would you feel if it was covered with steel or aluminum instead of it being white? SLC's Zions Bank tower has both white and steel, and it looks great.

Both towers are in the same style. I wonder if Boise's tower would look different if Salt Lake's tower wasn't ever refaced?

They are both great looking buildings. Within the group of people I associate with and my group of friends, the people who have an issue with the LDS Church are the only ones who have an issue with the spire.

I think it looks like a pagoda at night while lit up, downtown from street level. I might still have a photo posted in this thread showing it lit up.

Welcome2Boise · #**1172** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 1:21 AM**

I think this whole thing is absurd. Yes, it is a bit reminiscent of and LDS spire. No, I don't think it is important, AT ALL. What I take great issue with is people complaining to the city over someone else's property. They didn't spend millions on this building, Gardner did. All design review should care about is if it is attractive and follows their general guidelines in keeping with the "master plan" for the neighborhood. Which this building does.

One of the things that Boise culture has always meant to me is a socially relaxed place where you can be who you are. People from all walks are accepted here more readily than almost anywhere else in the country (with the exception of the homosexual population, which I apologize for and I hope things are getting better) We moved here from Denver because so many people got into each others business there. Some people are really doing their best do destroy this. People complaining about a spire because it somewhat resembles architecture used by a religion that just so happens to not be their own. OMG! I don't care about the spire whether it was built this way on purpose or not. I don't care about the cross on Table rock. I also wouldn't care if someone built something reminiscent of a mosque somewhere else. I am not going to freak out and write letters about all of the Masonic temples around town. If it is your land build what you want. I may not love it, but I'll always defend your right to build it.

The moment we start complaining about a building because it just reminds us of an ideology we may not agree with, and actually expect something to be done about it, we have lost what makes America great. That is censorship in its most blatant and oppressive form. In my honest opinion that issue belongs in the category of "mind your own bloody business."

So, rant over. The spire isn't my favorite, I just think it is out of scale with the girth of the building and looks like a skin tag from some angles. I don't think it's horrible though, and I'm certainly not offended that an ex-LDS owned bank has a tiny nod to it's heritage incorporated into its design. I love the building over-all and just wish they would have fixed the off-color precast panel on the main street side.

Love you all, Boise Rocks! and never be afraid to Express Yourself, and always allow others to do the same. This will keep Boise great for generations to come. Cheers!

CaliforniaKid · #**1173** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sawtooth

They are both great looking buildings. Within the group of people I associate with and my group of friends, the people who have an issue with the LDS Church are the only ones who have an issue with the spire.

I think it looks like a pagoda at night while lit up, downtown from street level. I might still have a photo posted in this thread showing it lit up.

Saw.. I don't think it's only the spire but that goofy castle like crown they put of the top as well. Along with the spire it certainly looks moron I mean mormon to be.

GrandTeton · #**1174** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 3:05 AM**

While the spire does look like a steeple rather than a spire, it's the cheap looking pre-cast base and squatty dimensions that I have the biggest problems with.

Don't get me wrong- this building is a great addition to downtown Boise for many reasons. It's infinitely better than what was previously there, and it'll add a whole lot more of activity on 8th street. I like the impact this building will have, but I'm not so crazy about the design and materials used.

GTSBoise · #**1175** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 3:58 AM**

I crawled all the way top the top the other day......

The base was actually quite a bit smaller and the general enlarged it.

All clad in Aluminum panels...

Agreed not very imaginative.

GTSBoise

Welcome2Boise · #**1176** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 5:27 AM**

After looking at several buildings around the world lately, I have this to say about spires. I really like them, they add a dimension other than the basic box. While I'm not in love with this spire, I do believe it is better than not having one, based on the old renders sans spire. The real issue is that, almost 90% of spires around the world end up being disappointing on some level. Which means that the great ones should be appreciated all the more because I think evidence is building that the spire is one of the more difficult elements to pull off to its maximum potential in architecture. When the architect truly pulls it off, it is something to behold; but most times they will fall a little flat and should be used judiciously.

While this one isn't magnificent, I still believe that it is something that the skyline needs in its present extremely bland form.

BoiseAirport · #**1177** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 10:17 PM**

BREAKING NEWS regarding spire.

From Twitter:

@IdahoStatesman: RT @IDS_SvenBerg: Gardner Co. will change 8th and Main spire after complaints it makes the building look like a Mormon building.

BoiseBMW · #**1178** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 10:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoiseAirport

BREAKING NEWS regarding spire.

From Twitter:

@IdahoStatesman: RT @IDS_SvenBerg: Gardner Co. will change 8th and Main spire after complaints it makes the building look like a Mormon building.

Bitch and ye shall receive.

Here is a small article about it.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/business/8th-and-Main-building-developers-to-change-spire-229318181.html

BoiseAirport · #**1179** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 10:47 PM**

New design will include glass on the first two floors and colored lights, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Sawtooth · #**1180** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 11:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoiseAirport

BREAKING NEWS regarding spire.

From Twitter:

@IdahoStatesman: RT @IDS_SvenBerg: Gardner Co. will change 8th and Main spire after complaints it makes the building look like a Mormon building.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoiseAirport

New design will include glass on the first two floors and colored lights, according to the Idaho Statesman.

This is going to be an interesting change, I like the idea of colored lights.

Sounds like those of us who enjoy photographing this building will need to snap a few to post here after the change has taken place.