Canadian Urban Canyons

[francely57]

I saw the "New york discussion" in the Tallest U/C thread and wondered if there were a thread exclusively about our skyscraper canyons. I couldn't find one (maybe it's very old), so here it is.
We can include skyscraper walls (like Sherbrooke in front of McGill U, Queen in front of Nathan Philips Sq, etc.)


I think Canada has very impressive walls/canyons considering the size of our cities.


Let's start with this one:

Albert Street, Ottawa, March 5, 2010

[WhipperSnapper]

[Ramako]

Re-posted from the Top 10 U/C thread:


By: tomms on UT (January 7, 2010)

This is looking west on Adelaide in Toronto. The streetwall will really solidify once Trump (282m), Shangri-La (214m), 100 John Street (135m), Bay-Adelaide East (196m), and Richmond-Adelaide III (183m) are built.

[harls]

Originally Posted by Ramako

This is looking west on Adelaide in Toronto.

Hey, I used to work in that brick building on the left. Good times.


Some more Ottawa canyons/streetwalls (by me - click most for big size)














and a Canada day canyon to close 'er up.

[Phil McAvity]

Holy crap.

I guess what Ottawa lacks in height, it more than makes up for with volume and density.

[eemy]

Originally Posted by Phil McAvity

Holy crap.

I guess what Ottawa lacks in height, it more than makes up for with volume and density.

It's a strange thing - if you consider the total office inventory, Ottawa still has one of the highest in the country, only trailing Toronto and Montreal if I recall correctly. You would never guess from the skyline though.

[Dmajackson]

Halifax has a real canyon if that counts ... mind you its a rail cut.

Other than that we have no real impressive ones though Bedford Row has one; Bedford @ Prince

Granville Street Mall has one; Granville @ Duke

Hollis has a small one; Hollis @ Prince

And finally its not a street but; South Park St Looking East Towards Park Lane

[SpongeG]

howe street vancouver


flickr BC Robyn

[trueviking]

no real canyons in winnipeg....i guess this is as close as it gets....

[mike474]

Even though it's not really a canyon, it's a nice Winnipeg shot.

[1ajs]

what about this viking?


and this

[Jimby]

Looking north on 3rd Street SW, aka Barclay Mall.



picture by me

[flar]

I think downtown Ottawa has the most solid canyons in Canada. No set backs and step ups here, barely any sidewalks either, just concentrated walls of concrete and glass. If you don't look up too high, you'd think you're in a huge city.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by flar

I think downtown Ottawa has the most solid canyons in Canada. No set backs and step ups here, barely any sidewalks either, just concentrated walls of concrete and glass. If you don't look up too high, you'd think you're in a huge city.

I would say Calgary takes the cake, we have one on pretty much every street downtown, especially 5th and 6th.

[flar]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I would say Calgary takes the cake, we have one on pretty much every street downtown, especially 5th and 6th.

I haven't walked the streets of Calgary, but I wonder if Ottawa doesn't make up in number of buildings what they lack in height. It's pretty solid on every street.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by flar

I haven't walked the streets of Calgary, but I wonder if Ottawa doesn't make up in number of buildings what they lack in height. It's pretty solid on every street.

Ottawa wins in this case IMO. Downtown has a very solid and almost uninterrupted wall just about every street. The buildings tend to fill out the entire envelope and open plazas at grade are a rarity (thanks in part to the lack of height if I had to guess). It also helps that the streets themselves tend to be a fair bit narrower than Calgary.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by niwell

Ottawa wins in this case IMO. Downtown has a very solid and almost uninterrupted wall just about every street. The buildings tend to fill out the entire envelope and open plazas at grade are a rarity (thanks in part to the lack of height if I had to guess). It also helps that the streets themselves tend to be a fair bit narrower than Calgary.

Never been to Ottawa, but Calgary has some very high, very long canyons downtown, maybe I'll use google to get an idea when I have time.

[Cowtown_Tim]

Originally Posted by flar

I haven't walked the streets of Calgary, but I wonder if Ottawa doesn't make up in number of buildings what they lack in height. It's pretty solid on every street.

It depends on what you're looking for in. Calgary's got a few avenues that are almost completely filled + height on their buildings.


From Flickr

4th Ave
From Flickr Default user


From Flickr Surrealplaces




5th Ave
Fro Defaultuser on flickr




6th ave
From Flickr surrealplaces




7th Ave

[francely57]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I would say Calgary takes the cake, we have one on pretty much every street downtown, especially 5th and 6th.

Not sure about that...

Many cities have very solid canyons, but Montreal & Toronto will certainly dominate this thread.
(haven't been to Vancouver/Calgary, so show some more pics if I'm wrong!)

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by francely57

Not sure about that...

Many cities have very solid canyons, but Montreal & Toronto will certainly dominate this thread.
(haven't been to Vancouver/Calgary, so show some more pics if I'm wrong!)

I thought the pics of downtown Calgary on pg 2 did a pretty good job illustrating the point - long and tall corporate canyons.

Ste. Catherine might be my favourite canyon in the country. very cool. I also like the older tight canyons of Old Montreal.