The Georgia | 157m | 48 fl | Completed - Page 33

Metro-One · #**641** Posted **May 19, 2010, 5:22 AM**

Nice pics, thanks!

And Ckkelley, thanks for being someone who lives downtown who actually likes and expects tall towers to be built, hehehehe

trofirhen · #**642** Posted **May 19, 2010, 2:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i love the TD building

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Me too, in fact I wish downtown had a few more large office towers in that vicinity.

The Burrard skytrain entrance is one of the most impressive areas of downtown, with the Bental, Hyatt, Park Place and other office / Hotel towers rising high above you. there you really do feel you are in the middle of a metropolis. In fact it even has a slight Tokyo feeling emerging from the subway into an area surrounded by 400+ feet office towers....slight...... (the cherry trees there help as well, hehe)

Regarding the TD building, I could have liked it better if it had more design to it, and if it weren't paired with its smaller black box brother across the street. For me, it gives that whole block a dark, depressing feeling, not only because of the colour, but the lack of design.
Also, the neighbouring Four Seasons, which is middle-of-the-road (to me) has no design cohesion with the rest of the Pacific Centre, and sort of sits there, like an outsider.

Regarding the Burrard Skytrain area ... YES!! Great atmosphere!! Truly "big city."

Interestingly, back when Park Place was being drawn up, the original plan called for a 600+ foot building with a sloping, bevelled roof, rather like the Pennzoil Plaza in Houston (or is it Dallas).... anyway, because the city was strict about the 450-ft height limit at that time, it was redesigned, and made lower and bulkier. (It's still one of our nicer ones I think, with the pink granite)

The original TD Bank, even during construction, had pictures of a taller, thinner building, with lighter coloured glass, and more space around it. I personally would have preferred that, but people seem to like dark or green glass in this town, (with a few exceptions).

Oh well, nothing's perfect.

red-paladin · #**643** Posted **May 19, 2010, 5:57 PM**

Variety is good!
There's a contingent of people on here who lament the lack of big brooding black glass office towers like Seattle's Columbia Center, and there's you and I who feel the opposite. But what everyone feels the same about is that Vancouver could use more variety.

trofirhen · #**644** Posted **May 19, 2010, 6:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Variety is good!
There's a contingent of people on here who lament the lack of big brooding black glass office towers like Seattle's Columbia Center, and there's you and I who feel the opposite. But what everyone feels the same about is that Vancouver could use more variety.

That's for sure!! I also think our buildings could be a little classier, too. As an example of classy - in its own way - I'd use One Wall Centre. To me, that's about the nicest tall building in the city.

officedweller · #**645** Posted **May 20, 2010, 12:25 AM**

I agree that variety is good - you need colours to contrast against each other to keep things interesting.
People already complain about the "sameness" of all of the condo towers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Also, the neighbouring Four Seasons, which is middle-of-the-road (to me) has no design cohesion with the rest of the Pacific Centre, and sort of sits there, like an outsider.

The Four Seasons was supposed to be built in the same dark brown cladding as TD Tower and IBM Tower, but it was changed at the last minute after the backlash against the dark towers.

Canaccord Tower - built in the early 80s - was also clad in a lighter colour in response to backlash against the original towers.

Now the former IBM tower's base is getting clad in the facade of the various retail spaces that occupy its ground floor. The first being Aritzia. The new office tower entrance is almost an afterthought, its so small.

****************

Pics by me today:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Spoolmak · #**646** Posted **May 20, 2010, 1:21 AM**

I count 18 floors...30 more to go! This one is going to tower over its neighbors!

officedweller · #**647** Posted **May 20, 2010, 2:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locked In

------
Here are some of my photos of the project from today (May 18):

Anyone else notice that the painted parts seem a lot "bieger" than they used to be?

trofirhen · #**648** Posted **May 20, 2010, 3:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoolmak

I count 18 floors...30 more to go! This one is going to tower over its neighbors!

Tall and elegant! YAY!!

vanman · #**649** Posted **May 20, 2010, 3:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Anyone else notice that the painted parts seem a lot "bieger" than they used to be?

Ya I was gonna mention that also. The new colour kind of belnds in more with the brick. It looked better before the reno. There used to be much more contrast.

trofirhen · #**650** Posted **May 20, 2010, 4:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanman

Ya I was gonna mention that also. The new colour kind of belnds in more with the brick. It looked better before the reno. There used to be much more contrast.

Just chippin' in, but yeah .... the former cream colour was more striking and elegant, and set of the Grecian style trimming into bolder relief. Maybe the'll repaint it again. (It could be just an undercoat....) .... but if not, go to the property owners and complain directly. They often take direct public input seriously.

officedweller · #**651** Posted **May 20, 2010, 4:32 AM**

It used to be a bit yellower (pale yellow) - now it's too "earthtone"..
Some of Locked In's pics show it lighter in colour, but looking out the office window too - it looks a lot darker than it used to.

flight_from_kamakura · #**652** Posted **May 20, 2010, 4:42 AM**

regarding the variety issue, that's actually one of the nicest things about this tower imo, i just love it when these newer towers come in to break up the monotony of the builtouts of previous booms. it's actually something that i quite like about patina (without loving that building), really love about jameson (especially with how tall that baby is getting!), and appreciate about the new towers going into the west end.

anyway, thanks for the updates.

trofirhen · #**653** Posted **May 20, 2010, 8:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

It used to be a bit yellower (pale yellow) - now it's too "earthtone"..
Some of Locked In's pics show it lighter in colour, but looking out the office window too - it looks a lot darker than it used to.

If you approach the owners, especially with a petition (preferably one with one or two influential signatures) they might just repaint it. It is too pinky earthtone. I think that was done to "blend in" with the reddish bricks, but it doesn't work. It only detracts from the Grecian ornamentation on the upper edges of the building. That part should be a lighter colour. Maybe the same HUE, but with more white in it, to make the highlights stand out.

The company (like any) is image-concious regarding this project. If they believe that enough people prefer it to look differently, they may change it because it is part of the overall design statement, used to attract customers, either condo buyers, or hotel visitors.

vanman · #**654** Posted **May 21, 2010, 2:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Just chippin' in, but yeah .... the former cream colour was more striking and elegant, and set of the Grecian style trimming into bolder relief. Maybe the'll repaint it again. (It could be just an undercoat....) .... but if not, go to the property owners and complain directly. They often take direct public input seriously.

Ha ,I really don't care enough to ever do that, nor do I think the developer would care if I did.

trofirhen · #**655** Posted **May 21, 2010, 2:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanman

Ha ,I really don't care enough to ever do that, nor do I think the developer would care if I did.

You might be surprised. Alone, no. With a group, quite possibly.
I speak from experience with the interior of the Pacific Centre Mall (you probably don't remember it from when it was opened, but it was blaaaaaa).
But I'll say no more, 'cause someone will just try and shoot it down.
But try. The beige-brown-pink is yucky.

ckkelley · #**656** Posted **May 22, 2010, 10:34 PM**

Update 22MAY10

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4630418518_3a67c7da66_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/4629816907_c4903238cc_b.jpg

Photos by me.

Note that the Global News Tent Studio used during the Olympics, on the east roof of the VAG hasn't been taken down yet. Anyone know why? Maybe they'll planning on using it for something else. It's been nearly three months since it's been used and it seems like a long time for a temporary alteration to a heritage structure.

dleung · #**657** Posted **May 23, 2010, 4:33 PM**

^^Not only did I make your picture sunny, it's at least five years into the future =)

Complete with new art gallery where the Sears building used to be.

Spork · #**658** Posted **May 23, 2010, 5:16 PM**

God damn! And the Global News tent is STILL there!

ckkelley · #**659** Posted **May 23, 2010, 6:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleung

^^Not only did I make your picture sunny, it's at least five years into the future =)

Complete with new art gallery where the Sears building used to be.

Nice!

And I am kinda hopin' for a 600'-700' tower on the Sears site. That would be cool!

Thanks!

trofirhen · #**660** Posted **May 23, 2010, 11:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckkelley

Nice!

And I am kinda hopin' for a 600'-700' tower on the Sears site. That would be cool!

Thanks!

That big building has a similar design to a tall one in Hong Kong, and seems almost as tall as the BURJ DUBAI. Also - I hate Sears (like just about everone) but Mr. Leung's replacement looks like a meteorite or something.

I appreciate the orignal idea, and it IS impressive, but somehow, it just doesn't go with Vancouver ---- and this is my opinon only.
... but for originality one has to give it praise and high marks, for sure.