Winnipeg | Downtown | Portage Place | Redevelopment | U/C

[cllew]

[QUOTE=neutroniks;10581944]Thanks for the info WG! I can definitely understand them taking their time with this. Kinda wish they were able to save/relocate the IMAX though. It was apparently one of the last few true IMAX theatres despite not being used for the last couple of decades.[/QUOTE

The projector itself was obsolete and was unable to play the new digital IMAX format movies.

I recall hearing when it closed that to convert to a digital format would require the roof of the projection room to be demolished and the old parts craned out and the new one projector craned in as parts could be reduced enough in size to go thru Portage Place to the projection room level.

[neutroniks]

[QUOTE=cllew;10581955]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

Thanks for the info WG! I can definitely understand them taking their time with this. Kinda wish they were able to save/relocate the IMAX though. It was apparently one of the last few true IMAX theatres despite not being used for the last couple of decades.[/QUOTE

The projector itself was obsolete and was unable to play the new digital IMAX format movies.

I recall hearing when it closed that to convert to a digital format would require the roof of the projection room to be demolished and the old parts craned out and the new one projector craned in as parts could be reduced enough in size to go thru Portage Place to the projection room level.

Thats what I mean though; apparently, there's only a handful of the old projectors that are still in service using the 15/70mm film, including in Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, and the filming experience is different compared to the Laser Digital version found at Scotiabank Theatre.
Christopher Nolan's next movie is completely shot in 70mm and will be shown at all of the Canadian IMAX's that remain. It would've been cool if we could've preserved that as something to visit in Winnipeg. I remember seeing educational videos in elementary there and it was definitely next level compared to the digital IMAX.

That being said, I totally understand why it failed to begin, since we evidently couldn't get enough people to go consistently enough to keep the doors open :')

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by The Jabroni

If anything, it's not white, grey, black, silver, beige, various tints of glass, concrete, Tyndall stone, or olive drab.

If it remains that colour, and does NOT get cut down in storeys, it will add another colour to our skyline.

Still, it could use some more fine tuning along the exterior.

the mall bit was just a quick idea for a rendering. Its not what is going to happen. These images were not meant to be public.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

The poster was among the first site layouts released and was intended to show the proposed scale of the development. Phase 3 — the centre block of Portage Place — is still in the consultation and design phase. The project involves multiple firms, with Number TEN Architectural Group designing the residential tower (west) and Architecture49 leading the Health Centre (east) and the centre block.

correct. don't believe any of the information on the very early schematics....its all moving parts.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Biff

^^^Fitting seeing as it was Number Ten that did the facade upgrade to that building at 190 Smith.

haha...i did that....

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

That being said, I totally understand why it failed to begin, since we evidently couldn't get enough people to go consistently enough to keep the doors open :')

Since 2008 the Imax was run by the Forks North Portage but they ultimately shut it down after numerous years of operating loses.

I've always thought the space could be reconfigured into a cool eports venue.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

The Centre Block appears likely to become a rather expensive and complex element of the entire Portage Place redevelopment. From what has been publicly released, it’s a massive space attempting to serve multiple functions — food hall, office space, potential grocery store, retail, and community uses — but risks not doing any one of them particularly well.

The prolonged consultation and design phase is likely tied to securing major pre-lease commitments, particularly for a grocery anchor tenant and largely government or institutional tenants for the office component. They will also need to find a suitable operator for the planned community drop-in space planned for the former IMAX area. The YMCA maybe could be a possible partner to manage or program that space. Many questions remain unanswered at this stage.

Once completed, the Centre Block is expected to become the new home for both the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and the Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP).

I see a Red Flag already. The Food Hall is likely to cause the very same issues as it did before. Early on there was discussion to have a few smaller to mid sized cafe styled eateries so as not have a loitering issue and other problems with food halls, courts etc..

[bomberjet]

Most of my clients will not share a damn thing with the public until they are absolutely certain as to what's going on. Even then.. Case in point sharing shiny renders that mean nothing. We love renders of course.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

I see a Red Flag already. The Food Hall is likely to cause the very same issues as it did before. Early on there was discussion to have a few smaller to mid sized cafe styled eateries so as not have a loitering issue and other problems with food halls, courts etc..

It's tough. Do you design for the world you want or the world that is?

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by trueviking

It's tough. Do you design for the world you want or the world that is?

I am totally getting what you mean but, the main issues of the food court was a source of irritation and much trouble so then we do, shampoo, lather, rinse repeat? I think a few mid sized places with no loitering would work better and encourage nearby workers, residents, visitors to come back to the space more so than repeating what existed.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

I see a Red Flag already. The Food Hall is likely to cause the very same issues as it did before. Early on there was discussion to have a few smaller to mid sized cafe styled eateries so as not have a loitering issue and other problems with food halls, courts etc..

One good thing that TNSE does well is security, they do not allow that kind of activity at True North Square (despite it's public/private plaza) and at Hargrave Market Food Hall, i would imagine the same would apply to this property.

The early promotional materials from True North used the term 'Food Hall' rather than 'food court' which is an important distinction. Food halls typically feature a more upscale design and atmosphere, which naturally discourages problematic loitering and makes such behaviour feel unwelcome. This is one of the key differences from traditional mall food courts. Food halls tend to attract paying customers who linger in a productive way, while the environment itself, through design, ambiance, and curation, subtly discourages non-paying or disruptive hangouts. Traditional 'food courts' often feature hard plastic seating, bright fluorescent lighting, and open layouts that can feel institutional and make it easy for anyone to camp out in which was the case at Portage Place. 'Food halls' however, which have grown in popularity over the years tend to flip that with stylized communal tables, warm lighting, natural materials like wood and stone, and more of a restaurant-like vibe, think The Forks & Hargrave Market. Combined with effective security measures i can't see TNSE allowing the same problems that plagued the former Portage Place occurring here.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

Since 2008 the Imax was run by the Forks North Portage but they ultimately shut it down after numerous years of operating loses.

I heard the Portage Place IMAX shut down for two reasons, the revenue had suffered as the projector could not show Hollywood movies in a timely manner and then the projector went end of life and required an extremely expensive replacement. Add in that Famous Players opened up a smaller "IMAX" screen at Polo Park to show the Hollywood releases.

Essentially Portage Place was built for the older science center style IMAX movies, not thee Hollywood style movies the brand had pivoted to.

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

I see a Red Flag already. The Food Hall is likely to cause the very same issues as it did before. Early on there was discussion to have a few smaller to mid sized cafe styled eateries so as not have a loitering issue and other problems with food halls, courts etc..

Not if they police it the way Hargrave St Market is, which should be the case if TNS is running it now.

[WinCitySparky]

Tower crane going up Apr 20-24

It’s about to begin

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Most of my clients will not share a damn thing with the public until they are absolutely certain as to what's going on. Even then.. Case in point sharing shiny renders that mean nothing. We love renders of course.

ban the church doo gooders from using it as a hang out

[pspeid]

[QUOTE=neutroniks;10581963]

Originally Posted by cllew

That being said, I totally understand why it failed to begin, since we evidently couldn't get enough people to go consistently enough to keep the doors open :')

In the early years of IMAX it seemed they mainly showed documentaries and nature films. The last thing I saw there, many years ago, was a film about mountain gorillas. Watching apes scratch themselves in the rain for about 90 minutes. LOTS of fun, there...

Showing first-run motion pictures, or older popular pictures converted into the 70mm format, didn't come until later. My guess is that the Winnipeg IMAX missed out on the later trend, which is what seems to be keeping other IMAX theatres open.

[WinCitySparky]

^I remember seeing “Space” and “Storms” at the old PP IMAX when I was quite young in the mid 90’s with my grandpappy

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

ban the church doo gooders from using it as a hang out

I'm sorry, what "do gooders" are you referring to? Some people do enable unwelcome behaviour, and some of them do it in the name of their beliefs.

On the other hand, families like the Chipmans, the Defehers, the Pollards and the Aspers have done wonderful things for the city in a large part because of their faith.

I guess my point is broad generalizations don't help anybody.

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by pspeid

In the early years of IMAX it seemed they mainly showed documentaries and nature films. The last thing I saw there, many years ago, was a film about mountain gorillas. Watching apes scratch themselves in the rain for about 90 minutes. LOTS of fun, there...

Showing first-run motion pictures, or older popular pictures converted into the 70mm format, didn't come until later. My guess is that the Winnipeg IMAX missed out on the later trend, which is what seems to be keeping other IMAX theatres open.

Yeah, I get jealous seeing the other IMAX's benefit from the new trend. Christopher Nolan's Odyssey will look insane on that screen. A buddy of mine have been discussing which city we'll go over to watch it, but we'll have to try to find the tickets second hand on the market somewhere because they've been sold out already :')

[cheswick]