Hadn't seen all those other renderings before – it's absolutely gorgeous. Would be a damn shame if it doesn't get built like that.
A lot of the reason for the price is what the building itself entails – it's going to a have a ton of cutting edge, high-end equipment for the programs it houses, and would make RRC one of the best in the country in those regards. Also so I hear, much like they did with the new building at NDC, the building technologies themselves will be heavily integrated and linked to the programs within (ie: high-tech, IT-forward building to show students real life applications of their studies).
I love the colours in the design – they're kind of like a more bold, modern play on lots of the greens and reds you see on heritage buildings in the area (and on Roblin Centre). Don't forget, it won't look that out of place once all the new Marketlands buildings start coming along.
In terms of the skywalk, I'm impartial. Would rather not have skywalks in The Exchange, but as someone who went to the RRC Princess campus and dealt with the tight security, I could see why it's wanted. I'd rather see the 4-storey atrium continued over the street like at the convention centre though
That'd be stunning.