26 replies to this topic

[Jeriat]

Consider this a "spin-off" from my skyscraper/high rise concepts.

The new Worthington Renaissance Hotel I made was set on one of the blocks of where the current hotel sits... meaning that it would be replaced. I know the Worthington is unique in its style, but it also takes up THREE blocks, two of which could be very useful and add on to Sundance Square. 

 

 

After making the model for the new hotel, I thought of some things fill in the other two blocks. And after that, I got the idea to fill in one large block (next to the Texas de Brazil) and the lot where the old Joe Diaches is located. And this is what I came up with:

 

 

This complex would be centered around the new hotel, but still a major part of Sundance Square... well, except maybe the parking garage. Here is the basic rundown of all the buildings. 

 

 - 34 story new Worthington Renaissance Hotel and 8 level garage across the street (Weatherford)

 - 4 story Saks Fifth Avenue

 - A building on a block bounded by 1st, 2nd, Throckmorton and Houston, similar to Sundance West that is half residential, half office.

 - A redeveloped Joe Diaches building with the first floor used for restaurant space and the next 2 used for office space, connected with the new 3 story building on the same block.

 

I think this would be very beneficial in a few ways. It opens up that part of Houston Street, brings back a department store in downtown (there was one on one of these blocks, I believe), and gives more options for food places. 

 

Sundance Square view

 

The "Brian Luenser" view

 

The "Throck & Houston corridor". 

 

 

 

I will design the other models in this complex sometime later..,,,

[Jeriat]

The Garage

 

Designed in the same way as the hotel, it sits on the block that Texas de Brazil occupies. Here's the connection bridge that crosses Weatherford. 

 

 

Facing Belknap. (Can you spot the pattern in the design? Not really as random as you would think.)

 

 

This garage would be for the hotel ONLY. 

 

[Jeriat]

Saks Fifth Avenue - Sundance Square

 

Paying homage to the old Tandy department store just a block over (the west side of the Worthington), I would bring back a department store to this area, with a flagship Saks Fifth Avenue.

 

 

Occupying the block of 1st, 2nd, Houston, and Main, the design of the store would have a warehouse look to it, with touches of modern architecture to go along with it. Paved with brick and white stone and heavy on the arches, the building's facade would have a very industrial theme, even adding rusted metal, a.k.a. "weathered metal", to enforce the image. Of course, this also goes back to when these two blocks were taken up by early 20th century buildings. 

 

 

 

The Main Street facade would feature the Six Flags of Texas, including a 7th being the city flag, setbacks, and large signage as a welcome.

 

[urbancowboy]

I'm loving it.  If we could get just a couple of your concepts downtown it would completely change everything.

[Austin55]

I can't find anything in that Belknap facade. Help? 

Looks good.

[ron4Life]

Once again my forum friend, nice work and vision

[Jeriat]

Thank you all. 

I know it's just a few threads of suggestions and all, but I don't feel I'm doin' this for nothing...

 

(Oh, and Austin, from left to right, count the number of blue squares)

[Jeriat]

1st & Main

 

This is the 3 story building that would take up the block between Main and Houston, on W. 1st.

 

 

 

It would house Texas de Brazil and Mimi's Cafe. It would give that block some new life. The building itself is supposed to be a mix of modern and international (50's-70's)

 

 

The back side of it wouldn't feature too much on the facade since it's next to the Regions Bank and Joe Daiches. However, since the first floors of this building would be strictly restaurant, the space could be used for patio dining. 

 

 

I did want a small cut-in on the top floor, just to add some openness to to the top of it, along with the funky, modern facade on 1st Street.

 

 

 

[Jeriat]

The Worth Building

 

Part of the remaining space that the Worthington currently occupies, "The Worth", a 17 story office building, would take the northern half of that block.

 

 

It would be a cross of modern (the steel arches, metal accents, and muli-blue striped windows) and classical architecture. 

 

 

The "old school slab" look would face 1st Street to sort of complement the more modern designed hotel across the street. 

 

 

 

And here's a shot looking up from the corner. 

 

[Jeriat]

The Chicagoan 

 

The southern half of the block will be all residential, and the tallest one will be The Chicagoan. 

 

 

The name comes from the school of architecture it is designed after. 

 

 

One other reason for it being a brick building is to add on to Sundance Square's line of brick-clad buildings.

 

 

The Chicagoan would be the luxury apartment building on the residential side, with Chicago-themed imagery inside and out of the building. Also featuring ground-level retail space. 

 

[Jeriat]

And finally, the last three buildings on this block. 

 

The Blob

 

This multi-green shaded structure is a free-form ("blobitecture") building designed for live/work spaces. The inspiration came from Frank Gehry's designs, and obviously this would be the most unique building in Fort Worth by far. 

 

 

The International 

 

A multi-blue shaded building with a very transparent glass cover, the design was inspired by the very basic international architectural style that we've all grown up seeing... with touches of modern elements. This building would house loft space. 

 

 

 

Das Bauhaus Fort Worth

 

A German-themed building built in the Bauhaus style, would take up the last spot on the block for studio apartment space. The existing Little Germany restaurant would occupy the first level.

 

 

[ron4Life]

Dude talk to Brian about setting up a meeting with Sundance Square Prez Johnny Campbell or whoever is over that section of town.. just sayin

[Jeriat]

Dude talk to Brian about setting up a meeting with Sundance Square Prez Johnny Campbell or whoever is over that section of town.. just sayin

 

Luenser? 

I would love to speak to someone and present these ideas. I know it would be a mountain to climb just for one of these to happen, but I would love to at least get it on someone's big board. 

[John T Roberts]

Keep at it and someone will notice.

[Jeriat]

Haven't done one of these in a while . . . 



Unfortunately, I still don't have the software to really do what I want to do, but I had to throw this sketch in just to have it documented somewhere in case I forget. It's been in my mind for months, now. This sketch model just gives you a basic idea.

This is basically my idea to "chop off" the 1st,2nd, Main & Houston block of the Worthington Renaissance and building over it... those two decks are supposed to be recreational (basketball/tennis) on the bottom and pool on top.  

As far as the rest of that complex goes, I'd get rid of the western superblock portion of it and add a garage to the block directly north of this site.

[Stadtplan]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jeriat]

The more I see this place, the more I just want to get rid of it altogether and start over. 

[John T Roberts]

Jeriat, the interesting thing is that the owners have taken several attempts to warm up and improve the interior.  When it first opened, I thought I was inside a hospital.  It was extremely minimalist and sterile.  I realize you are mostly talking about the exterior, but in 1981, the interior more or less matched the exterior.

[roverone]

I can't find any pictures, but the original Americana Hotel was very cold looking on the interior, with mostly concrete, glass, and metal everywhere.

[John T Roberts]

Roverone, I also just looked for photographs of the interior, and I could not find any.  I probably have some old slides that I took around the time of the opening, but I will have to find them and scan them before I can post them on the forum.

 

Nitixope's photos do catch some glimpses of the original interior on the upper levels of the lobby.  If you can see how those upper levels look, imagine carrying that decor all the way down to the finish floor of the lobby.  As I said in my previous post, the interior was very cold and sterile.

[george84]

I like those interior photos, definitely better than I would expect based on the exterior.

[Austin55]

Yes I have to say, I have enjoyed being in the Worthington recently. The lobby is a very nice space, warm and inviting. It also helps that by being inside, you can't see the outside

[Stadtplan]

Yes I have to say, I have enjoyed being in the Worthington recently. The lobby is a very nice space, warm and inviting. It also helps that by being inside, you can't see the outside

 

What you couldn't see in the photos was there was a DJ standing at the entry to Toro Toro playing fairly loud music.  I recall it had a lot of bass in it, more so than what you'd expect for a hotel lobby but the feel and tone was drawing your attention over to that area.  I'm not sure if that is normal but I do recall a very distant acquaintance often playing with his jazz ensemble upstairs in the bar on a regular basis with full volume sax, drums and keys.  That was 15+ years ago. Is louder music pretty much the norm for The Worthington's lobby?  What are you thoughts on this?  Is it enjoyable or is it imposing?  Does it affect the guest experience in a positive or negative way?

[John T Roberts]

Since I couldn't find any photographs of the lobby on how it looked when it opened, I did find the opening dates of the hotel. It opened as an Americana Hotel.  It's soft opening was on April 2, 1981 and they received guests on that date.  The official opening was on April 15th.  These dates were provided by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Archives.

[Jeriat]

Jeriat, the interesting thing is that the owners have taken several attempts to warm up and improve the interior.  When it first opened, I thought I was inside a hospital.  It was extremely minimalist and sterile.  I realize you are mostly talking about the exterior, but in 1981, the interior more or less matched the exterior.

What they do with the interior is fine.

But they seem to not even be bothered with the exterior and that's pretty disappointing. I know there's only so much you can do with that era of architecture, but if it just has to exist, at least paint over some walls or create something interactive.

[John T Roberts]

I did think you were talking about the exterior, but I also wanted to clarify that the Marriott people did make several efforts to make the interior more inviting.

 

As for the exterior, I agree with you in that is is one of the worst exteriors on any building in Downtown.  It is very hostile to the pedestrian and something should be done to liven up its relationship to the sidewalk.  I would think painting portions of the base on the backside of the building different colors would help.  Maybe a few murals? 

[RD Milhollin]

Since I couldn't find any photographs of the lobby on how it looked when it opened, I did find the opening dates of the hotel. It opened as an Americana Hotel.  It's soft opening was on April 2, 1981 and they received guests on that date.  The official opening was on April 15th.  These dates were provided by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Archives.

It would be cool if someone could come up with photos of the interior of the original main dining room/restaurant, Reflections. I never ate there but toured the space and it was, in my opinion faded from time, amazing, I've never seen anything similarly impressive in Fort Worth.