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SBC/AT&T Building

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#51 JBB

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Posted 25 October 2017 - 04:23 PM

It's definitely no thing of beauty, but I appreciate the building's place in downtown. Like the Purina plant and grain elevators, it adds to the rugged diversity of downtown and serves as a reminder that the area was, even more in the past than now, a center of commerce in the city.

#52 John T Roberts

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Posted 27 November 2017 - 05:08 PM

If you ever wondered of how the building originally appeared, I found a photo from the UTA Library Special Collections taken in 1949.  It shows the 1920's building expanded from 3 to 6 stories, and the 1949 building completed at 4 stories.  The oldest building on the north end of the block was demolished to build the 17 story section in 1971.  The other two were still expanded vertically and re-facaded.  If you look at the upper 3 floors of the 1949 building, you can see that the design was used to unify the entire complex.

 

544200e765c7910da10c1f6ab5a17cff.jpg



#53 Fort Worthology

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Posted 28 November 2017 - 10:11 AM

That was a really lovely set of buildings back then.


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#54 BlueMound

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Posted 15 September 2020 - 09:59 PM

Idea to facade over the AT&T building
https://www.dezeen.c...kenwell-office/
clad the 1970s office block's facade with a perforated brass structure that takes it shape from a group of eight Victorian and Edwardian-era shops
2-BFE28-CA-288-C-4245-9-ACE-147201265-AA

#55 Doohickie

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Posted 15 September 2020 - 10:25 PM

I don't have a problem with the AT&T building.  it's a utilitarian building and it does what it's designed to do.


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#56 eastfwther

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Posted 16 September 2020 - 06:38 AM

I don't have a problem with the AT&T building.  it's a utilitarian building and it does what it's designed to do.

True, the problem is it's just so ugly.  It's ugliness would not be much of a problem in a downtown with lots of large buildings that would lessen its impact.  Since DTFW doesn't have many tall buildings, this building sticks out like a sore thumb.  I wouldn't mind a face lift to this building. 



#57 John T Roberts

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Posted 16 September 2020 - 07:56 AM

To give you some idea about it standing out, the AT&T Building is the 10th Tallest in the city.  However, giving it a facelift would be an expensive task, considering the building is utilitarian in nature.  The face brick that is on the facade is a permanent, long lasting material.



#58 rriojas71

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Posted 16 September 2020 - 12:22 PM

I would love to give it a face lift...  lifting it off the face of the earth



#59 JBB

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Posted 16 September 2020 - 02:01 PM

It's definitely no thing of beauty, but I appreciate the building's place in downtown. Like the Purina plant and grain elevators, it adds to the rugged diversity of downtown and serves as a reminder that the area was, even more in the past than now, a center of commerce in the city.

 

Somebody recently liked this post from nearly 3 years ago and it still applies, but I'll add that I agree with eastfwther's thoughts: I would like it a little more if it weren't such a prominent figure in the skyline.



#60 Austin55

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Posted 16 September 2020 - 02:15 PM

901 Commerce might slighty obscure it when viewed from the Northeast on 35 generally. The East view will be exposed forever with the Convention Center across the street, similar story to the West with St. Patricks and City Hall. 



#61 Doohickie

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Posted 16 September 2020 - 04:34 PM

 

I don't have a problem with the AT&T building.  it's a utilitarian building and it does what it's designed to do.

True, the problem is it's just so ugly.  It's ugliness would not be much of a problem in a downtown with lots of large buildings that would lessen its impact.  Since DTFW doesn't have many tall buildings, this building sticks out like a sore thumb.  I wouldn't mind a face lift to this building. 

 

I don't even think it's that ugly.


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#62 BlueMound

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Posted 16 September 2020 - 09:23 PM

How about cladding the facade in glass blocks ?
Renzo Pianos Hermes store in Tokyo/Ginza district
C62-B5-D5-A-1-C45-49-AA-B893-EC938-D9101

#63 Jeriat

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Posted 17 September 2020 - 09:15 AM

 

 

I don't have a problem with the AT&T building.  it's a utilitarian building and it does what it's designed to do.

True, the problem is it's just so ugly.  It's ugliness would not be much of a problem in a downtown with lots of large buildings that would lessen its impact.  Since DTFW doesn't have many tall buildings, this building sticks out like a sore thumb.  I wouldn't mind a face lift to this building. 

 

I don't even think it's that ugly.

 

 

That's fine, but many of us do.

If there's no reclading, at least make the solid brick wall section an art piece. 


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8643298391_d47584a085_b.jpg


#64 Nitixope

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Posted 15 August 2021 - 08:14 PM

I noticed this one lone window open on the AT&T Building...

 

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Oddly enough, it's a huge fan blowing against some blinds?

 

b8PJSHk.png

 

Any thoughts on what this black structure is on top of the building.  It doesn't look like an RTU or Cooling Tower.  My guess is some kind of microwave communications technology / antenna or some type of 5G super-scrambler.

 

qIcrSPP.jpg



#65 Austin55

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Posted 15 August 2021 - 08:34 PM

That window has been open since at least 2007.



#66 John T Roberts

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Posted 15 August 2021 - 08:53 PM

Since 2018, AT&T has been doing upgrades on their HVAC system in the building.  It was also in that year that the tower on the top of the building was removed.  After it was dismantled, the roof screens around the rooftop equipment were removed.  Since then, new equipment has been placed on the north side of the building, and one sits where the tower once stood.  After that equipment was installed, the older equipment on the south side of the roof, near the elevator penthouse was removed.  This is a new screen placed tightly close to the new HVAC equipment.  The footprint of this new equipment is much smaller than the old one.  I'm posting two screen shots.  The first is the 3D view from Google Maps taken when both sets of equipment were on the roof and there were remnants of the original roof screen.  The second is a 2021 Aerial from the City of Fort Worth's website.

 

Before:

Screenshot%20ATT%20Before.jpg

After:

Screenshot%20ATT%20After.jpg



#67 RD Milhollin

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Posted 15 August 2021 - 10:13 PM

It's ugly...



#68 Doohickie

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Posted 16 August 2021 - 08:09 AM

It's utilitarian.  It's the switching closet for the whole downtown area.

 

I think it's interesting that they have buildings all over the city.


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#69 Bill Sievers

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Posted 16 August 2021 - 11:14 AM

I think it would be interesting to see what's inside the building.  Could also contain intercept equipment for the NSA.



#70 Bill Sievers

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Posted 16 August 2021 - 11:28 AM

One of the other utilitarian-looking AT&T buildings is on the northwest corner of Pershing Ave. and Hervie St.  There doesn't appear to be a sign anywhere indicating it's an AT&T building though, which I'm pretty certain it still is.



#71 Nitixope

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Posted 16 August 2021 - 11:44 AM

These central offices and junctions were tall for a reason.  Did they remove the microwave equipment from the rooftop at some point?  Here's a little more detail on the microwave paths in our region:

 

http://www.thecentra.../Dalltandem.htm



#72 Bill Sievers

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Posted 16 August 2021 - 12:36 PM

I think most of the microwave systems around the country have been removed and replaced with fiber-optic cables.  We had a large microwave facility with a very tall tower on a large hill up here near Boston where I live.  It appears all of the microwave equipment has been taken out of service with just a single fiber-optic line running up to the facility now (not sure how this facility "plays" into the phone system now, assuming it even does).

 

Also of note, that about 20-years ago, the median strip on I-95 had a trench dug all along its length, and large fiber-optic cable bundles were buried with their ends sticking out of the ground.  A few weeks later, all those cable ends were spliced together and the whole splice bundle was buried out of site.  Looking at the median now, one would never know those cables were buried there.

 

Microwave interconnectivity for the nation's voice, video, and data requirements have gone the way of the horse and buggy for the most part.  I seem to remember that the RBOC's have a few microwave links in certain areas where fiber has yet to be installed due to economic reasons based on traffic volume.



#73 Doohickie

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Posted 17 August 2021 - 07:32 AM

Could also contain intercept equipment for the NSA.

Or it could be Santa's Workshop.  Just as likely.


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#74 Doohickie

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Posted 17 August 2021 - 07:33 AM

One of the other utilitarian-looking AT&T buildings is on the northwest corner of Pershing Ave. and Hervie St.  There doesn't appear to be a sign anywhere indicating it's an AT&T building though, which I'm pretty certain it still is.

 

Yes, the third linked building from this post just before yours:

 

It's utilitarian.  It's the switching closet for the whole downtown area.

 

I think it's interesting that they have buildings all over the city.

 

And I'm pretty sure you're right; these are all AT&T buildings.  I've seen AT&T trucks parked at all these buildings during off hours.


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#75 John T Roberts

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Posted 17 August 2021 - 08:35 AM

Several of these AT&T Buildings have listings on the main site.  These were all Southwestern Bell Exchange Buildings.  The one on Willing Ave., near me, was formerly known as the Walnut Exchange.  When I was a kid, had a landline and 7 digit calling, my number started with WA, which was short for "Walnut".  After they dumped the letters, my first two numbers were 92.  When 10 digit dialing was started, my number began with the area code, 817, then the 92X-XXXX.



#76 Bill Sievers

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Posted 17 August 2021 - 11:42 AM

That's right John!  I remember when all the exchanges were identified with a name: Walnut, Edison, Pershing, Jefferson, Circle, etc.  When I lived oin FTW back in the '60's, I had a friend who refused to call the exchange by its first 2 letters, such as WA. . . for Walnut.  He would always refer to it as 92. . . !  Remember AXminster (29. . .) for Wedgewood?

 

Probably the most memorable exchange name/number in FTW back in the '50's was JEfferson 4-1773 (B&B Blind and Drapery)!  Now that jingle will be stuck in everyone's mind who remembers that commercial for the rest of the day! 



#77 Austin55

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Posted 28 February 2023 - 08:10 PM

The ground floor windows of the building appear to be getting cinder-blocked in. I'm guessing this is a two-fold reason for AT&T: 1. it keeps light out of the building (the ground floor windows were covered anyway) and 2. it will keep homeless from sleeping on the ledges. 

 

oIKIdJe.jpg



#78 John T Roberts

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Posted 28 February 2023 - 09:46 PM

They are just directly infilling the openings.  There is one thing to note.  The infill is being reinforced with steel rebar and the cells of the concrete block are going to be filled with concrete.  This new wall will protect the openings.  I also suspect that the finish material will be granite panels that either match or contrast with the existing.  I would imagine that keeping the homeless from sleeping on the ledges is the primary reason for this action. 

 

Architectural lesson:  The actual name of the block is a "concrete masonry unit".  It's often abbreviated C.M.U.  It has other names, one of which is concrete block and another is cinder block. 

 

Historical lesson:  This masonry infill is being placed on the oldest structure within the AT&T Complex.  It was built as a 3 story building in 1926 and was designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick.  That one building has been expanded vertically twice by adding 3 more floors in 1929 and the final 2 floors in 1965.  Also, the 1920's facade was altered to have the building appear more like the 1950s design of the other structures.

 

Thank you for the post, Austin.



#79 Crestline

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Posted 01 March 2023 - 07:58 AM

Without expressing an opinion one way or another about where the homeless sleep: huh, wow, seems to me like financial and structural overkill by AT&T to completely wall off these openings to prevent the homeless from sleeping there. 



#80 John T Roberts

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Posted 01 March 2023 - 08:40 AM

I could be wrong on the homeless issue, but every time I have walked by the building, there was at least one person sleeping inside the alcove created by the windows being set back from the face.  As Austin said, this will also totally block out any light coming through those windows, even though they are already covered on the inside. 



#81 Nitixope

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Posted 01 March 2023 - 09:17 AM

I wonder how a decorative metal screen would have looked instead?

 

6.5+ft.+H+x+4+ft.+W+Laser+Cut+Metal+Priv



#82 Crestline

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 07:16 AM

Or studs (more hostile), potted plants (more labor-intensive), etc. Wikipedia has a page on hostile architecture with varying approaches.  



#83 Austin55

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Posted 04 April 2023 - 08:18 AM

Work on the window fillings had come to a sudden halt a few weeks back. Guessing this is why. Upcoming DDRB case,

 

DG23 – 008  1116 Houston Street (H) Downtown Urban District overlay
Council District: 9
Owner / Applicant: AT&T / James Anderson, The Beck Group.

Requests a Certificate of Appropriateness for the following: 1) exterior building improvements, consisting of blast resistant film on glazing and landscaping improvements consisting of replacing vegetation in planters with tree grates and decorative stone; and 2) a waiver from the façade standards to allow the closing of existing openings at ground level of the façades facing Throckmorton Street and W 11th Street with stone veneer instead of the requirement that the ground floor buildings include architectural relief at least every 30 feet.

https://www.fortwort...view-board-2023



#84 John T Roberts

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Posted 04 April 2023 - 08:47 AM

Austin, your guess is correct.  In addition to this, a building permit was not filed.  That will stop a project dead it its tracks. In addition to this, I have a copy of the staff report and they recommend denial of this case.



#85 Nitixope

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Posted 04 April 2023 - 09:40 AM

So it ties back to what happened in Nashville?

https://www.usatoday...eel/4070797001/



#86 Crestline

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Posted 05 April 2023 - 08:36 AM

It makes a lot more sense to me that they'd wall off these windows for infrastructure hardening rather than for homeless camping prevention!



#87 John T Roberts

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Posted 01 June 2023 - 07:01 AM

After being continued, the AT&T Building case is coming back before the DDRB.  Also, after hearing the comments, the architects are now proposing to remove the C.M.U. that was put over the windows on the 11th and Throckmorton facades.  Instead, the windows will remain and have a blast resistant film placed over them.  The case will be heard today.



#88 Nitixope

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Posted 04 June 2023 - 10:46 AM

After being continued, the AT&T Building case is coming back before the DDRB.  Also, after hearing the comments, the architects are now proposing to remove the C.M.U. that was put over the windows on the 11th and Throckmorton facades.  Instead, the windows will remain and have a blast resistant film placed over them.  The case will be heard today.

 

Record DG-2023-010: 
Downtown Design Review Board
Record Status: Pending
 
Project Description:
AT&T Edison Exterior Improvements
General Improvements of the exterior of the building
Removal of the CMU Block at the windows on the south and west sides of the building.


#89 Nitixope

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Posted 03 July 2023 - 08:16 PM

Record PV23-00205: 
Commercial Razing Permit
Record Status: Pending
 
Permit Address
1116 HOUSTON ST
 
Project Description:
AT&T
Demolition of CMU bricks per the direction of the City of Fort Worth. Non Structural.






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