Powerhouse Plaza Approved by Council

Powerhouse Plaza came to the public’s attention this past fall. Architect Gary Cline had teamed up with Cross Williams Jr., a longtime developer, to present the city with a hotel concept that was appropriate in scale and dramatic in presentation. Powerhouse brings something special for citizens though - a sprawling Rooftop Bar and Restaurant. Yesterday the city council approved the plans for powerhouse.

Looking at the plans you can see the sprawling rooftop leisure area. Glenwood South will be dotted with rooftop destinations like the forthcoming Solas club, beside Helios, and the pool that will sit on top of West. An elevated view of the downtown will be a perk that older venues can’t compete with.

Mr. Cline’s Architecture firm currently sits adjacent to the lot where Powerhouse will be located. Cline’s offices are no small part of the new building, occupying 2 floors of office space. The hotel portion will be a Hyatt Place hotel. It seems a fitting location for lodging. The bus station and the future train corridor are both proximal. Glenwood could use a hotel, the area has the strongest night life in the city; visitors, and precoital-bar-dates, are going to insure the projects success, even in the waning condo market.

The Powerhouse Plaza will be:

LEED Certified
10 stories
Bottom Floor Retail
5 floors office
6-10 floors hotel
Bar and Restaurant
134 rooms
207k sf

click image to enlarge

Cydney06/19 11:57 AM

“precoital-bar-dates”? Maybe Glenwood South needs an Adam & Eve. The Stitch space is still open, right?

brian_M06/19 12:41 PM

“precoital-bar-dates”...oh no you didn’t!

the truth06/19 07:59 PM

my prediction: closed <24 months after it opens.

that name alone is writing checks that its body can’t cash!

oh yeah, i went there!

Cydney06/19 08:29 PM

Wha? “the truth” really needs to be more specific with *the details.*

I am curious about the rendering, since it seems devoid of much materiality… is this current?

Jay06/19 09:11 PM

I’m going to second Cydney’s concern. Are there any other renderings floating around?

the truth06/20 09:40 AM

all i meant was that the name “powerhouse plaza” seems to imply that something pretty badass is happening in there…and it’s really not.

i am just cautious to fall in love with anything downtown anymore. anything with personality seems to close within just a few years unless it is financially backed by billions of dollars.

just my old crotchety ramblin’, young fellas. but what would i know? you kids with your facebooks and your mp3 wazahoos know more than my old backside…but ill have to leave here soon too and you can replace me with a loft and another sushi restaurant.

Cydney06/20 10:54 AM

The name comes from the fact that it is diagonal from the actual powerhouse. A little more interesting than some of the others going up and not as marketing specific as “Hue”. I don’t get that one.

I think there is lots of personality downtown, and things are in constant flux because that’s the way it is. I hate to see good things go away as much as anyone. I can only hope for more than just restaurants that change names every 8 months. American Apparel!

the truth06/20 08:13 PM

thanks, cydney.

i understand the name now. i didnt even make the connection to the actual powerhouse. thanks for the information. (i still wish it was powerhouse as in “badass” though!)

youre right about downtown. i have always loved it, but i feel like it’s a teenager now…and those are always the most annoying years…trying to figure itself out and develop an identity while trying and failing and trying and failing…you know how it goes, im sure.

David06/21 11:05 AM

Damn Cydney, you actually got truth to say something with compassion. And here we thought he was just out to disagree all the time. Like we really want more loft condos- heh.

Magnus06/22 09:12 PM

No mention of parking?

This is often the most poorly considered and implemented aspect of ambitious urban projects like this.

Cydney06/23 10:59 AM

You mean like on the plan above that says “Parking Deck (5 Upper Levels)?

Rusty06/23 11:41 AM

I think the lighting scheme on the final design is what will really make the building work. I don’t know how it will impact their LEED certification, but hopefully they can do something really cool without being a powerhog.

Christopher Triplett06/23 01:13 PM

I think a day time view would be more appropriate for a general assesment of the building. No matter how occupied, it will never be this bright at night (and would we want it to be anyway?).

I’m surprised that local architects aren’t integrating more traditional details in our new buildings.

It looks RTP-ish.

-CJT

http://ginkotron.com

Cydney06/23 01:49 PM

Can you clarify what you mean by ‘traditional details’?

Christopher Triplett06/23 02:40 PM

Pedimented columns, corbels, psuedo-buttresses (e.g. The Wake County Court House), natural stone, mouldings, friezes, emblatures, architraves, carvings, sculptures, large scale brick/stone patterns, fountains, et al.

I do not mean design an urban structure and throw on decoration, rather, integrate some elements which are inspired (even if mildly) by more traditional architectural ornamentation.

In doing this, one goal should be avoidance of pure mimicry (Mimicry that disrespects historic structures.)

Complimenting our existing history

-CJT

Rusty06/23 03:12 PM

I think this building is very much in keeping with the direction that Mr. Cline’s firm has taken in the past. Not to put words into their mouths, but I think their tendency is toward being respectful in terms of proportion and massing, rather than re-imagining historic details.

I’d like to see a few street level renderings, I think the human-scale interactions with this building will become supremely important. This rendered view doesn’t give us much of a peek, but I’m hoping for some interesting solid-void spaces at the grade.

Matthew Brown06/27 05:03 PM

It looks great except for that slanty top. What a weird fad that is!

Jackie K07/03 06:10 PM

To the “Truth”

If you knew anything about Raleigh you would know it was called “ PowerHouse Plaza” Because that is the name of this neighborhood and it is owend or was once owned by Progress Energy. The area of electrical transformers and powerlines caged in across from Napper Tandys is called the Power House…. Dont be so closed minded Mr. Truth…

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David Wednesday, June 18, 2008