[Halifax] Queen's Marque | 30 m | 10 fl | Completed

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

I definitely think this is a cut above all of the other development we have seen in Halifax over the past 10 or 15 years. It is just all about quality. Quality design, quality materials and quality landscaping.

I moved to London, UK two months ago and this would fit right in among a lot of the development around here.

That's what I was saying all along about this development. Remined me very much of London just across the Thames from St Pauls.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by someone123

Some of these newer developments have a quality of finish that I'm used to seeing on nice projects in major cities. TD might have been the first new building like this. Queen's Marque seems to qualify as do the Nova Centre and perhaps Curve/Pavilion.

Some other buildings don't quite get there due to flaws like unappealing looking spandrel, conspicuous vents, etc. But many of them are pretty good too. I'd put Maple, the Roy, and Jade in this category.

Generally agree, but not the Nova Centre for me.

[someone123]

I knew the inclusion of the Nova Centre in that list would be controversial.

I was just talking about the budget spent on the finishes. Curtain wall, real stone, special touches like, in the case of Nova Centre, the curved glass. These are within the ballpark of what you might see on a downtown project in Toronto or Vancouver. It also has large commercial spaces that have attracted major chain tenants, something people might or might not like but which I associate with "major" projects and was rare in Halifax 10-15 years ago. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I don't think you'd want a city to be only complexes like that but sometimes they can add to the mix.

Aside from that I get the impression Queen's Marque also has a bit of a local feel whereas the glass boxes feel more generic. Queen's Marque is a style of building that I could imagine being built in Halifax but not a bunch of other cities. The waterfront site helps to make it more distinctive. I associate simplicity and solidity with Halifax (old and new buildings) whereas around here a lot of the new stuff is quite airy looking. This goes way back. Halifax has a very "Georgian" character that was more classically inspired and started to go out of style in the late 1800's as ornate Victoriana became more popular.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

I moved to London, UK two months ago and this would fit right in among a lot of the development around here.

London is a good example of how you can have nicely preserved heritage buildings side by side with unapologetically modern construction. There is really no conflict. They found themselves with some empty areas due to WWII bombings and Halifax has empty lots due to 50's-70's demolitions.

St. Paul's in Halifax was an imitation of St. Peter on Vere Street in London.

[Jonovision]

Originally Posted by someone123

St. Paul's in Halifax was an imitation of St. Peter on Vere Street in London.

I did not know that. I will have to go check it out next time I am in the area.

[someone123]

Source

[someone123]

Is the inner courtyard of Queen's Marque mostly open now? The comment for these photos suggests so:


Source


Source

[mleblanc]

Yes, it's fully open now, except for the "Lighthouse" part. The courtyard is beautiful, and the art is stunning.

[q12]

https://twitter.com/browninfosecguy/...26382725664770

[Half-Axed]

Gorgeous. That sailboat light sculpture is fantastic.

[RoshanMcG]

[OldDartmouthMark]

Great pics! Thanks for keeping us up to date.

IMHO this has really become a signature development for Halifax, even for people like me, who were a little sceptical of how it might turn out, at times.

Looking forward to enjoying this space in the nicer weather, when hopefully things are back to normal, pandemic-wise (though they seem to have been mostly normal of late).

[someone123]

It is good to see the waterfront improve after a number of years when it seemed nothing much changed. There are the big developments like this one but also the smaller boardwalk enhancements and beer garden. It seems like the density of stuff to see is going to be good with no true dead zones once the new art gallery goes in.

Cogswell also has the potential to change the feel of the northern end of the waterfront.

One attraction that would be interesting is something like those steps but that is walled in with some glass windows where you could look out under the water. Maybe combined with some underwater art installations (replica shipwreck?).

[isaidso]

Wonderful building and a fitting public art component.

[Saul Goode]

I've been very critical of this development from a purely esthetic perspective (i.e., it's just butt-ugly). But having strolled around recently, I have to admit that at street level it's an inviting space that works very well and nicely complements its surroundings.

Too bad it's still butt-ugly from any distance...

[pblaauw]

Love all the accessible outdoor spaces...

Oh wait...

[q12]

VIDEO LINK:
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1980216899588

[OldDartmouthMark]

A bit of a wrinkle for the QM steps, but it sounds like they should be able to work it out. Seems odd that nobody thought of this through the numerous design and approval steps that would have happened.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-...erns-1.6284473

A Halifax woman who is blind says the new Queen's Marque stairs pose a major safety risk, but the organization behind the area says they're working to address the issue. Like many Haligonians, Milena Khazanavicius recently took a stroll along the newly-opened section of waterfront boardwalk that had been blocked for months due to the Queen's Marque project. There are now a set of wide stairs leading from a courtyard down into the harbour, where it's been suggested people could swim, fish, or launch kayaks. But Khazanavicius was surprised to find no tactile markers at all on the stairs alerting people who are blind or partially sighted about an elevation change, which are used at many street corners or in front of the Central Library."]A Halifax woman who is blind says the new Queen's Marque stairs pose a major safety risk, but the organization behind the area says they're working to address the issue. Like many Haligonians, Milena Khazanavicius recently took a stroll along the newly-opened section of waterfront boardwalk that had been blocked for months due to the Queen's Marque project. There are now a set of wide stairs leading from a courtyard down into the harbour, where it's been suggested people could swim, fish, or launch kayaks. But Khazanavicius was surprised to find no tactile markers at all on the stairs alerting people who are blind or partially sighted about an elevation change, which are used at many street corners or in front of the Central Library.

"Had I not been holding on to the arm of my friend, I would have toppled right over. They are pretty significant in their depth," Khazanavicius told CBC's Information Morning on Monday.

"It's just an accident waiting to happen," she said.

Besides the stairs, she said a friend of hers has also run into issues with a patio area in the same courtyard. Despite being a very skilled cane user, Khazanavicius said he was "tangled up" in the tables and chairs, and had to have someone help him navigate out.

Khazanavicius said this layout doesn't follow the Halifax municipality's new policy that temporary patios on the sidewalk or road must have a barrier at ground level.

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

A bit of a wrinkle for the QM steps, but it sounds like they should be able to work it out. Seems odd that nobody thought of this through the numerous design and approval steps that would have happened.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-...erns-1.6284473

These courtyard tables and chairs are not the same as patio seating. They are no different than any of the other benches, Adirondacks, impromptu tables and chairs set out all along the waterfront from Seaport to the Casino...

[pblaauw]

there's also no barrier on either side of the steps. it just drops off straight into the water.