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Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: May 10th, 2016, 7:15 am
by Archiapolis
The only reason I even mentioned ESG is because of the meeting last week for 800 Washington. They mentioned using stucco for the large white portion and that their designer likes using the material. I'd be okay with seeing a design regulation that can be enacted if someone tries using stucco for more than 25%(?) of their exterior. Obviously exceptions can be made, but it can finally be the cities excuse to strike down ugly design.
Go ahead and mention ESG all day! Go ahead and call out things that you don't like all day as well. That's what this site is for (kind of). I just wanted to give a bit of background on why we are seeing so much stucco. A percentage limitation is a good tool for the city to control these "cheaper" materials. Cheers.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: May 25th, 2016, 10:49 pm
by nBode
Saw this in person the other day, can confirm: is utter garbage.

Seriously, this has got to be the worst-clad building ever constructed in Minneapolis. I can't believe any architect approved this.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: May 25th, 2016, 11:19 pm
by matthew5080
Every time I go by I hope that it will look less ugly, and every time I'm let down.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: May 26th, 2016, 6:32 am
by Nathan
They've updated the rendering for the Portland ac Marriott... great dark brick going up the building, retro metal paneling between the windows, cool green accents running up the building. Great materials, massive windows on the street... anyone still want to argue that ours is the better one?

http://www.nextportland.com/wp-content/ ... ive_01.jpg

I still want to know why we are getting more cheaply finished things when our companion cities are not.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: May 26th, 2016, 6:45 am
by minntransplant
Saw this in person the other day, can confirm: is utter garbage.

Seriously, this has got to be the worst-clad building ever constructed in Minneapolis. I can't believe any architect approved this.
It's about time we got something worse than Center Village

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: May 26th, 2016, 6:47 am
by MattW
They've updated the rendering for the Portland ac Marriott... great dark brick going up the building, retro metal paneling between the windows, cool green accents running up the building. Great materials, massive windows on the street... anyone still want to argue that ours is the better one?

http://www.nextportland.com/wp-content/ ... ive_01.jpg

I still want to know why we are getting more cheaply finished things when our companion cities are not.

I have nothing to substantiate this, but each hotel likely has different owners and architects.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: May 26th, 2016, 6:58 am
by Nathan
Well duh. My question is a little deeper, do the developers there value better architecture, are willing to pay more for materials? Are ours chronically cheap for a reason? Do the cities have different regulations on material usage? Do people go to their meetings to complain about materials rather than height?

I don't think for one second these projects would be too expensive for the developers if the demand is there and they were required use brick or stone. It's just more people at the top scraping off extra money at the expense of our cityscape.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: May 26th, 2016, 8:42 am
by Archiapolis
As I've said on a million different threads: developers have a huge impact. City guidelines on materials represent the "minimum" that developers wishing to maximize profit will target. Finding developers willing to sacrifice profit for the sake of architecture appears to be a tall task. When you are talking about +/- $8/sf material cost for cement fiberboard and/or stucco vs +/- $20/sf for brick...

'Twould be easier to alter municipal material guidelines. If/when that happens, developers will surely decry the city as being "anti-business"...

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: August 29th, 2016, 1:35 pm
by amiller92
Somewhere there was a question as to whether this is skyway connected. As someone mentioned, it connects to the Lumber Exchange via the parking garage. They appear to be building an enclosed walkway inside the garage to connect them.

There are stairs between the garage and Lumber Exchange, though, so not exactly accessible unless there are more changes in the works.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 1st, 2016, 9:53 am
by mister.shoes
There's AC Hotels signage on the little "tower" now. Must be getting quite close to completion.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 1st, 2016, 1:23 pm
by seanrichardryan
The difference between this side of the street and the other is now quite jarring.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 1st, 2016, 1:31 pm
by MattW
The difference between this side of the street and the other is now quite jarring.

My thoughts too... The 90's is an icon, but I wish the building was in better shape.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 1st, 2016, 1:41 pm
by mnmike
It is just awful...the owners couldn't care less, and it is more run down by the week.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 1st, 2016, 2:44 pm
by bapster2006
And the 90's was run down when I was a kid. Yikes

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 1st, 2016, 6:13 pm
by SkyScraperKid
The difference between this side of the street and the other is now quite jarring.

My thoughts too... The 90's is an icon, but I wish the building was in better shape.

The owner had tried to get the city to approve a remodel, but the city denied the request If I'm not mistaken?

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 1st, 2016, 6:50 pm
by seanrichardryan
It was a bizarre remodel plan. It doesn't prevent the from painting the trim and washing the windows.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 1st, 2016, 8:48 pm
by karlshea
What's so strange is that they continue making improvements on the inside. The "EDM" dance floor has a ton of new lights and a new bar, the video bar is relatively new, and the "back room" through the men's bathroom is now open to all and also has a new bar and some touch-ups.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 3rd, 2016, 12:12 pm
by mullen
the hennepin side of this building is just bad... does the planning commission just not care about pressing developers on materials anymore? the facade looks like black cardboard.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 3rd, 2016, 12:15 pm
by mullen
AC hotel i mean... the gay 90's ownership doesn't care about their exterior because the city doesn't press them on it.

but both of these buildings are shabby bookends on hennepin ave.

Re: AC Marriott Hotel (401 Hennepin Ave / Andrews Hotel site)

Posted: September 3rd, 2016, 1:27 pm
by grant1simons2
the hennepin side of this building is just bad... does the planning commission just not care about pressing developers on materials anymore? the facade looks like black cardboard.
Planning commission does not control material changes. That would have been something that would have to be pushed or suggested in CoW, and it was. But there's no legal backing behind that. Idk how many times we have to say that.