Saskatoon Construction

[Kinguni]

Originally Posted by ninipanini

Shredded rubber in the road sounds like a reasonable idea, better roads and a good option for reusing old tires - anyone out there know if they're already doing this? Tires in roads sounds familiar.

Yes. One short stretch of road in Winnipeg has this, I believe to see if it has the extra durability to go with the extra cost.

[exploration camper]

Saskhighways installed a 20km section of rubber asphalt on highway 11. Here's a link http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=c112be28-a9ed-4f79-89cf-51d823409c2c

I don't think that the movement of eathquakes is similar to heave from thaw. Heave being usually vertical and earthquakes horizontal. I think it would be more effective to incorporate subdrainage into the road structure to give water a path to be removed so that there is less water in the subsoils.

While the glass blocks are an interesting feature I don't think it makes sense to keep them, the safety of the sidewalk is the important thing here and the costs involved with restoring the basements are very large for little public benefit.

[gowest]

I was in the west end store today. They are starting to move stock and equipment into the new store. It opens April 7th. Mark's will be part of the store. It is suppost to be the first of it's kind. Should be interesting to see.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by JCA

There's no need to build it because you can exit onto Lorne Ave. and go north back onto the freeway.

Not to mention this overpass was designed to allow truck traffic to get across the city easier. However it would seem that even though this is awesome the traffic problems wont be solved until Ave C North area is fixed. I will put up my desired route here in a while.

http://img861.imageshack.us/i/saskatoonbypass2.jpg/

See attached image. I hope it is legible... the one red path that isn't as curved is an alternate route that would allow increased expansion NW... the alignment I have selected makes use of grid roads mostly to facilitate the least interference to existing agriculture lands.

There are also provisions for hwy interchanges at (7, 14, 16) and city interchanges at Circle, 33rd, Valley, and Beam roads. ALL LIMITED ACCESS!

Let me know what you think.... I think we should put this forward to the City... as this needs to happen! Not to mention unlike the North bypass idea, this idea already has the bridge to facilitate river crossings. At about 1 million / km for twinned hwy construction. This undertaking would be between $200-$275 million after all interchanges, rail bridges and roads are built. Small expense for LARGE gains, and WAY less headache.

[Jerry]

Saskatoon office space in demand

By Cassandra Kyle, The StarPhoenix March 22, 2011 12:01 AM


Construction will begin in May on a three-storey concrete building on the corner of 23rd and Wall streets
Photograph by: Submitted photo, Edwards Edwards McEwen Architects


A desire for more parking space is one of the driving forces behind a new office building planned for the warehouse district.

Construction will begin in May on a three-storey concrete building on the corner of 23rd and Wall streets, ICR Commercial Real Estate said Monday. The 34,000-square-foot office features 58 parking stalls — 46 of which are heated and located underground or on the ground-level floor of the structure. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/S...+demand/4480439/story.html#ixzz1HJF0zkaY

[Jerry]

Preserving sidewalk prisms 'an issue of cost'

City to investigate preservation of downtown heritage feature
By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix March 22, 2011 3:06 AM


The City of Saskatoon will look into the cost of preserving the translucent glass prisms set in downtown sidewalks. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Preserving...ue+cost/4481027/story.html#ixzz1HJzJZe6U

[Yeff]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Saskatoon office space in demand

More evidence of the need for space is illustrated by the recent leasing of the entire Capitol Centre on First Avenue and all of the Arthur Cook building on 23rd Street

Does anyone know who took the space in the Capitol Centre and Arthur Cook building? More positive steps for downtown!

[drm310]

I was glad to read in the article that both the Capitol Centre and Arthur Cook Building are fully leased. It will be nice to see both of those places occupied.

Originally Posted by Jerry

Saskatoon office space in demand

By Cassandra Kyle, The StarPhoenix March 22, 2011 12:01 AM

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/S...+demand/4480439/story.html#ixzz1HJF0zkaY

[Caswellian]

Construction will begin in May on a three-storey concrete building on the corner of 23rd and Wall streets
Photograph by: Submitted photo, Edwards Edwards McEwen Architects



Nothing like a big brick wall to make the street-level inviting! By the looks of the rendering besides some red brick the design guidelines outlined in the Warehouse District LAP are being ignored. Though I'm glad to see they are putting underground parking in, at least one thing is being done right.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Caswellian

Construction will begin in May on a three-storey concrete building on the corner of 23rd and Wall streets
Photograph by: Submitted photo, Edwards Edwards McEwen Architects



Nothing like a big brick wall to make the street-level inviting! By the looks of the rendering besides some red brick the design guidelines outlined in the Warehouse District LAP are being ignored. Though I'm glad to see they are putting underground parking in, at least one thing is being done right.

My favourite part is the smart car and over achieving cyclist...They forgot the 20 rundown pick up trucks to go around this building!

________________________________________

I really hope the city just bucks up the bill for the prisms, this is such an amazing feature to our city! To lose this would be terrible.

[prairieguy]

I too am curious as to who has leased the entire Capital Centre Building...is it someone just simply moving from elsewhere downtown? If it is a company moving from one of the industrial areas or suburban areas, then I think that is great, as I fully support increasing the density of living and business in our downtown core.

Originally Posted by kgc087

I really hope the city just bucks up the bill for the prisms, this is such an amazing feature to our city! To lose this would be terrible.

I too fully support the city coming up with the $$$ to support retaining this unique heritage feature of our downtown. Maybe there would be some Federal or Provincial heritage grants available to support this. This SHOULD NOT be the responsibility of the building owners....these sidewalks are a city amenity.

Originally Posted by Caswellian

Construction will begin in May on a three-storey concrete building on the corner of 23rd and Wall streets
Photograph by: Submitted photo, Edwards Edwards McEwen Architects



Nothing like a big brick wall to make the street-level inviting! By the looks of the rendering besides some red brick the design guidelines outlined in the Warehouse District LAP are being ignored. Though I'm glad to see they are putting underground parking in, at least one thing is being done right.

I guess this could be worse. However, it is really too bad that the ground floor wasn't more pedestrian/street friendly. A coffee shop or some retail would have been nice to see.

[jigglysquishy]

I agree that this thing needs some sort of ground level retail, but it's still nice for something else to go up.

[Echoes]

^ To be honest, I was expecting much, much worse for that building. But yes, its interaction with the street is a complete fail.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I agree that this thing needs some sort of ground level retail, but it's still nice for something else to go up.

This mentality shouldn't exist in Saskatchewan anymore. Development for the sake of development should not be satisfying. It's time to capitalize on our strong economy and demand better.

I wonder if the glass will be reflective to match the overbearing wall, thereby destroying any interaction between building and street.

One comparison is this project in downtown Regina.



The building is a similar scale and instead of a blank wall at grade, the developer worked with the city to ensure strong interaction between the building and street. This area would not be conducive to retail (similar to the Saskatoon proposal I assume) and thus the main floor will instead be office but even this maintains at least some interaction. Furthermore, the building will be designed to ensure that if or when the market changes, the main floor can be easily converted to retail.

Time for some urban design guidelines in S'toon!

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

I too am curious as to who has leased the entire Capital Centre Building...is it someone just simply moving from elsewhere downtown? If it is a company moving from one of the industrial areas or suburban areas, then I think that is great, as I fully support increasing the density of living and business in our downtown core.

I'm not sure who is going into the Capital Centre Building. However, I have been told by some very reliables sources that the Arthur Cook building will be the new Saskatoon office location of a large General Contractor, consolidating their operation from separate offices in the North Industrial and Stonebridge areas.

[Caswellian]

Originally Posted by Crisis

I'm not sure who is going into the Capital Centre Building. However, I have been told by some very reliables sources that the Arthur Cook building will be the new Saskatoon office location of a large General Contractor, consolidating their operation from separate offices in the North Industrial and Stonebridge areas.

any word if they are going to have ground floor retail/commerical? I seem to recall that was one of the main requirements of the original RFP...

[Arts]

Originally Posted by drm310

I was glad to read in the article that both the Capitol Centre and Arthur Cook Building are fully leased. It will be nice to see both of those places occupied.

I'm not sure what Elenko means by "leasing" in the article, I have a feeling it doesn't mean they have been leased, just that they are now "up for lease". I too look forward to seeing what moves into those locations as I walk to work down that stretch of 24th everyday.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by Caswellian

any word if they are going to have ground floor retail/commerical? I seem to recall that was one of the main requirements of the original RFP...

Not to the best of my knowledge. I haven't heard about ground floor retail from any of the future inhabitants that I've spoken to, but that doesn't mean that it won't be there.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by CCF

This mentality shouldn't exist in Saskatchewan anymore. Development for the sake of development should not be satisfying. It's time to capitalize on our strong economy and demand better.

I wonder if the glass will be reflective to match the overbearing wall, thereby destroying any interaction between building and street.

One comparison is this project in downtown Regina.



The building is a similar scale and instead of a blank wall at grade, the developer worked with the city to ensure strong interaction between the building and street. This area would not be conducive to retail (similar to the Saskatoon proposal I assume) and thus the main floor will instead be office but even this maintains at least some interaction. Furthermore, the building will be designed to ensure that if or when the market changes, the main floor can be easily converted to retail.

Time for some urban design guidelines in S'toon!

I would never want to see this erected in Saskatoon's downtown, ever. I would take the brick wall over this suburbanish condo like structure. I don't mind the solid brick massing, it's part of the architecture, yes it could be more engaging but just the overall aesthetic of this structure is impressive enough for Saskatoon.

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by kgc087

I would never want to see this erected in Saskatoon's downtown, ever. I would take the brick wall over this suburbanish condo like structure. I don't mind the solid brick massing, it's part of the architecture, yes it could be more engaging but just the overall aesthetic of this structure is impressive enough for Saskatoon.

I almost always agree with your posts, kgc087, but in this case I don't see the Regina proposal any worse (or better) then the Saskatoon one. The Regina one, with it's condo like look, at least provides the "illusion" of a work/live type of building and does provide some street ambience and access. I also don't think the Saskatoon one is 'horrible', but sure would have liked to have seen some street/pedestrian considerations.