Soleil Center

The Soleil Center is a 43-story skyscraper and condo-hotel currently under construction in Raleigh, North Carolina. The 480 ft (146 m) building is located next to the Crabtree Valley Mall on Glenwood Avenue (US 70) just north of the I-440 beltline, in an area now known as "Midtown Raleigh."cite web| last=Eisley | first= Matthew | title="Triangle skylines evolve" | work=| publisher="The News & Observer" | date=2008-02-25| url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/963096.html| accessdate=2008-03-19] When completed in 2009, the Soleil Center will become the second tallest building in Raleigh and in the Triangle region. The new RBC Plaza building in downtown Raleigh will be the tallest when completed in late 2008. The Soleil Center will contain a 290-room four-star Westin hotel, 54 condominiums, 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) of office space, a spa and a 600 car parking garage. The total cost for the project is estimated to be $175 million dollars and is a private investment project of the Soleil Group.cite web| last=| first=| title=Soleil Center | work=| publisher=emporis.com | date=| url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=237287| accessdate=2008-03-19] cite web| last=| first=| title="After Delays, Raleigh's Soleil Center Could Finally Take Height" | work=| publisher=wral.com | date=2008-02-23| url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1599462| accessdate=2008-03-19]

The construction project was approved by the Raleigh City Council in November of 2005, but after uneven bedrock conditions were discovered, test drilling of every column location was required causing a year-long delay.cite web| last=| first=| title="After Delays, Raleigh's Soleil Center Could Finally Take Height" | work=| publisher=wral.com | date=2008-02-23| url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1599462| accessdate=2008-03-19] The original plan by developers was to build just a hotel, the Westin Hotel Crabtree, but no residences. After additional funding and investors were secured, the Soleil Group decided on building the larger project.cite web| last=| first=| title=Westin Hotel Crabtree | work=| publisher=emporis.com | date=| url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=westinhotelcrabtree-raleigh-nc-usa| accessdate=2008-03-19] The Soleil Center replaces the old Sheraton hotel that was imploded in May 2006.cite web| last=| first=| title="Old Hotel Demolished To Make Way For Raleigh's Tallest Building" | work=| publisher=wral.com | date=2006-05-07| url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/157809/| accessdate=2008-03-19] The condominiums, officially called The Westin Raleigh Soleil Center Residences, are priced starting at $1 million and the penthouses at $4.5 million, making the residences the most expensive condos in the area.cite web| last=| first=| title="After Delays, Raleigh's Soleil Center Could Finally Take Height" | work=| publisher=wral.com | date=2008-02-23| url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1599462| accessdate=2008-03-19] The Soleil Group has plans to build a second tower, the 18-story Soleil II, that will connect to the current building and offer additional office space.cite web| last=| first=| title="Developer Wants To Expand What Will Be Raleigh's Tallest High-Rise" | work=| publisher=wral.com | date=2006-04-25| url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/157313/| accessdate=2008-03-19]

References

External links

* [http://www.soleilcenter.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.soleil-group.com/portfolio/hospitality/westin/raleigh.html Soleil Group]