Saskatoon Construction

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by kgc087

Sorry to rain on your parade, but Saskatoon could only hope for something as iconic as those two museums. I'm finding a trend in modern canadian architecture to be occurring and that is these types of buildings! So it would be great for Saskatoon to something this forward, I really think it would compliment LP if it is built. I'm hoping for something completely deconstructive and outlandish!

For sure they're attractive for their strikingly outlandish use of juxtaposition. I've seen neither in person, but they show well in photos.

Whatever designs are presented to the public, all of them will have to address the box that is already on site. Unless we want more grey box, there's going to be juxtaposition. I'd just prefer to engulf it as much as possible with organic forms and airy materials, rather than a helping of geometric shapes and erratic sheets of metal.

Most people don't see the AGA and immediately think of the Disney Concert Hall. But some do. I like both, but I want to eliminate, or at the very least minimize that sort of response to the AGS.

I'm a cynic, and have also become paranoid...it's been a long week

The budget is $55 million, so I don't think we have much to worry about anyways.

[dsim249]

Re: the soon-to-be-vacant Confed Canadian Tire. What do you guys think would be a good replacement?

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by kgc087

Sorry to rain on your parade, but Saskatoon could only hope for something as iconic as those two museums. I'm finding a trend in modern canadian architecture to be occurring and that is these types of buildings! So it would be great for Saskatoon to something this forward, I really think it would compliment LP if it is built. I'm hoping for something completely deconstructive and outlandish!

I don't see it happening. From the article it sounds like saskatoon is doing it on the cheap again. This is the sentence that concerns me: "Design competitions tend to run up budgets because they favour risky architecture," Lundholm said. What is wrong with risky architecture? It's like the South Bridge - if we seek out mediocracy that is what we will get.

[Temperance]

Anybody know what is happening with the Clarion Project (performing arts centre at the university)? I thought there was supposed to be an announcement in mid-april?

[Jerry]

Funny you should ask. I was just reading an article on the Clarion Project

[Jerry]

A noteworthy read from the Globe & Mail Prosperity comes to the prairies

[ninipanini]

Thanks for those articles on the Clarion project and the Globe and Mail, good reads!

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Funny you should ask. I was just reading an article on the Clarion Project

Thanks Jerry! I was very impressed by the whole College Quarter concept plan of the U of S and hope that it actually gets done (off to a good start already it seems).

[Temperance]

An article on a proposal to divert waste-water from the power plant so that the river could freeze and skating (and skiing) on the river would once again be possible:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/technology/Skating+South+Saskatchewan/2946274/story.html

I kind of like the idea. I used to live in Ottawa and the canal there was pretty neat. It would also be great if there was a swimming pool (or beach) functioning on the river in the summer.

[mike474]

Originally Posted by Temperance

I don't see it happening. From the article it sounds like saskatoon is doing it on the cheap again. This is the sentence that concerns me: "Design competitions tend to run up budgets because they favour risky architecture," Lundholm said. What is wrong with risky architecture? It's like the South Bridge - if we seek out mediocracy that is what we will get.

I have no faith in this being an attractive building. That's why I was hoping it'd at least be big.

[Echoes]

Thanks for the links, Jerry.

Originally Posted by Jerry

Funny you should ask. I was just reading an article on the Clarion Project

This excites me a lot. College Drive's curb appeal is really increasing with all these projects!

I would like to see College get some streetscaping treatment by the city in the next few years.

Originally Posted by Jerry

A noteworthy read from the Globe & Mail Prosperity comes to the prairies

What an excellent read! Was happy to hear Vaughn Wyant mention his office tower project in the article, at least they're still intending to build it.

[milanboy]

Originally Posted by Jerry

WOW design fees for the AGS is $6.3 million. Is this normal for projects like this ?

This is about 10% of the entire project cost which is quite typical for architectural projects of this kind. Remember that the architect pays for the architectural design, structural design, hvac design, electrical design, plumbing design, acoustic design, landscaping design, parking design, and all other related design work including all the payments to engineers (structural, electrical, hvac, acoustic, etc.) and allother professionals involved including all of their staff and operating costs. The actual building costs go entirely to the contractor for their costs including materials, labour and profit.

[Jerry]

Thanks for educating me on design fees milanboy. I had no idea.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Temperance

I don't see it happening. From the article it sounds like saskatoon is doing it on the cheap again. This is the sentence that concerns me: "Design competitions tend to run up budgets because they favour risky architecture," Lundholm said. What is wrong with risky architecture? It's like the South Bridge - if we seek out mediocracy that is what we will get.

I don't get it either. The design process should be competitive and transparent. I disliked how the project was conceived too. Now we have another black box process where big decisions, involving public money, with long lasting effects is decided by a select few behind closed doors. This project has a 50/50 chance of being okay.

Cheer up though, the Clarion project should ease the pain. The University tends not to cheap out on high profile projects. Well, they better not with the recent tuition increase.

Originally Posted by dsim249

Re: the soon-to-be-vacant Confed Canadian Tire. What do you guys think would be a good replacement?

I'd like to see a mixed use retrofit. Won't happen though.

London Drugs? I'm really baffled as to why CTire would relocate.

Originally Posted by Temperance

An article on a proposal to divert waste-water from the power plant so that the river could freeze and skating (and skiing) on the river would once again be possible:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/technology/Skating+South+Saskatchewan/2946274/story.html

I kind of like the idea. I used to live in Ottawa and the canal there was pretty neat. It would also be great if there was a swimming pool (or beach) functioning on the river in the summer.

I'm split on this idea. It'd be great to skate the length of it and have hockey games at River Landing. As well, I could board down the river bank, hit a couple jumps and land on the river without worrying about falling through. However, as Susan Lamb stated in the article, the steam given off is a nice sight during the cold winter months. Psychologically, the steam and the ability to see a flowing river gives me a feeling that it's not that cold outside. I also enjoy seeing the wildlife (mostly birds and a beaver or two). I'm curious about what the cost would be to divert the water.

As far as winter activities go, I'm more interested in developing Diefenbaker Hill and eventually the landfill to accommodate tubing and snowboarding/skiing. Dief could use more height and a magic carpet or tbar. More people would come out and stay longer if they didn't have to hike up after reaching the bottom.

_________________

The zip-line idea is getting some traction. Maybe the City will install one for the summer months

A few simple solutions

By Ken Kimpton, The StarPhoenix April 24, 2010

I would add a zip-line to my list of simple luxuries us Toon Town folk could appreciate, as well as pedestrian crossing signs on 22nd Street that motorists actually can see, yield/stop signs at residential four-ways, and sinkhole warnings to and from Stonegate Wal-Mart.

Ken Kimpton

Saskatoon

© Copyright (c) The Star Phoenix

Source

[gopher65]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

I also enjoy seeing the wildlife (mostly birds and a beaver or two).

Where have you seen beavers? I'd love to get some pictures of those big toothed water rats.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

For sure they're attractive for their strikingly outlandish use of juxtaposition. I've seen neither in person, but they show well in photos.

Whatever designs are presented to the public, all of them will have to address the box that is already on site. Unless we want more grey box, there's going to be juxtaposition. I'd just prefer to engulf it as much as possible with organic forms and airy materials, rather than a helping of geometric shapes and erratic sheets of metal.

Most people don't see the AGA and immediately think of the Disney Concert Hall. But some do. I like both, but I want to eliminate, or at the very least minimize that sort of response to the AGS.

I'm a cynic, and have also become paranoid...it's been a long week

The budget is $55 million, so I don't think we have much to worry about anyways.

I understand exactly what your saying! I'm hoping for something that will also engulf that building but have the creative and architectural integrity of one of those buildings! That I think we both can agree on

[ninipanini]

Originally Posted by gopher65

Where have you seen beavers? I'd love to get some pictures of those big toothed water rats.

I've seen them hanging out down by the weir.

[J_M_A]

Did I read in the Globe & Mail today that Vaughn Wyant is opening a Porsche dealership in Saskatoon? When is this happening? Or might I have misread the article?

If this is happening, its great to hear and just another sign of how well Saskatoon is doing.

[mike474]

Originally Posted by gopher65

Where have you seen beavers? I'd love to get some pictures of those big toothed water rats.

I've seen lots of them this year. If you scroll back a few pages I posted a couple of photos of one that I watched for a good ten minutes chewing the bark off a stick (too bad it was crappy cell camera). If you walk down to the river from the corner of Spadina and 23rd there's a drainage pipe that creates a small creek that flows northward into the river; I've seen a few there and there are plenty of felled trees. I've also seen them on the east shore just north of the University Bridge, but that was after the ice broke up.

I think a neat attraction would be some kind of riverbank wildlife integration like beaver habitat. Has anyone been to that shoreline park in Kelowna that has boardwalks through a riparian habitat right in town? You can see the fish swimming and there are nesting eagles iirc right on the edge of downtown next to that large hotel complex (I forget the name); or there's the new tidal park in false creek in Vancouver or even some of the islands in Wascana Lake. I kinda wish the River Landing walk had incorporated something like that; but I have no idea how feasible it'd be with out climate, wildlife, and the local physical geography.

[milanboy]

We do have the Beaver Creek Conservation Area just south of the city where beavers can be seen in their natural habitat.