YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[EdmTrekker]

I agree - these are great changes. I like the patio concept...need this throughout so it feels lively. Good work EAA!

[Coldrsx]

^agreed. Love the idea of creating "experiences" for people waiting.

[Jasper and one o nin]

All's quiet on the airport front?
I did notice some graders were sitting at the south end...

[CanadianCentaur]

Well, you can't always expect to be hearing something new about YEG every day or week!

But I'm sure there will be exciting things down the road before the end of this year.

[Kevin_foster]

/pokes head in

So what was the 'big announcement'? I can't find anything...

[Coldrsx]

i just want to see the new terminal underway and the hotel. Both will finally make YEG look like a decent sized airport.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Originally Posted by CanadianCentaur

Well, you can't always expect to be hearing something new about YEG every day or week!

But I'm sure there will be exciting things down the road before the end of this year.

I know, just spurring conversation. With the new hotel, new apron, new expansion, Port Alberta, and this rumoured service announcement.... its been quiet lately.
Also, there have been rumblings about the new administration tower.
My quess is that the new tower will be built, staff moved, and then the existing tower will taken down. I imagine the reason for taking the tower down is because in order to expand the baggage areas, the (old) terminal needs to expand under the departures roadway (like the current south terminal). Then the arrivals level road will need to shift over where the base of the tower is(to where the rendez-vouz meeting point is located)

[Coldrsx]

^they better not take the current awesome tower down.

[Jasper and one o nin]

they will

[CanadianCentaur]

If current ATC tower has got to go, then so be it. Someone in the C2E thread on the $1B expansion mentioned that the current tower is very business-unfriendly and also implied that it's getting so long in the tooth that it might be cheaper to just tear it down and rebuild that part of the north terminal (after the ATC staff and other staff are moved to a new ATC tower of course!). Especially, as we all eagerly anticipate, something is done about the baggage claims section there.

YEG is interesting in the fact that it doesn't have a tall, skinny ATC tower like a lot of other airports of its size worldwide do. But you have to remember that the flat terrain and the lack of much surrounding development had made the need for a taller ATC unnecessary. Now that things are about to change soon and fast....

[Coldrsx]

^i dont mind the ATC section going, but dont touch my lovely 50/60's office component.

[tuffyy]

Well the China people...

Oh I wont say anything other than we are on the heels of something rather big.

[Coldrsx]

^karma i guess for me

[S_B_Russell]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

^i dont mind the ATC section going, but dont touch my lovely 50/60's office component.

I agree. Save the tower. We seem to be getting rid of a lot of awesome 50s/60s buildings (ex. the Central Tabernacle/Professional Building). Hopefully, a lot of people in E-Town will grow to appreciate this type of architecture and I would hate to see another one gone.

[Edmonchuck]

That tower is fugly. I have always hated it, even since new. It looks thrown together. I liked the street lamps better...

Not saying that you have to tear it down, but my goodness, blah. Renovate it please. If we love the '60's so much, let's go back to that winderful idea they had of having a small terminal and loading planes with those goofy PTV's...

[ExcaliburKid]

Originally Posted by tuffyy

Well the China people...

Oh I wont say anything other than we are on the heels of something rather big.

Thats great, Im glad that there's more still to come

[JBB]

I'm on the side that likes the tower. Not only do I think that its a great example of international style architecture, second only to the CN tower in Edmonton but in the context of the airport, its an icon. As others have mentioned, I can't think of a single airport with an office tower so prominently placed like that and I think it makes YEG stand out architecturally.

[Hooter]

Ummm...

I believe that Winnipeg has the same "office tower".

[Jasper and one o nin]

I do think that the tower is a landmark for the airport. But the only people who relate to it, or appreciate it, are the locals that "grew up" visiting the airport. People who come here for the first time, if they notice it at all, will relate to an old outdated building. In my opinion having a new sleek building will give a better first impression.
I believe that the tower does need to come down. In comparison with other airports, the baggage claims area at YEG is terrible. There is no visual clear boundary between the public area and the claim area. Its all open. In order to expand - the first floor will need to bump out towards the parkade. The south terminal isnt as bad because it has already been constructed under the drive-aisle at the departures level. If the terminal were to expand under the departures drive aisle at the north terminal, the taxi and limo drive aisle would need to be shifted over. and that is exactly where the base of the tower (meeting point) is located. So that is why I think the tower needs to come down.

[Coldrsx]

^which can happen where the cabs load/unload.....


LEAVE THE TOWER