Buildings many people didn't even know they were existing

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

This is a thread where building (either underestimated buildings or buildings people didn't even now of) are posted. I started this thread just because ...

 

Because I wanted to

 

In order to keep this thread organized I'll give you these two rules:

 

There's a max. limit of 5 pictures per building. This will keep you post from taking ages to load.

 

If you want to introduce more than just one building you can do that by either using one post (5 pics per post) or by using seperate posts. To avoid spamming, please only do one post a day.

 

Also, please only post existing or demoished/destroyed buildings, no planned or U/C.

 

If I may start:

Oakbrook Terrace Tower in Oakbrook Terrace, IL

 

[jason w 14]

I think an amazing yet underestimated building would be 311 South Wacker Drive, located in the Loop in Chicago. At 961 ft, it is the seventh tallest building in Chicago and the tallest building in the world known only by its street address. Yet few people even notice it in pictures of the Chicago skyline and Willis Tower. My favorite part of the building is roof design.

[jmsepe 2,039]

Here's mine. 5th W Building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines.

 

It's the building on the left, it's boxy but I like the facade.

 

[airman15 4,112]

I have a contribution, and this building is a very prominent part of Sacramento's skyline.

It's called the Renaissance Tower and it is the 5th tallest building in the downtown area. It stands at 112 meters and it was the tallest when it was first built. Here are some of the best pics I could scoop up:

 

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

The Gallagher Centre, Itasca, IL

 

[Alejandro24 575]

I think an amazing yet underestimated building would be 311 South Wacker Drive, located in the Loop in Chicago. At 961 ft, it is the seventh tallest building in Chicago and the tallest building in the world known only by its street address. Yet few people even notice it in pictures of the Chicago skyline and Willis Tower. My favorite part of the building is roof design.

 

I perfectly remember that bulding, is the small neighbour of Sears (well, Willis) Tower. I call it as Crown's Tower (Torre de la Corona) as far as I know it doesn't have a name. And yes, it is terrible underestimated, I think it is more beautiful than Willis Tower.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Martin Tower, Bethlehem, PA

 

 

Unfortunately, not occupied at all today. 

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

National City Center, Troy, MI

 

[Turjan 1,048]

Do smaller buildings qualify? Here's Tempe Town Hall:

 

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Yeah, they do 

 

First Wausau Tower/Dudley Tower, Wausau, WI

 

[TekindusT 3,809]

I always found the La Caixa Towers (a.k.a. "The Mordor Towers" by locals) in Barcelona very underrated. I think they are such unique buildings.

 

[ElMoro1 9]

The Rock, Amsterdam

 

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

Here's an interesting one I spotted on my travels:
 
Slough Bus Station, Berkshire, England
 

 

 

 

More pictures here.

 

Quote

Slough’s iconic new bus station opened to the public in May 2011.

 
Developed by Matthew Bedward, of BBLUR Architecture, the innovative bus station design provides a landmark building in the transport hub area of the project.
 
Other public areas for the Heart of Slough have also been designed by the same architects, to ensure a harmonious style which will lead people from the bus and railway stations into the town centre, making it a more pedestrian friendly place.
 
The form of the building derives from the idea of different wavelengths of light inspired by William Herschel’s famous infra-red experiment.
 
The building is clad in aluminium shingles which will create a softly textured metallic surface which will change character with the varying light conditions.
 
Facilities include a café, toilets, comfortable waiting areas and real-time bus timetable information letting you know exactly when to expect your bus to arrive.
 
The new bus station has been built on the site which was previously occupied by Compair House on Wellington Street. Demolition of the old bus station started in September 2009, with construction work on the new bus station starting in January 2010.
 
The futuristic new bus station, set within a pedestrian friendly access route to the town centre, provides a welcoming arrival to Slough.
 
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20140716115059/http://slough.gov.uk/business/regenerating-slough/slough-bus-station.aspx

 

[ElMoro1 9]

Biggest mall in Africa. Sorry couldn't find a (real)photo that shows the whole building.

 

The Morocco Mall, Casablanca(200 000m²)

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

One Blue Hill Plaza, Pearl River, NY

 

 

 

 

 

[airman15 4,112]

Hangar 1 at Moffett Federal Field in Mountain View, CA.

This hangar was built to house the USS Macon and other zeppelins like it. I used to drive by it all the time and 'huge' is an understatement.

 

Just for size reference, that grey plane to the right of the flag is a P-3 and the one to the left is a C-130

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Zurich Towers, Schaumburg, IL

 

[jason w 14]

I find it interesting how so many of these buildings are found in suburban office parks. I guess one reason is because they stand out so much. In a area of single family and low rises a tall building is like a beacon of prosperity.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Watterson Towers, Normal, IL

 

[jmsepe 2,039]

Zuellig Building, Makati, Philippines

 

Not really much special except for the fact that it's my country's first LEED Platinum building.

 

[__A 792]

Not sure if it's a building or just a sculpture, some say it's for CCTV/traffic control. It sits next to the EastLink tollway in Melbourne's east.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Silver Star Resort Hotel, Philadelphia, MS

 

[MandelSoft 2,774]

Faculty of Architecture at the TU Delft:

 

Unlike the rest of the faculties, this is one of the older buildings on the university campus. The faculty was moved to this location after their old (less fancy) building burned down (by a defective coffee machine no less!):

Best,

Maarten

[Compdude787 916]

The old building looks like a brutalist design from the early 70s! Good riddance, I say; those buildings are ugly as heck.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Alberta Mormon Temple, Cardston, AB

 

[TekindusT 3,809]

Somebody said brutalist? What about this pearl from Belgrade?

 

 

You can see it in all its glory on this amazing music video, featuring an even more amazing song.

 

[Compdude787 916]

Somebody said brutalist? What about this pearl from Belgrade?

 [snip]

 

You can see it in all its glory on this amazing music video, featuring an even more amazing song.

 [snip]

At least the logo on that building gives it a flash of color. Brutalist buildings just look so dark and dreary, especially during the rainy winter months. I go to North Seattle Community College, (well, now they've dropped the "community" from its name because it offers 4-year degrees now) which was built in 1970 and is a brutalist building. A friend from church told me he used to drive by that college when he was younger and asked his mom "Is that a jail?" I don't blame him. (although the school itself isn't as bad as a jail, thank God )

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

You should never forget New Yorks pearl of brutalism

 

AT&T Long Lines Building

 

 

To go on:

 

Century Park Plaza Tower, Pearl City, HI

 

[Compdude787 916]

You should never forget New Yorks pearl of brutalism

 

AT&T Long Lines Building

 

[snip]

I would hate to work in that building. No windows? That would suck!

[TekindusT 3,809]

Definately, this thread is helping me discover so many eye-catching buildings around the world. I had no idea this AT&T building existed, I even had no idea that there could be skyscrapers dedicated to that use...

 

(I seriously thought that its "cousin" building, the 375 Pearl St. was just one more offices skyscraper)