CityCenter SkyWalkways Up
18 12 2012With the major construction underway at the massive City Center site for over a year now, we are finally starting to see the finishing exterior facades go up and just this week they started hanging all the sky bridges between all six buildings of the 1.3 million sq. ft. development. Buildings are all still on track for a 2013 opening.
Buildings are all still on track for a 2013 opening.
[Photos: DCMetrocentric]
Sky bridges are unnecessary in an urban development – people should be out on the sidewalks. Look at Techworld – they fought for for a connection over 8th Street, which interrupted the visual vista, and was not neccessary. I always remmber WPost Architecture critic Benjamin Forgey’s comment about that project – [Techworld] “…is a crass idea in glass.”
I agree with GW alum in principle and say that either sky bridges or tunnels are not ideal because they detract from street traffic. But some clients just have a need for more contiguous (and secure) office space than a 12-story tower would otherwise be able to provide (as I think is the case with the federal offices at Techworld). That said, if all the retail does go in as planned at CityCenter, I don’t think a skybridge between office buildings will detract too much from the planned pedestrian area.
Apples and Oranges
City Center sky bridges are on private property and allow for a very large organization (law firm) to more effectively operate in two buildings. They are also three small, elegantly designed, single level, crossings that are about as invisible as can be built.
Tech World is an inexcusable monstrous occupation of what was and should still be public space- Eighth Street. The bridge part of the project was “sold” by the Barry Administration on the laughably ridiculous contention that single level exhibit floors were needed by technology companies (really, look it up). It has been used only as office space.
It will be a great day when the bridge (and the rest of this cheap, ugly building) is removed, Eighth Street returned to the public and its dignity restored. Once the FBI building is gone, Techworld should be next on the list of mistakes that need to be erased.
The City Center project is built on what was the convention center site. As a part of the overall site plan, the formerly closed Tenth Street and Eye Street will be reopened to the public. So there is hope that the past mistakes can be corrected.
Still not sure about CityCenter. Afraid it’s going to be boring, both in terms or architecture and retail. Hope I’m wrong.
Yes, but if they re-open 10th and Eye streets for public use, doesn’t that make the very same argument you’re making against the 8th street skywalk? Are there no CityCenter skywalks over those proposed pedestrian walks?
I am just praying it becomes more visually stunning than these pictures and the actual construction suggests. Another boring, shapeless glass building in DC, as if there aren’t plenty of those within a 3 block radius of that area. There is worse architecture in DC for sure, but this isn’t much of a gem itself.