Winnipeg | RBC Convention Centre | Expansion | Completed

[Wigglez]

Originally Posted by esquire

That glass-walled space above York seems like it was tailor-made to score loads of weddings and banquets. The city hasn't seen such a nice new function space in years, possibly decades.

I have to concede that if I were a hotelier, I'd probably be a little pissed about having to collect a tax that is going to pay for a facility that is in direct competition with my business...

I agree, and my complaints about this building aren't specifically it's function but how it could have been taken 1 step further to be a great space 24/7.

As it is, its only useful for conventions or large events, and while that's good when there isn't an event on this will be another dead zone.

I often find myself comparing this building to the new convention centre in Halifax (check it out if you get the chance, amazing building) and how they managed to get so much out of a convention centre building.

That massive blank wall may have been easier to stomach if it had some ground level retail, or something that would be active all week rather than knowing it will be a dark lifeless building most days.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by Riverman

But what was the point? It wasn't busy before. So what do we get for our tax dollars, we get to see a few more shitty pontoon boats in the spring?

Come on River don't be so pessimistic, build it and they might come (hope and a prayer) besides the hotel component will help to offset the costs to run it when it gets built in 2027!

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by Wigglez

As it is, its only useful for conventions or large events, and while that's good when there isn't an event on this will be another dead zone.


That massive blank wall may have been easier to stomach if it had some ground level retail, or something that would be active all week rather than knowing it will be a dark lifeless building most days.

Your quite right. I think most people are trying to forget the fact that this expansion was proceeded by a whole city block of the original convention centre, lifeless and dead at grade level. What do designers do on the new expansion, some 35+ years later? The same basic priciple. Kill the block at street level, 3/4 of a city block, lifeless and dead. It's so very winnipeg

[esquire]

^ What's unfortunate is that if anything, the expansion is no better than the original from a street interaction standpoint. In fact it may even be worse... at least the original has plenty of windows to cast light on the sidewalk. The new part is just a wall for the most part.

Given that the CRUs across the street in Lakeview Square and in 363 Broadway are almost totally occupied, you would think that they could have put in one or two along Carlton, just to liven things up a bit?

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by rypinion

Isn't the hotel 'tax' the absolutely most appropriate place to get Convention Centre expansion funds from?

No it's explicitly the opposite. In fact when it was first introduced the hotels were guaranteed (obvs not officially) that the tax wouldn't be used for the WCC, their direct competition. And because it's essentially a Crown corp, you bet half that is going to be wasted on admin costs anyway.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ What's unfortunate is that if anything, the expansion is no better than the original from a street interaction standpoint. In fact it may even be worse... at least the original has plenty of windows to cast light on the sidewalk. The new part is just a wall for the most part.

No question, It may be worse, although the new expansion does have some street side access south of york with windows to the interior adding some feeling/light between street and interior.

[esquire]

^ I will say this... going up Hargrave this morning and peering inside through the big windows, it certainly does look nice on the interior.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Cyro

Your quite right. I think most people are trying to forget the fact that this expansion was proceeded by a whole city block of the original convention centre, lifeless and dead at grade level. What do designers do on the new expansion, some 35+ years later? The same basic priciple. Kill the block at street level, 3/4 of a city block, lifeless and dead. It's so very winnipeg

Edmonton between Broadway and York is going to be one highly "pedestrian friendly" block. You have the walled fortress of the convention center on one side and the high cement security fencing on the hydro substation on the other side!

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Edmonton between Broadway and York is going to be one highly "pedestrian friendly" block. You have the walled fortress of the convention center on one side and the high cement security fencing on the hydro substation on the other side!

Thanks for that reminder CB, I've been so focused on the images of the East side for so long I've forgotten about the West Side. No Mans Land..........

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8879...8i6656!6m1!1e1


https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8882...8i6656!6m1!1e1

[Wigglez]

Originally Posted by Cyro

Thanks for that reminder CB, I've been so focused on the images of the East side for so long I've forgotten about the West Side. No Mans Land..........

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8879...8i6656!6m1!1e1


https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8882...8i6656!6m1!1e1

Wow.... I wonder how many out of town attendees will attempt to venture out into the wastes around this building. If I saw nothing but grey walls and parking lots I'd probably just bunker down inside the building for the day.

[bomberjet]

I noticed traffic flowing on York beneath the convention centre. First time I've seen that. It was still closed a week or two ago.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I noticed traffic flowing on York beneath the convention centre. First time I've seen that. It was still closed a week or two ago.

They had 1-2 lanes open almost the entire time of construction. I never even saw it closed once and I go there every few weeks.

[esquire]

edit: buzzg beat me to it

[bomberjet]

Ah I see. I've been by a bunch of times over the last couple years and it was always closed.

[esquire]

^ I think it may have been only at rush hour, though. York is a key route...

[CoryB]

Pretty sure York remained open most of the time except for scheduled evening or weekend work. Traffic flow was very limited though, often down to a single lane. More recently they were doing some extra finishing work and closed both the main entrance off York and the road under.

[lilwayne]

the glass ball room over York ave looks amaaaazinggggggggg..

definitely adds a new level of vibrancy to the area... also makes it look a lot more appealing and modernized.

[lilwayne]

downtown is coming along quite swimmingly

with 3 towers under construction
d condos 21 floors
glasshouse condos 19 floors
u of w residence 14 floors

and 2 already complete
alt hotel 18 floors
herritedge landing 29 floors

cant imagine how the dt will look if
sky city condos
true north square proceed

that would be 9 bldgs. not to mention wag expansion, mb museum expansion, and the new mlcc hq bldg.

sky city and true north square would be true game changers.. are dt would be unrecognizable

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

the glass ball room over York ave looks amaaaazinggggggggg..

definitely adds a new level of vibrancy to the area... also makes it look a lot more appealing and modernized.

agreed!!!!

[esquire]

^ I agree. I know I griped a bit about the way the RBCCC expansion looks, but on the whole it's a positive addition to the surroundings and it significantly reduces that ocean of surface parking that stretched from that site all the way around the corner to the southern end of Cityplace.