Downtown Raleigh’s skyline will change dramatically in the next several years with the addition of new towers, particularly in the southern end. Are you excited?
UPDATE 10/08/2008:
First of the Edison updates:
UPDATE 07/20/2007:
He is an updated version of the future Raleigh Skyline rendering. It reflects a more current version of what we might see in 2008 and beyond.
Closer:
The current version of Raleigh (2006):
The future rendering of Raleigh:
A less cartoony look at the rendering:
Discuss!
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Created
on Sunday, October 29th, 2006 in the category Illustrations.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Travis, there is a rendering in the N&O article. Click the photo link and you will see it.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Thank you Jon, I totally missed that the first time.
Very impressive looking, hopefully it wont be changed in a bad way…
June 12th, 2008 at 9:33 am
TC, there is a garden appearing at the top of the parking deck, which was planned anyway. Also, I agree with your statement about different heights of the towers, but don’t let the latest news fool you. This is yet-another revision and we have gone from a 20-story/12-story, to a 34-story/24-story, to a 38-story/24-story, to a 39-story/39-story/29-story/29-story version… This is a HUGE difference from what we originally saw. All towers may end up having different heights and maybe even different designs, although I don’t mind a set of twin towers.
Prior to posting the link to the N&O story, I had composed a much longer – though not my usual – post, with an analysis of this vision that could have shed some light and raise your expectations. Then, I decided to take a break and check out the N&O, just in case there was an update there. Lo and behold, the newspaper presented the newer, bolder reincarnation of this project. So, stay tuned for more on The Edison, and PLEASE try to remain optimistic. Greg is not the dozen-a-dime type of developers who sits on a bar stool and talks about visions he cannot deliver. He is a serious businessman, with solid record and good financing options.
Can this project scale up? You bet it can. Can it scale down? Sure it can, but it is very unlikely. Don’t worry about the 10-year long process… Existing businesses will move from the low-rises into the new space, which tells me that Greg worked hard to coordinate this effort and satisfy everybody. So Cooper’s BBQ will remain in that block, but get moved to a new location. As per the article, the East section will be developed first, followed by the two tallest towers, provided some major tenants will be found – they WILL be found, I can tell you that
One more thing: These towers will be LEED-certified, which means they will be much taller than most towers of similar floor count. If the tops of the taller structures that appear in the rendering are an indicator, the total height could go above 600ft, making the skyline MUCH taller than we could ever imagine, even if it takes another 10 years. I’d rather get a solid project like this over the next 10 years, than see an underutilized parcel at a location prime for major towers. Let me share some excerpts taken from the N&O article, with comments made by Mayor Meeker, the Edison’s architect Neil Gray and Greg Sandreuter, the developer:
“Aside from minor tweaks expected in the planning process, Edison likely will be welcomed by the City Council, which approved a parking deck that shares the Edison site, Mayor Charles Meeker said.”
“It’s supposed to be a signature project, not only for Raleigh, but the Southeastern U.S., and maybe even internationally,” said Neil Gray, a principal at JDavis Architects of Raleigh, Edison’s designer.
“Sandreuter, however, is confident lending won’t be an issue. He expects to start building two years from now, allowing time to get tenants and financing. He has alliances with private equity firms Oaklane Capital in Charlotte and Cherokee Investment Partners of Raleigh, which finance developments. “
June 12th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Well, this should make for a nice new “future rendering” picture soon. I like the concept, and am happy with the potential 600+ foot/feet buildings. I hope the design does not change too much, and that 10 year schedule does not get extended too drastically. I like it.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Ernest, I thought the two tallest structures are on Wilmington and will come first. Maybe not.
Regarding the idea presented of tearing down a 1932 building, partly, at least, because it isn’t old enough to be historic: If we tear down all of our 1932 buildings for that reason, what will future generations, say in 2032, have to appreciate as being historic. Actually, I get the point that perhaps Coopers isn’t exactly a fine example of architecture, but age alone isn’t reason to eliminate a building. It’s kind of a nice thing that England has 1300′s buildings to see, some quite simple in design.
Matt K, I have been in dt Indianapolis and agree fully. The monuments, from Monument Circle and north on Meridian are extremely impressive, as is the view of the capitol with its huge, graceful dome. It is puzzeling that there is nothing even close to this in our capital city.
The idea of tearing down our capitol is terrible. It doesn’t function as the capitol any longer in any event. A sort of cermonial office for the governor is in it, and the old, no-longer-in-use Senate and House chambers are beautifully presernved. An enormous amount of history took place there. Of course, it’s even haunted. It’s much more a musem, and as one web site notes, one of the finest and best preserved examples of Civic Greek Revival architecture in the U.S. In reality, it does function as a monument, such as we’ve just decried the lack of. A “new capitol” exists already, spread amongst the legislative building and many more of the State buildings.
Having said that, it couldn’t be more true that our capitol is a very weak version of what a capitol ought to look like. The ones in Frankfort, Indianapolis, Columbia, St. Paul, Charleston, Springfield, one could go on and on, are much more majestic in size while still being interesting architectural examples. North Carolina was not a wealthy state in 1837-40, and perhaps that’s the best could be done.
Whichever Edison structures come first, the announcment and renderings are greatly welcome. I hope it works.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Copar, the article makes it clear that the developer will begin with the East side – the two condo/hotel towers – mainly because it will be easier to deliver (due to pre-sales and/or hotel space being in demand). For the office towers, there is a need to find major tenants before breaking ground. I am sure the developer will not have a hard time finding 1-2 hotel chains interested to join.
As for the historic fabric, let’s not create a drama… Old doesn’t equal historic. The Cooper’s BBQ place would need such a serious renovation to remain in place, that everything in there would have to be replaced. If we are sincerely concerned about passing something to the future generations, maybe we should focus on creating a livable city, a vibrant downtown and a skyline that will be combined with excellent street-level experience. There are several structures worth saving, and almost all of them are preserved. Maintaining the character of historic neighborhoods is a more worthy cause, and I think we’ve been doing very well in that department. Nothing in the future site of The Edison is worthy of the label “historic”. On the other hand, I am excited about Cooper’s BBQ remaining in that location, although a few doors down. That establishment is more historic than the building that is hosting it, IMHO.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:43 am
The renderings are quite impressive.
I drove down Fayetteville St. today and thought I saw the RBC sign attached to the crane, leading me to believe they’re putting it up today:)
June 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Yes. There was an article in today’s N&O about the RBC sign being installed, although I am sure it is no longer interesting, given the update on The Edison
Something tells me Highwoods Properties may begin banging their head against the wall for not going higher with RBC Plaza 
June 12th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Well, there is nothing wrong with having a few 30 story buildings also to build some bulk in the skyline. If Highwoods really wanted to be the tallest, they could have gone bigger.
June 12th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
i dont know if you guys have seen the renderings for the four edison towers but boooooooooooooy do they look good!!!!!! if built they will make rbc tower look like the marriott hotel!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Looks great, I hope it holds through, ill remain optimistic. Thanks for the update on msa Ernest, what a great announcement for the update!
June 12th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
No problem, Anonymous… Look forward for the real deal. That is, a MUCH better rendering. Yes, I do have the high resolution version and I got permission to publish it, although I will post a much smaller image than the one I have
June 13th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Now, how much of this awesome new Edison will be seen in the “money shot”?
June 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
My guess is, it will be visible from the money shot, but not visible enough to create waves of enthusiasm in the masses. At 574ft, the two tallest towers will be somewhat visible, but their impact will not be better than that of RBC Plaza. At 369ft, the two smaller towers will be almost invisible
The good news is, the views from the Boylan Ave Bridge, Raleigh View Str and the Raleigh Duke Hospital parking deck will be amazing!!! The density of the skyline after this project is complete will be fantastic 
June 13th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
……not to mention, the buildings that are already proposed and will be proposed, and built before these four. Ten years is a long time, anything could happen.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
The ‘money shot’ is not really much of a money shot anymore. The Boylan Ave. Bridge view, the closest point on I-40, and the view from Dorothea Dix all do much better justice to the skyline.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
It’s my guess that maybe the best angle in the future could be from Rock Quarry road somewhere (I have seen a shot posted that Matt has taken from this direction), or perhaps from the east, taking in not only downtown but some of the structures sprouting up in Glenwood South as well. I’m wondering where the best shot might be to work in the Soleil Center in with downtown once that is completed as well.
Is it possible to get a good downtown shot from atop WakeMed somewhere? (coughcoughhintcough)
June 15th, 2008 at 12:48 am
I think the best views of the future will be Dorthea Dix, which by the way will be awesome when it becomes a park, Lake Wheeler road, and views from the northeast and northwest.
June 15th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I am from Jacksonville Florida and I very much love living in the upper east coast of Florida. But if there were 2 other places I’d be happy to live in, it would be Charlotte and Raleigh. I can’t think of too many other cities which are very cosmopolitan and offer many oppurtunities, that don’t feel so overwhelming. I think Raleigh/Durham and Charlotte are probably the 2 greatest metro areas to live in in the USA.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Matt K writes: “I’m wondering where the best shot might be to work in the Soleil Center in with downtown once that is completed…”
Maybe from a Boeing 737. Soleil (which despite having more stories is not as tall as RBC), is situated down in a hole. It will be taller, but not much higher than some of the buildings on surrounding hills. Surely, it won’t be visible in the money shot or any other decent look toward downtown. It sure would have looked good downtown.