February 27th, 2008


Currently sitting on the future site of the Edison is the makings of RBC Plaza’s height boosting spire. You can make out the pyramid structure that will eventually sit atop the building reaching its apogee at 538 feet above the ground. While it may not be the most interesting of topics, here are some photographs of it and the current status of RBC Plaza.


THE RBC Plaza.


The scale of the spire parts are much larger than they appear in the photos.


The massive new parking garage.


RBC Plaza spire parts

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This entry was presented on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 in the category Notes.
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19 Responses to “RBC Plaza Spire and Update”

  1. John wrote:

    Great pictures! I kinda hoped that the spire itself would be lit up, either by LEDs or a flood light. I guess that’s probably out the window…

  2. unique1 wrote:

    Again. Very nice pictures……can’t wait for you to show us a update of the skyline with the new buildings we have coming on line

  3. John F wrote:

    I also had hoped that the RBC spire would be lit up in some way. I guess we will have to wait and see. It looks like they are getting ready for the top floor to be put into place.

  4. JR wrote:

    I would think they would go all out for having dibs on the highest point in the city… a tasteful lighting design for the top of this tower would be in their best interests as a company. I don’t bank with RBC but I hope they don’t blow it with this spire.

  5. Scott C wrote:

    I’m glad they decided to go with the spire. On the rbcplaza.com website theres an evening picture with the BB&T and Wachovia bldgs and it appears the spire is lit up. I wish they would have left the spire that was on the original design for the Wachovia bldg on there. It would have added some character. I used to have a pic of the original model, must have gotten thrown away.

  6. Ernest wrote:

    Thanks for the photos, Matt. The funny thing is, I was there yesterday during lunch time taking photos :) RBC Plaza - with, or without the spire - will always leave something to be desired. It is a welcome addition, and I hope that some day it will look really nice in the skyline, but I can’t help thinking how nicer it would have been to have something over 50 stories in that location. In the past, I said many times that they should build at least something around 25 floors, but now I realize that even 50 floors would not have been an overkill.

    Anyway, it is Raleigh’s new tallest, and not a bad design, IMHO, so I am always happy to see this tower through Matt’s lenses. I can’t wait to see the spire installed and get a clear idea of what the final size will be, but I can wait a little longer. I am sure it will look very impressive on September 5, when the city officials will through the big party for the opening of the new convention center and the Fayetteville Street reopening party (3rd year in a row)!!! Too bad the City Plaza will not be ready, but I will settle for a little less, assuming everything will be done right.

    Last, but not least, the skyline from the money shot angle looks really nice. Five-six towers above 50 floors and we’ll be set :LOL:

  7. Brandon wrote:

    I was wondering if anybody knew what the condos in rbc were going for becuase (even though they are sold out), they are only option in terms of high rise living in raleigh. i am really curious as to what price the are asking for the 1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos……anyone know?

  8. TC wrote:

    The first photo showing RBC Plaza with that brick building on the corner (across the street from RBC).
    Is that buidling going to be torn down?
    I hope so, it is awful (I have walked on that side street, that brick wall takes up 1/3 of the block, ONE POOR WINDOW EXPERIENCE - the check cashing place)

  9. WKS wrote:

    We purchased a 3 bedroom for 700,000.

  10. Ernest wrote:

    TC, none of the buildings still standing at The Edison block are going to be demolished. I don’t think any of them have historic significance, and while some may lament their loss - the “human scale” factor - I will be ecstatic to see them replaced with something elegant. Given the size of The Edison, the sky is the limit, even though I doubt any developer will do something major there any time soon. Since you brought up the cashing place - I assume you are talking about the bail bonds store - let me say that it belongs to David Beasley, who envisioned the 20-25 story residential building that used to be called “Mystery Tower” across from there (NE corner of Martin and Wilmington Streets). I am not 100% certain that he owns the building where he runs his bail bonds business, but if he does he may get enough money to get started, although it is a bit doubtful at this point. Currently, he has the site of the “Mystery Tower” for sale, along with the plans for the building, but he is asking for too much, IMHO.

  11. JR wrote:

    How come they skipped a floor on the RBC Plaza? I was in my car looking up through my sunroof and while counting the floors I noticed one was skipped. 9 I think. As if the guy spray painting up the side lost count for a minute, messed up, and then continued to number the floors incorrectly anyway.

  12. JRd wrote:

    Ernest, call me stupid if you want, but what does IMHO mean?

  13. JRd wrote:

    If they are building that thing on the ground, its gonna be some trick getting that thing to the top.

    Matt, you should take pictures of THAT!

  14. Official Matt wrote:

    I hope to catch it, though I’m not sure when it will be.

  15. Ernest wrote:

    JRd, there is nothing stupid about your question. IMHO stands for “In My Humble Opinion” and it is an acronym used much like LOL (Laughing Out Loud), ROFL/ROTFL (Rolling On the Floor Laughing). Internet has changed forever the way we communicate :)

  16. Brian wrote:

    Looks like the RBC Plaza crane has been raised to accommodate the height of the spire…

  17. JR wrote:

    Can that crane really move the spire from the ground to the roof? I really want to see that happen… hint hint

  18. Anonymous wrote:

    Is it true that the spire will not light up at night?

  19. JR wrote:

    I sure hope that it will, why wouldn’t they light it up? It will be visible from a lot of places that were never able to any part of the skyline before.

    I was out downtown last night and that red crane must now be at around 600 ft in the air.


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