Congratulations, Matt!!! Glad to see your work featured in the N&O… and may I add: without being stolen from you

To all,

First of all great site! It is exciting to find out that there are others that share my passion for all that is happening downtown. It is great to see the transformation unfolding day by day and project by project. Vibrant and functioning downtowns with impressive architecture are a reflection of the residents of the city. Chicago is an architectural wonderland and was termed by Sandburg as the ‘City of Broad Shoulders’. It is. Raleigh’s Golden Age is coming, will we have the foresight to grow responsibly? Not so far, Wake County has lost more open space then any other county in this state in the past decade. There are valid reasons to concentrate development in urban cores. Preserving open space in this area and in the state is one of the most pressing issues we are confronted with. The loss of this land in the past, present and future has and will continue to have wide ranging effects on our society such as water quality, air quality, infrastructure, health, economics, etc…. We have to move away from typical suburban sprawl development and embrace mixed use Neo-Urbanism!!!
Secondly, someone please reply to this question! Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the new Progress Energy building is not true and actually leans to right if you are looking at the front face? Looking at the building from the Blount St angle and others reveal much the same to me. I think it was definitely designed to taper as it goes up but I swear it is not plumb! Too many different design elements and surfaces and materials in my estimation as well. I like the Art Deco elements in the design, but damn make up your mind! Less is more sometimes. I watched it being constructed and they had trouble attaching panels on its hideous top which I think was related to the ‘problem’. Anybody? Looking forward to seeing a reply. Thanks

There may be some optical illusions when looking at certain designs. Or, the pavement is not leveled. Many reasons can contribute to the perceived leaning. I will have to go back and pay more attention to the tower next time.

Welcome to Matt’s excellent website

Maybe so, the building has so many lines, angles, and different components who knows. I swear that it is not plumb though! Go check it out and see what I am talking about. Look at the building from Fayetteville St, Blount St. and Dawson St. (I think). I look forward to a reply. Thanks!

I’ll check it out and let you know, I promise you. It will be funny if it leans Maybe not so funny…

[…] origins of “Woo!”. Other topics include include the aftermath of making front page of the News & Observer, the Dorthea Dix land use poll controversy, along with a few Raleigh Quickies. Back by popular […]