Fort Worth: Omni Fort Worth Hotel (Conv. Ctr.) (447 FT. / 33 ST.)

[NThomas]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2700746306_a0a644ab34_o.jpg

Really good vantage points. The entrance is probably my favorite part of the hotel. It kinda reminds me of Terminal D at DFW.

[Double Wide]

what is being built behind the Omni?

[Fort Worthology]

what is being built behind the Omni?

A new city parking garage to serve the Convention Center and the southern part of downtown (the Omni's parking is all underground). Fortunately, the garage won't be a normal garage - it's part of Fort Worth's public art program. The facade will be designed to conceal the garage nature of the building and will feature several interesting elements - Houston Street facade will have a large column design based on the nearby old Moderne City Hall, while the Throckmorton facade will have multistory colored glass fins projecting out of it. Each corner of the garage will be made of a different color of glass for interesting light/shadows in the garage and to help with orientation. The ground floor will have retail on both Houston and Throckmorton. Each floor will play sounds to help orient the users - some will be nature sounds found in the area's environment, some will be more historical. Finally, each elevator will play musical tones and melodies as buttons are pressed and elevator cars move about.

The design of the garage is the work of artist Christopher Janney. http://www.janney.com/

Here's a rendering:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2757421591_c7d9fa66b3_o.jpg

[Double Wide]

Very nice. I have noticed that Fort Worth likes to hide the parking garages with this kind of art, wish Dallas did it more. Very cool.

[John T Roberts]

There are plenty of garages in downtown Fort Worth alone that don't even try to hide themselves! Most of them look like parking garages and are rather ugly.

[Fort Worthology]

John's right - the new CC garage will give us a few garages that try to look better. Most of the rest, though, like the Carter + Burgess and City Center garages, are older and awful.

[gchrisbailey]

A new city parking garage to serve the Convention Center and the southern part of downtown (the Omni's parking is all underground). Fortunately, the garage won't be a normal garage - it's part of Fort Worth's public art program. The facade will be designed to conceal the garage nature of the building and will feature several interesting elements - Houston Street facade will have a large column design based on the nearby old Moderne City Hall, while the Throckmorton facade will have multistory colored glass fins projecting out of it. Each corner of the garage will be made of a different color of glass for interesting light/shadows in the garage and to help with orientation. The ground floor will have retail on both Houston and Throckmorton. Each floor will play sounds to help orient the users - some will be nature sounds found in the area's environment, some will be more historical. Finally, each elevator will play musical tones and melodies as buttons are pressed and elevator cars move about.

The design of the garage is the work of artist Christopher Janney. http://www.janney.com/

Here's a rendering:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2757421591_c7d9fa66b3_o.jpg

I can only hope the new parking garage planned for uptown will look this nice...

[NThomas]

A new city parking garage to serve the Convention Center and the southern part of downtown (the Omni's parking is all underground). Fortunately, the garage won't be a normal garage - it's part of Fort Worth's public art program. The facade will be designed to conceal the garage nature of the building and will feature several interesting elements - Houston Street facade will have a large column design based on the nearby old Moderne City Hall, while the Throckmorton facade will have multistory colored glass fins projecting out of it. Each corner of the garage will be made of a different color of glass for interesting light/shadows in the garage and to help with orientation. The ground floor will have retail on both Houston and Throckmorton. Each floor will play sounds to help orient the users - some will be nature sounds found in the area's environment, some will be more historical. Finally, each elevator will play musical tones and melodies as buttons are pressed and elevator cars move about.

The design of the garage is the work of artist Christopher Janney. http://www.janney.com/


It looks great but too bad it didn't carry on the same design as the Omni with the blue/green glass.

[John T Roberts]

I'm glad that it won't carry on the glass color. It is a separate building and it should have a separate identity. This is a note to the forum administrators. Please change the height of the building to 447 feet and the number of stories to 33. Those are now the official heights.

[Fort Worthology]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2918676786_56c5287f11_o.jpg

They're adding the steel framing for the building's crown now.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2917827103_62a75631d7_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2918676176_7ab888eb1b_o.jpg

Around the base, the sidewalks are being widened.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/2918676304_2ded1db2d5_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/2918676394_92128755a2_o.jpg

The city parking garage is starting to get some facade material. The part in the middle where there is no material yet is where the large black Art Deco-inspired columns on the Houston Street side will go.

[Kelley USA]

I love this building!!! Dallas will be doing well to have a CC hotel as nice as this one...

[Mike Pannell RE]

Fort Worth is coming along real good. I hope it keeps growing, it is great for my business.

[jefffwd]

Omni Fort Worth

http://www.wbap.com/Article.asp?id=982866&spid=18042

[Double Wide]

Video about Omni Job Fair. I have a Dallas CC Hotel Remark, but ill put it on the right thread.
http://www.wfaa.com/video/?nvid=303190&shu=1

[Fort Worthology]

New pics of the Omni and the new city parking garage next door (the Omni's own parking is underground). The Omni is finishing up nicely - all that's left outside is the completion of balconies and other details plus some ground floor retail finish-out. The parking garage has progressed hugely and it's starting to really take shape as well - glass is already going up on the garage's retail spaces and on its big corner elements, and the decorative facades on Houston and Throckmorton are underway.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/3117620402_21e8bc1a1a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/3117621482_6352142ca4_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/3116793691_f75945e95c_o.jpg

The Omni Hotel signage is now going up as well. I’ve also heard from a few sources that the building may have a more elaborate night lighting scheme than originally intended - perhaps even including the backlighting of the building’s glass crown, similar to the Pier 1/Chesapeake Energy building.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3117621022_5497707c48_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/3117621202_41a89295d1_o.jpg

On the Houston facade of the garage, the framing in the center is where the tall black columns, inspired by the Public Safety & Courts/former City Hall building, will be installed.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/3117620732_1347432bc8_o.jpg

The Art Deco-inspired Throckmorton facade is making good progress as well. This side will be finished out with giant multicolored glass fins projecting out from the facade.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/3117620582_35bb76b206_o.jpg

[Mballar]

Nice Pics. Thanks for the update. This is one building that looks better than the renderings, and with that lighting scheme you mentioned, this will be a great addition to DT Fort Worth's nighttime Skyline.

[NThomas]

Will the garage have just the red colored glass or will there be multiple colors?

[sterling]

Looks absolutely terrific. Go Fort Worth!

[Fort Worthology]

Will the garage have just the red colored glass or will there be multiple colors?

There will be multiple colors. Each corner of the garage will be a different color (red, blue, green, etc.) and the glass fins that will stick out from the Throckmorton facade will also be multiple colors.

[aygriffith]

They totally needed that parking garage across from the convention center... I can now not fear the next Ft Worth convention center event and having to find parking. Thank You Ft Worth!

[John T Roberts]

It's taken me more than two months to post these, so I finally decided to get these photos edited. In October, I toured the building and took these photos from the lowest condominium level and from the rooftop terrace. This is the view of the city from that point.

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/omniview-south.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/omniview-sw.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/omniview-west1.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/omniview-west2.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/omniview-n.jpg

http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/omniview-ne.jpg

I took several shots that I stitched for a panorama from the north balcony of a residential unit on the northwest corner. It worked perfectly, except on the windows of Burnett Plaza. I'm sure the view from the 33rd floor is much better than the 17th floor of the building.
http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/omnipanorama.jpg

[aygriffith]

I drove through Ft Worth last week going to the Armed Forces Bowl at TCU... The Omni looks great, I wish we had it in the Big D downtown...

[Fort Worthology]

The Downtown Fort Worth Omni is officially the Super Bowl AFC hotel:

http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1127376.html

"The NFL has picked the Omni Fort Worth Hotel to house the AFC champion team when the Super Bowl is played in Arlington in 2011.

"We are officially the AFC hotel," Ed Netzhammer, the Omni’s general manager, said Tuesday. "It’s signed and done, and we’re also hoping with the Pro Bowl changes that were made in the last couple of weeks that maybe we’ll host the AFC team as well."

The contract signed with the almost-finished downtown hotel covers space for team meetings, feeding the players and, Netzhammer said, throwing an after party if the AFC squad wins."

[AeroD]

It beats where the NFC will have to stay...Omni Las Colinas.

But that should not matter because the Cowboys will be playing in the 2011 Super Bowl, so they can just stay home. ;)

[NThomas]

The Downtown Fort Worth Omni is officially the Super Bowl AFC hotel:

http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1127376.html

"The NFL has picked the Omni Fort Worth Hotel to house the AFC champion team when the Super Bowl is played in Arlington in 2011.

"We are officially the AFC hotel," Ed Netzhammer, the Omni’s general manager, said Tuesday. "It’s signed and done, and we’re also hoping with the Pro Bowl changes that were made in the last couple of weeks that maybe we’ll host the AFC team as well."

The contract signed with the almost-finished downtown hotel covers space for team meetings, feeding the players and, Netzhammer said, throwing an after party if the AFC squad wins."

This is going to be the first of many announcements where Fort Worth is picked over Dallas regarding the Cowboys. Kudos Funky Town. :Banana09:

[Double Wide]

It beats where the NFC will have to stay...Omni Las Colinas.

But that should not matter because the Cowboys will be playing in the 2011 Super Bowl, so they can just stay home. ;)

I think the NFC will get a Dallas Hotel

[mrowl]

I think the NFC will get a Dallas Hotel

nope


Meanwhile, the Omni Mandalay in Irving’s Las Colinas development has contracted to be the host hotel for the NFC champions, who are expected to practice at the Dallas Cowboys’ Valley Ranch complex.

[Fort Worthology]

The Omni's grand opening is today.

http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1135718.html

[Double Wide]

how much longer till we open the one in Dallas?

[Milkman Dan]

So much for Dallas reaping most of the ancillary benefits of havng the Cowboys in the greater D/FW region.

During the Super Bowl festivities, it may be possible to not even have to set foot in Dallas city limits if you are afiliated with the NFL goings-on.

[gchrisbailey]

how much longer till we open the one in Dallas?

I say we form a group to hijack and kidnap the Omni Fort Worth and bring it to Dallas...I'm working on the logistics of moving a 33st. building, but I'm thinking a combo of the "T", a portion of Helipad H1 at DFW Airport, and most of the Dallas Cowboys (for soft cushioning support...emphasis on soft)... :Banana09:

[Milkman Dan]

Won't the proposed convention center hotel (in Dallas) be an Omni?

[jefffwd]

Won't the proposed convention center hotel (in Dallas) be an Omni?

From what I understand, yes... Is the hotel a done deal or does it have to be voted on?

[Fort Worthology]

Mark "Hawkeye" Louis, host of the Big 96.3 KSCS morning show, has created a new, cool, brief (less than 30 seconds long) video showing the construction of the Omni, and before it shows up on KSCS's web site he's graciously allowed me to post it on Fort Worthology:

http://fortworthology.com/2009/01/13/omni-...-hawkeye-louis/ (http://fortworthology.com/2009/01/13/omni-rising-a-video-by-hawkeye-louis/)

[jefffwd]

This was posted by Monee9696 over on the FW Forum but I thought everyone might enjoy seeing the interior of this beautiful hotel. I agree with Monee... It has a Texas feel but iti si not over the top (Thank God)... Enjoy the slideshow at the bottom of this post. ~Jeff

Walked over to the New Omni today to look around inside this fancy new Hotel. I will give it an A+++ Spectacular. Extremely well done. It is much nicer than I thought it was going to be. Way more tasteful than the brochures, which I did not like at all.

It does have a Texas theme, but not overdone. Done superbly. Face it, people here from Ohio for a convention want to think they are in Texas. It does look like Texas. A tasteful Texas. I was afraid it was going to be a joke Texas like their brochures. (You know, cowboy boots and diamonds kind of crap.) Not here. Fabulous. Fantastically tasteful paintings. My wife, (the delightful and endearing Mrs. Monee9696), and I could go back just to enjoy the paintings. This Hotel is going to bring conventions back year after year. I am stunned. The wife and I are already trying to think of which friends we can bring to Fort Worth and put them up at the Omni.

I have 51 pictures of the interior I would like to share. As I could not seem to cull them down to a dozen, I made you a slide show to view them. My photography does not rate 51 pictures slowing this thread down. But, take a look at this slide show. We entered the Hotel through Starbucks so my wife could get a bla bla coffee. As the norm, click the arrow button in the bottom right hand corner to fill your screen. (It's like going to the stink'n movies!) Take a look!

http://flickr.com/photos/brianluenser/sets/72157612727705052/show/

[NThomas]

Place looks great! :Banana09: Gaylord Texan did a good job too but Omni did a great job of not going "over the top" with the Texas theme. Both are great hotels but the FW Omni gets an A+

[Tnekster]

I could not see the show.

[UptownDallas]

Those v-shaped balconies look vertigo-inducing, kinda like the ones on the North side of the Cirque.

[hamiltonpl]

It looks beautiful. Kudos Ft. Worth!

[Double Wide]

Omni Kicked ass and took names.

[John T Roberts]

I stood out on one of those V shaped balconies at the Omni back when I did the construction tour in October. I'm normally very comfortable standing on a balcony or a roof of a tall building, but this one unnerved me a little bit. They come to a point and they are all glass, so when you stand on the edge, there is literally nothing around you, but right beneath you. It is a little bit scary, and they only let us up to the 17th floor. We would have gone up to the roof, but they were installing the sloped curtain wall on that Saturday.

[sterling]

Go Omni Fort Worth!

[UptownDallas]

I stood out on one of those V shaped balconies at the Omni back when I did the construction tour in October. I'm normally very comfortable standing on a balcony or a roof of a tall building, but this one unnerved me a little bit. They come to a point and they are all glass, so when you stand on the edge, there is literally nothing around you, but right beneath you. It is a little bit scary, and they only let us up to the 17th floor. We would have gone up to the roof, but they were installing the sloped curtain wall on that Saturday.

What you said... except substitute The Cirque in Dallas for the Omni in Fort Worth.

What do others think, out of curiosity?

[cowboyeagle05]

I say don't buy a condo if the balcony makes you have feelings of vertigo otherwise enjoy

[NThomas]

Aparently some hotel rooms looked like the water gardens this morning... :rolleyes:

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/New_Omni_Hotel_Floods

[NThomas]

On Channel 5 news at 10, there was a fluff piece about the condos and mentioned it was already 30% sold and it hasn't even open yet. Better then just 4 units like other places...

[aygriffith]

On Channel 5 news at 10, there was a fluff piece about the condos and mentioned it was already 30% sold and it hasn't even open yet. Better then just 4 units like other places...

I'm going to guess that there is some confusion by Channel 5 (Isn't that the FTW based news station?) on being 30 percent sold vs 30 percent of the units are commited. Commited doesn't mean anyone will actually close on them.

Either the DMN or one of the other stations had an article/segment awhile ago that mentioned if you thought Dallas' condo market went soft, just look at how bad Ft Worth's is since the downturn of the economy and the collapse of Natural Gas prices.

[vman]

I have a realtor friend in FW. She says the condo market in Dallas has definitely slowed, but its almost come to a stand still in FW. Keep in mind FW doesn't have nearly the amount of condo units as Dallas...not necessarily a bad thing... and only one real highrise.