Penny Lane - Emotions Mixed as landmark closes

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by 93JC

Exactly the same people did both.

Yeah, but 5 years apart! Clearly the Livingston proposal should have been updated after the 4 or so years after it was first designed.

Missed opportunity I guess.

BTW, who did Centrium? It clearly stands out from the rest of what Gibbs Gage has done.

[93JC]

I haven't a clue who exactly at Gibbs Gage headed-up Centrium.

[Wooster]

Too bad. Oh well, I think that one might be an early front-runner for next year's CUI design awards.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by entheosfog

I totally agree. You can't just create that kind of character overnight, it's something that evolves. You'll never re-create the street presence the place had on 8th. I really believe the old structures could have been incorporated at least somewhat into the new structure.

And by putting up a tribute to the old Penny Lane a la Eatons Centre: that so Calgary!

To be honest, the best tribute they could do for Penny Lane, would be to have a just as interesting street presence in the modern building, rather than some brick gesture in the lobby. "Penny Lane" is a product of the 70s as far as I know, the buildings themselves were warehouse district types until then.

[Calgarian]

Centrium is one of my favorite buildings in Calgary, I was a little disappointed with the glazing (too reflective) but overall it is a fantastic building, and i love the way it stands out (literally) from the rest of the buildings on 6th.

Has anyone seen the proposed street level of Penny Lane?

[bob1954]

Like Josh said, it's a billion dollar project, you have a right to know what and the design of this stuff! After all you pay taxes, and it's your city!!! The taxpayer and everybody else has to look at the building for 60-80 years or more, you should demand decent design. I haven't seen one decent thing come out of Gibbs/Cage! They're lazy and cheap!!

[Policy Wonk]

Originally Posted by Distill3d

all i'm gonna say is Good Ridence Cowboy's

Yeah, that is right up there with losing your neighbourhood crack house in terms of loss to the community. But I am sure Vick the Dick has plans to take his grand block of blight elsewhere, perhaps somewhere in the middle of Ogden Yards!

[93JC]

Originally Posted by bob1954

Like Josh said, it's a billion dollar project, you have a right to know what and the design of this stuff! After all you pay taxes, and it's your city!!! The taxpayer and everybody else has to look at the building for 60-80 years or more, you should demand decent design. I haven't seen one decent thing come out of Gibbs/Cage! They're lazy and cheap!!

"Grrrr! Argh! The public has right to know! Waah!"

[WHISTLERINMUSKOKA]

Originally Posted by josh white

I wouldn't be so pissed off it were a worth while building going up it its place. So disappointing.

Thanks for the pics.

I agree with you 100%. These new buildings could have been built in another location., couldn't they?

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by 93JC

"Grrrr! Argh! The public has right to know! Waah!"

So what exactly is your contribution to this discussion?

[CtrlAltDel]

Centrium is a gem. I personally would have like to have seen a taller Centrium built on Penny Lane, like this:

And no twin!

[93JC]

Originally Posted by johnnyc

So what exactly is your contribution to this discussion?

Antagonizing.


I'm curious actually: what's wrong with the new development? Explain it in simple terms to a humble engineer who doesn't really give a damn what it looks like.

[Calgarian]

It is a boring, un-inspired design. it lacks imagination, and looks like a tower that was proposed 30 years ago (original bankers hall). The building it replaces had a wonderful streetscape and adds character to the area, where as this one looks like it could possibly detract streetlife from the surrounding area.

[93JC]

Meh.

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by johnnyc

It is a boring, un-inspired design. it lacks imagination, and looks like a tower that was proposed 30 years ago (original bankers hall). The building it replaces had a wonderful streetscape and adds character to the area, where as this one looks like it could possibly detract streetlife from the surrounding area.

How can you possibly say that without seeing the plans for the podium area? It's one thing if the podium area does turn out to be sterile and lifeless (I certainly hope it's not) but seeing as how we've only seen one or two renderings of this new version, I think it's just a wee bit premature to criticize the street level of the project.

Once again, I'll also state my belief that aside from a superficial resemblance to the old Bankers Hall design in the roofline, I see no resemblance between the two designs.

[IntotheWest]

Originally Posted by 93JC

Meh.

You don't care what happens to Stephen Ave because of this development? If you don't, you either don't go downtown, or you don't live (or plan to live long-term) in Calgary.

I don't think anyone on here is disappointed to see new (especially tall) buildings go up - but on the one street in downtown that is destined to become a more lively/animated street - and the "public" space is important - the interface to 8th Ave is important...

...and because of that, it seems quite odd that the architects have only released renderings on the 9th Ave side.

Soooo...if the architects have something "better to do" than get public reaction to what they are doing, do they not have to submit DPs to the city for the changes they're planning??? I seem to recall going through the original DP and reading the responses that came out of the approval process about the 9th Ave patios and the interior public spaces...

Does all that go out the window now?

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by The Chemist

How can you possibly say that without seeing the plans for the podium area? It's one thing if the podium area does turn out to be sterile and lifeless (I certainly hope it's not) but seeing as how we've only seen one or two renderings of this new version, I think it's just a wee bit premature to criticize the street level of the project.

Once again, I'll also state my belief that aside from a superficial resemblance to the old Bankers Hall design in the roofline, I see no resemblance between the two designs.

I said COULD detract from the street life, I haven't seen the street level, but judging from the quality of design on the rest of the project, I'm not expecting very much. heres hoping that I am way wrong.

I think the resemblance to BH original design is superficial, this design has a similar feel to it, but is presented slightly differently. Thank god it isn't that cheesy silver and gold BH was to be, that would have sucked.

[Rob D]

Originally Posted by CtrlAltDel

Centrium is a gem. I personally would have like to have seen a taller Centrium built on Penny Lane, like this:

And no twin!

I really like the look of a much taller Centrium. Would have been nice.

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by CtrlAltDel

Centrium is a gem. I personally would have like to have seen a taller Centrium built on Penny Lane, like this:

And no twin!

yeah...would be AWESOME to see

[93JC]

Originally Posted by IntotheWest

You don't care what happens to Stephen Ave because of this development? If you don't, you either don't go downtown, or you don't live (or plan to live long-term) in Calgary.

I was born in Calgary, lived here my entire life, and go downtown every weekday for work.

Since the mall opened in '73 its popularity has never come close to the rest of Stephen Ave to the east. In fact, it has teetered on the brink of complete financial collapse many times. Keeping the old amalgam of warehouses would not change that in the slightest.