Saskatoon Construction

[Jerry]

^^ Yes it is >>>Henry-Downing-Howlett

[Echoes]

Regardless of what people think of the cathedral's design, man is its steeple ever visible from so many vantage points in the city!

[Echoes]

^ And while we're on the topic of HDH Architects, I was browsing their site and came across their work on the Court of Queen's Bench expansion which I believe was put on hold last year.

Several renderings at the link below. Looks good. Hope it moves forward in the near future.
http://www.hdharchitects.ca/web/f?p=2472...102,Queens%E2%80%99%20Bench%20Courthouse

[Jerry]

^ Looks like it's slated to go in May Court of Queen's Bench.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Echoes

^ And while we're on the topic of HDH Architects, I was browsing their site and came across their work on the Court of Queen's Bench expansion which I believe was put on hold last year.

Several renderings at the link below. Looks good. Hope it moves forward in the near future.
http://www.hdharchitects.ca/web/f?p=2472...102,Queens%E2%80%99%20Bench%20Courthouse

It was deferred for it at least one year for budget reasons. If there is room in the budget it will proceed May 1, 2011. The Finance Minster said today:

Krawetz hints, "there are certain things we deferred back in the spring that maybe now should be tackled."

It is nice to see the expansion appears to be true to the 1940s style of the original.

[dsim249]

Was in Midtown today. Noticed a few changes (some have been mentioned already).
- Coles Bookstore is moving to where CD Plus used to be [I thought Coles was old news? It doesn't even have a website. It just goes straight to Chapters/Indigo. You'd think if they're making a new store, they would make it a Chapters or Indigo.]
- Sony Style is moving to where Randy River used to be
- Aldo is expanding
- Michael Hill is going next to Aldo
- F2/Jock remodeled
- Bell is going where Tuxedo Town(?) used to be. Does that strike anyone as odd? Bell doesn't really have a presence in SK, other than satellite TV.

And I've heard from yet another source: Guess Jeans, Sephora and H&M. We'll see.

[WoodlandCritter]

Thanks Crisis........Never really looked at their website before. But lots of their buildings are recognizable.

I am interested to see how the solar panel glass windows look/work in the new cathedral. I know there has been love and hate for the design but i guess we will have to see how it looks when it is completed.

As far as the Queen's Bench addition goes i don't find it overly creative. Even in the context of trying to relate to the existing building. Kinda looks like the 1970's addition of RUH. But thats just my opinion.

On another note I was wondering if anybody knows if Saskatoon has an mandate for artistic creation in public works projects? By that i mean does the city implement setting aside a certain portion of a projects budget towards artistic creation within the project? I am asking this because here in Edmonton i was told that any public project has to set aside 1% of the cost to artistic creation (or whatever you wanna call it).

Also Edm has mandated a Sustainable Building Policy by which city projects have to be a minimum LEED Silver. Nice to see that they are taking an initiative. Would be an interesting policy for Stoon to take on. Unless there is something like that and I am just out of the loop haha.

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by dsim249

Was in Midtown today. Noticed a few changes (some have been mentioned already).
- Coles Bookstore is moving to where CD Plus used to be
- Sony Style is moving to where Randy River used to be
- Aldo is expanding
- Michael Hill is going next to Aldo
- F2/Jock remodeled
- Bell is going where Tuxedo Town(?) used to be. Does that strike anyone as odd? Bell doesn't really have a presence in SK, other than satellite TV.

And I've heard from yet another source: Guess Jeans, Sephora and H&M. We'll see.

Bell will be launching cell service in SK very shortly.

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Chaps

Bell will be launching cell service in SK very shortly.

Ah, I suspected that. Thanks.

EDIT: Here's an article from August.

Bell expands HSPA+ network in Saskatchewan, Quebec

Posted on August 24, 2010
Bell customers in Northern Quebec and Saskatchewan - or customers passing through - will be happy to know Bell has expanded its HSPA+ network into these areas. Users will now be able to experience download speeds much of the country already enjoys - up to 21 Mbps - and also upgrade their devices to the latest HSPA+ compatible phones, smartphones and mobile internet sticks. The Bell network has been expanded across the Telebec territory in Northern Quebec, and in partnership with SaskTel, service is also available now across Saskatchewan. As with TELUS, who announced their new 3G+ coverage in Saskatchewan yesterday, and SaskTel, who announced their 3G+ coverage last week, Bell expects to have full HSPA+ coverage across the prairie province by the winter of 2011.
Source

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by dsim249

Ah, I suspected that. Thanks.

So you're saying there is a Bell branded store currently under construction at the Midtown Plaza? Did it say when the open date would be?

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Chaps

So you're saying there is a Bell branded store currently under construction at the Midtown Plaza? Did it say when the open date would be?

Yes it's currently under construction. No date posted, but I would suspect a few weeks.

[kgc087]

That addition would be ok if it didn't have the weird windows on top :S. Don't worry, once the school of architecture opens Saskatoon can expect some top notch designs throughout the city. Ryerson has outstanding new modern buildings being constructed. Perhaps the U of S will take some initiative to creating a downtown campus, perhaps design and business oriented which could lead to some pretty innovative projects.

[Brutopian]

Originally Posted by nook

Just noticed this evening that the "blue fence of death" is up around the old "Pho Famous" Restaurant on the corner of 22nd and Idywyld...

Some might remember it as the Husky House, among other names.

Let me just say that it's about damn time that someone brings down that place. Even an empty lot is better than having that place exist. What an eyesore on a busy street.

I happened to be driving by the Pho Famous Restaurant today (corner of Idylwyld and 22nd St) and noticed that it is already partially demolished. Anyone know what might be in store for that lot?

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Jerry

^ Looks like it's slated to go in May Court of Queen's Bench.

Originally Posted by Stormer

It was deferred for it at least one year for budget reasons. If there is room in the budget it will proceed May 1, 2011. The Finance Minster said today:

Krawetz hints, "there are certain things we deferred back in the spring that maybe now should be tackled."

It is nice to see the expansion appears to be true to the 1940s style of the original.

That's encouraging news. Good to know, thanks guys.

[Yeff]

There's some activity on the northeast corner of 36th and Idylwyld on the former Green Light Auto lot... does anyone know what's happening there?

[Jerry]

Moving on up

Southern Saskatchewan students head north to U of S

By Jolissa Simon, The Leader-Post February 16, 2011



New facilities, programs and opportunities at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon are catching the attention of southern Saskatchewan students.

"I've represented the U of S at education fairs in Regina for years, and recently I've noticed more and more students coming up to me who want to be U of S students," says Amy Tomtene, a Senior Recruitment Officer at the U of S. "I think more students are choosing us because we're the premier school in the province. We have so much to offer." [...]

Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/Moving/4291971/story.html#ixzz1E8HJtw8c

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Yeff

There's some activity on the northeast corner of 36th and Idylwyld on the former Green Light Auto lot... does anyone know what's happening there?

It's gonna be a lube shop, I believe.

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by Echoes

^ And while we're on the topic of HDH Architects, I was browsing their site and came across their work on the Court of Queen's Bench expansion which I believe was put on hold last year.

Several renderings at the link below. Looks good. Hope it moves forward in the near future.
http://www.hdharchitects.ca/web/f?p=2472...102,Queens%E2%80%99%20Bench%20Courthouse

Glad to hear that it looks like this project is proceeding, but I must say I am pretty disappointed with the design. I was hoping for something far more substanial, exciting and stimulating. For a public building on such a prime piece of Saskatoon real estate, this is a bit of a let down.

I understand the rationale to be sympathetic to the existing design and style of the current building, but sometimes the juxtaposition of a modern addition to an older building can work really well, too! Maybe something like the following:

http://www.riccigreene.com/index.php?act=Project_desc&id=83&photo_id=188&flag=State/County

Either way, I hope to see this project get off the ground this spring!!

[Echoes]

I'm not going to bother posting an excerpt of the article here, but as we have been following the PotashCorp story on this thread, here's a link to a relevant article in today's StarPhoenix:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Potash+pledge+reaction+mixed/4292518/story.html

In it, the CEO of of the Chamber of Commerce comments that the repatration of PCS jobs to Saskatoon bodes well for the "continued development of downtown office space."

[jigglysquishy]

I'm taking engineering at the U of S right now. Much better program here, but I do plan on living in Regina when all is said and done.