Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project | Completed

[jlousa]

That are incredible pictures how did you take them from tomorrow though?

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by jlousa

That are incredible pictures how did you take them from tomorrow though?

This special camera from Japan does all sorts of things.

[mr.x]

^ does it come with a feature that creates seizure-inducing photos?

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

^ does it come with a feature that creates seizure-inducing photos?

Yep, I've got that setting:

[SFUVancouver]

Double post, please delete.

[deasine]

It looks amazing from every angle!

[officedweller]

Nice, thanks.
You can see some of the roof edging going up.

[SFUVancouver]

(My photo, February 13th, 2008)

[deasine]

I see more glass up!

[Cypherus]

I like how Shangri-La is just peaking over the skyline in the background, like it's saying to the Convention Cente, "I seez yewz!"

[excel]

The fairmont is also coming out of its hole finally as well.

[vanman]

Walked past the CC last night and noticed the edging or border (dont know what to call it) going up. You can see it at the top left of the west facade and along the south facade. It is a very dull grey almost concrete colour. It's dissapointing as they should of used a shiny metal like titanium or copper to make the building stand out instead it looks like it might easily blend in with Shaw Tower and Fairmont.

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by vanman

Walked past the CC last night and noticed the edging or border (dont know what to call it) going up. You can see it at the top left of the west facade and along the south facade. It is a very dull grey almost concrete colour. It's dissapointing as they should of used a shiny metal like titanium or copper to make the building stand out instead it looks like it might easily blend in with Shaw Tower and Fairmont.

But of course it will just blend in. Anything that would make it stand out just wouldnt fit with Vancouver's general lack of vision and willingness to build unique buildings that stand out (notwithstanding Shangri La and RC)

Sorry, I know alot of people are impressed, but for the pricetag, I think we could have built a much more architechtural unique building - some sort of landmark. Instead, it looks like a casino parkade, and lack of public access to roof is just ridiculous.

[EastVanMark]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

But of course it will just blend in. Anything that would make it stand out just wouldnt fit with Vancouver's general lack of vision and willingness to build unique buildings that stand out (notwithstanding Shangri La and RC)

Sorry, I know alot of people are impressed, but for the pricetag, I think we could have built a much more architechtural unique building - some sort of landmark. Instead, it looks like a casino parkade, and lack of public access to roof is just ridiculous.

Ya, totally agree. For the the amount that has been spent on it, this building is a major disappointment. At least it goes well with the equally plain Fairmont project across the street which itself is just a fatter version of the Shaw tower. A nicer looking convention center with a unique landmark hotel across the street would have been great additions to the waterfront. All the more sad since the original design for the Fairmont site was a great and..wait for it...UNIQUE design.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

But of course it will just blend in. Anything that would make it stand out just wouldnt fit with Vancouver's general lack of vision and willingness to build unique buildings that stand out (notwithstanding Shangri La and RC)

Sorry, I know alot of people are impressed, but for the pricetag, I think we could have built a much more architechtural unique building - some sort of landmark. Instead, it looks like a casino parkade, and lack of public access to roof is just ridiculous.

the only thing distinctive about shangri-la is the height... other than that it's another bland tower of glass

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

the only thing distinctive about shangri-la is the height... other than that it's another bland tower of glass

Agreed.....but it looks like we have to grasp at anything we can.

I was thinking about this a little more, and for its time, the original VTCC with the sails was a great design, and very unique - I think it still looks great today.

Given his penchant for white buildings, bridges etc, (and given that the original VTCC is white) just imagine what Santiago Calatrava could have done with this expansion project.

I'm pretty sure if he had been approached, given a budget of close to a Billion (i know, i know, that wasnt the anticipated budget when this started), he could have designed an astounding building that would have been unique and totally tied in with the original design in some other fashion - he's brilliant enough that he would have been able to tie it all together without just simply designing more sails.

Looks like our next hope is the new Art Gallery, but I'm not crossing my fingers.

[SFUVancouver]

I really disliked the original design for the Fairmont Pacific Rim. It was just a scaled up version of the office towers adjacent Canada Place, all post-modern geometric shapes. A cylinder comes out of a cube, daring!

While I think the lack of access to the Convention Centre roof is regrettable I do think it is shaping up to be a great building in a number of respects. It is respectful to the site, it is environmentally progressive, it has presence without being gaudy, and I think it is quickly shaping up to be an iconic part of the downtown skyline.

I haven't drank the "iconic" cool-aid. I think we're doing pretty well these days. I think the best buildings of this boom are a far, far sight better than any we have put up since the Marine Building, with the exceptions of the pre-reno Burrard Building and BC Electric tower, the Guiness tower, and that one at Georgia and Cardero.

[officedweller]

I don't necessarily need buildings elevated to "iconic" status - but "contrast" is nice.

Originally Posted by EastVanMark

All the more sad since the original design for the Fairmont site was a great and..wait for it...UNIQUE design.

Which design?
The most circulated one was one that mimicked the Waterfront Centre towers with a cylinder to match the one across the street. After that there may have been a design that looked like 3 books slightly offset from each other.
Wayyy before Shaw Tower and the Convention Centre there were to be 3 or 4 towers in a faux heritage look.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

Looks like our next hope is the new Art Gallery, but I'm not crossing my fingers.

yeah that's the only project i have any hope in either. this city will fuck it up somehow though and then act like it's the big deal it really isn't.

[EastVanMark]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I don't necessarily need buildings elevated to "iconic" status - but "contrast" is nice.



Which design?
The most circulated one was one that mimicked the Waterfront Centre towers with a cylinder to match the one across the street. After that there may have been a design that looked like 3 books slightly offset from each other.
Wayyy before Shaw Tower and the Convention Centre there were to be 3 or 4 towers in a faux heritage look.

Sorry, yes I meant the cylinder design. Although it does resemble the Waterfront towers across the street, the height of the building would have made it stand out whereas now we have 2 buildings that serve 2 different purposes that look almost identical to each other. Almost like a monument to boring, redundant architecture.