Rideau-Sussex Redesign/Public Square | Proposed

[Richard Eade]

Over on West Side Action, Eric Darwin has an article about the latest NCC additions to Colonel By Drive just south of the Rideau/Sussex area.
(http://westsideaction.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/indistinguishable-crosswalk-lures-peds-to-danger/)

In that article, he mentions that the spiral staircase is being removed from Mackenzie King Bridge down to the canal side; having been replaced by the linear stairs beside the Convention Centre across the street. Interestingly, some of the comments for that article deal with the issue of the spiral staircase. Apparently a similar staircase has already been replaced by a metal-framed one from Laurier Bridge to the canal.

Looking at Google Streetviews, you can look at the two:

I have no idea who actually took these pictures, but I stole them from Google Streetviews. http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=45.4...hrOO_4IUkWCRrDg0gw&cbp=12,212.69,,0,2.69 and http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=45.4...xhuxWbAIVOy4C20Jw&cbp=12,208.93,,0,-4.62

Personally, I like the old concrete one much better than the steel one. There is a certain mystique about how the blocks stay stacked, and the wide black railing which seems to almost floats like ribbons up between the stairs. To me, this is public art; although one with a purpose.

A set of stairs stuck out from a central, steel, column just doesn't show any artistry for me. But I guess that the new Laurier Bridge stairs are going to be the only circular stairs Ottawa will have downtown.

Are we seeing the removal of our public art in favour of more utilitarian things that are easier to maintain?

[Aside: On that note, does anyone know what happened to the piece of art which used to be embedded in the hill on the west side of the canal, between the NAC and the Plaza Bridge; the one with the large fiberglass people balancing on the 'Y' beam? I recall that a lot of people used to sit on the beam and have their picture taken with the plastic people.]

[McC]

expecting this monument to be absolutely terrible... something heavy handed and cheezie, like one of those patriotic Tim Horton's commercial cast in bronze. Anyway, the NCC's approved the site:

Site for Stanley Cup monument approved

BY MARIA COOK, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN JUNE 30, 2011

OTTAWA — A plan to create a monument to commemorate Lord Stanley and his gift to hockey moved a step closer to reality on Wednesday.

The National Capital Commission board approved the proposed commemoration and the use of a site at the intersection of Rideau Street, Sussex Drive and Colonel By Drive.

The site will be reserved for three years while financing is confirmed.

“Hockey is the heart and soul of Canadians,” said Sylvie Pilon-Tilden of the NCC’s Capital Interpretation and Commemorations.

A group of businessmen and other individuals, headed by Ottawa hockey historian Paul Kitchen, plans to raise $5.5 million for the monument. They hope to unveil it in 2017.

The NCC is planning to redevelop the corner into a public plaza and a landmark along the ceremonial route.

Canada’s sixth governor general, Lord Stanley of Preston, gave Canada the hockey championship trophy called the Stanley Cup in 1892.

“This is a huge decision on the part of the board of directors,” Kitchen said.

“It means everything to us. In practical terms, we have to commence our fundraising, and potential corporate sponsors are going to ask first of all where is going to be.

“Ottawa is the place to have such a monument. Lord Stanley used the ceremonial route to get to his East Block office. He would have come right by that site.”

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen


Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Site+Stanley+monument+approved/5027018/story.html#ixzz1QlCH4LmQ

In related news, does anyone else find the firefighters memorial going in at Wellington and Lett Streets to be an obscene display and general waste of space?

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by McC

expecting this monument to be absolutely terrible... something heavy handed and cheezie, like one of those patriotic Tim Horton's commercial cast in bronze. Anyway, the NCC's approved the site:

In related news, does anyone else find the firefighters memorial going in at Wellington and Lett Streets to be an obscene display and general waste of space?

The media used to refer to this monument as a Stanley Cup monument, a giant cup, but now it's being called a monument of Lord Stanley (and his cup). I guess they realized a giant Stanley Cup would look stupid at the city's busiest intersection. In my opinion putting Lord Stanley in there makes this monument a way better idea.

I'm not a fan of the design and location for the firefighter monument. Actually the past few monuments have had weird designs. I really look forward to whatever monument they'll put at the Portage Bridge/Wellington/Ottawa River Parkway intersection whenever they get around to it.

[TransitZilla]

The images below I think give a pretty good idea of what the City and NCC have in mind for this intersection.

The plan is for there to be an entrace to the Rideau LRT station in this plaza, plus the monument.

These images are from a City presentation (http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/cit...20Cycl%20&%20Transit%20advis%20cttee.pdf)







I think it looks pretty awesome, especially if the old Union Station can become the new Central Library

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

But I guess that the new Laurier Bridge stairs are going to be the only circular stairs Ottawa will have downtown.

No, the MacKenzie King stairs are going to be replaced with a new set of stairs on the south side of the bridge.

From http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16300-20466-135532&lang=1

Rideau Canal Open Space Rehabilitation – Ottawa Lockstation
...

Phase 2 – Fall 2011
The second phase of the project includes:

the removal and replacement of the corkscrew stairway at the Mackenzie King Bridge

[Lugnut]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

I think it looks pretty awesome, especially if the old Union Station can become the new Central Library

I think it looks really good too. Is Union Station big enough to be the library? And has that site been discussed? I thought they were talking about a site over on Albert/Slater?

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

I think it looks really good too. Is Union Station big enough to be the library? And has that site been discussed? I thought they were talking about a site over on Albert/Slater?

The site on Albert and Slater has been abandoned because the property owners did not want to sell it to the city, at least, not at the price the city was offering.

[kevinbottawa]

The latest LRT report refers to the public square at Rideau-Sussex as "Lord Stanley Plaza". So it appears the square has a name now.

So New York has Times Square, Toronto has Yonge-Dundas Square, London has Picadilly Circus, Vancouver has Robson Square, and Ottawa has...Lord Stanley Plaza. Any thoughts?

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Rideau Plaza would've been fine.

[m0nkyman]

Here's the reason for the name : http://www.ottawacitizen.com/mobile/iphone/story.html?id=5027510

[OttawaSteve]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

So New York has Times Square, Toronto has Yonge-Dundas Square, London has Picadilly Circus, Vancouver has Robson Square, and Ottawa has...Lord Stanley Plaza. Any thoughts?

No complaints about the historiographical appropriateness of naming something like this after Lord Stanley. But let's face it: in terms of euphony, "Lord Stanley Plaza" is a disaster. It lacks rhythmicity and it requires an awkward alternation of back vowels and alveolar consonsants. It's a great name for a freeway interchange, but not for a pedestrian square.

If they name it this, you can pretty much guarantee you will never, ever hear people saying "meet me Lord Stanley Plaza at 8:00!" Time to start thinking of a clever nickname.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by OttawaSteve

No complaints about the historiographical appropriateness of naming something like this after Lord Stanley. But let's face it: in terms of euphony, "Lord Stanley Plaza" is a disaster. It lacks rhythmicity and it requires an awkward alternation of back vowels and alveolar consonsants. It's a great name for a freeway interchange, but not for a pedestrian square.

If they name it this, you can pretty much guarantee you will never, ever hear people saying "meet me Lord Stanley Plaza at 8:00!" Time to start thinking of a clever nickname.

I'm very particular about how things are named. Lord Stanley Plaza is definitely appropriate based on the monument they want to build, but you have to consider how people will use the name everyday; how it rolls off the tongues of residents and tourists and how people interpret the word Plaza. I asked my wife, who doesn't know much about cities/public spaces, what she thought when she heard the words "Lord Stanley Plaza" and she said a strip mall with stores. I'm sure other people would think the same thing. A plaza in Canada means something different than in Europe. The same thing happened with the Ottawa Congress Centre; American clients were thrown off by how we were using the word Congress. Hopefully they tweak the name a bit.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I'm very particular about how things are named. Lord Stanley Plaza is definitely appropriate based on the monument they want to build, but you have to consider how people will use the name everyday; how it rolls off the tongues of residents and tourists and how people interpret the word Plaza. I asked my wife, who doesn't know much about cities/public spaces, what she thought when she heard the words "Lord Stanley Plaza" and she said a strip mall with stores. I'm sure other people would think the same thing. A plaza in Canada means something different than in Europe. The same thing happened with the Ottawa Congress Centre; American clients were thrown off by how we were using the word Congress. Hopefully they tweak the name a bit.

While wording is very important but if you start tossing out canadian words and terms and replace them with european or american terms or words that would not go over well.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Personally, I would've rather had any of the following:

- Rideau Square
- Rideau Plaza
- Place d'Ottawa
- Union Square
- "The Station"
- Union Plaza

[Kitchissippi]

Stanley Square would be alright. Stanley Park in Vancouver is named after the man, but it isn't known as "Lord Stanley Park"

[m0nkyman]

Stanley Square works.

[bobert_d]

I'm pretty sure what will happen in actual usage is that it'll be called Stanley Plaza, which rolls off the tongue fairly well. Lord Stanley Plaza really doesn't, I don't have knowledge in naming conventions to know why not, but Stanley Plaza does. Maybe it's just because I'm so used to hearing Stanley Park from my friends in Vancouver.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

Rideau Plaza would've been fine.

I'm surprised it's not "Confederation Plaza".

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

The same thing happened with the Ottawa Congress Centre; American clients were thrown off by how we were using the word Congress. Hopefully they tweak the name a bit.

I wonder what Americans think of this?

http://www.gwcc.com/

[Ottawan]

I'm almost positive that in common useage it will be called "Stanley Square". I know that's how I'm going to refer to it.