Saskatoon Construction II

[nook]

The Lighthouse looks really ugly, and it's all due to the old Capri building.

I understand why they can't tear it down and start fresh, but are they going to be doing anything to the outside of it to make the project "flow together"?

[Arts]

Originally Posted by nook

The Lighthouse looks really ugly, and it's all due to the old Capri building.

I understand why they can't tear it down and start fresh, but are they going to be doing anything to the outside of it to make the project "flow together"?

(I'm no architect so I don't know the appropriate lingo, but) I think thats the point of those two wide orange strips are at either end of the transition. Instead of trying to make it flow, it seems they are deliberately blocking the aesthetic flow in order to decrease the affect of the old part on the new part.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by nook

The Lighthouse looks really ugly, and it's all due to the old Capri building.

I understand why they can't tear it down and start fresh, but are they going to be doing anything to the outside of it to make the project "flow together"?

It all comes down to money. They are a non-profit agency and have already had to cut back on the size of the addition to meet budget. I believe their main concern is simply to provide adequate living spaces for their residents and that the aesthetics have to take a back seat. As much as I'd like to see a refresh or replacement of the Capri building, I can't dispute the priorities in this case.

[brannelford]

^^^

I find it a shame that there is this perception in the public that non-profit has to equate to ugly. There's this mentality in a number of jurisdictions in North America that non-profit housing "must" be ugly, by simple virtue of the fact that it is non-profit. If it's not an ugly building, then people scoff and suggest that it's 'too good' for people on 'social assistance'.

It's almost as if non-profit organizations are afraid that if the building looks 'too nice', then the public will think money has been wasted, even if that's not the case. A simple design with some clean lines and features could probably be built for a relatively reasonable cost. However North American society seems to want to send some sort of subtle message to advertise to the world that a particular building is "social" housing.

[skSK]

Yeah it's really not the best looking expansion... both in execution and in cohesion with the old Capri. It does look as if the architect has tried to replicate the window pattern of the old Capri in the new building--particularly in the narrow windows. However, it doesn't succeed in complementing (or enhancing) the old building aesthetically. And the orange? I'm all for colour, but...

Also, does anyone know what the reason was behind the removal of the dark stone (granite/marble?) siding between the windows? Is there some plan to re-side these parts of the original facade? Too many questions?

[GTR200]

I wonder how much extra it would cost to make it all look the same. I think something like this would look better.

[kgc087]

I really like the lighthouse addition and I'm a sucker for mustard, it's my favourite colour so I think it looks pretty nice. Maybe in the future a very generous philanthropist will donate enough to reconstruct the dated side? I just hope they keep the palm tree! It really is iconic! Some even argue that architecture is just signage so this is a magnificent reminder of that!

[skSK]

Originally Posted by GTR200

I wonder how much extra it would cost to make it all look the same. I think something like this would look better.

Haha this is more cohesive, but... Team Rocket headquarters anyone?

It'd be interesting if the exterior was played around with a bit more, especially with colour.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by GTR200

I wonder how much extra it would cost to make it all look the same. I think something like this would look better.

Ballpark at about $90/sqft for the perimeter envelope, based on a mix of a metal panel exterior and conventional glazing (lots more if curtainwall). The north face would appear to be approx 60'X100', so let's say $540K, plus design for that one side. I'd guesstimate in the range of $1.5M for the 3 sides of the existing building. That'll build a few more rooms.

[gowest]

The walkways are being hung under the bridge now. Circle and 11th are changing daily. 11th St. where it is being moved over closer to the CP tracks is paved, lines painted and light poles up. They are just finishing the connection at Circle Drive. Lots of action where the new road to the landfill and the approach onto the bridge from Valley Road. Pretty impressive to see all the action on the western portion of the project.

[Jerry]

Since we were on the topic of the Lighthouse I grabbed a few shots of the progress on Saturday morning.


LIGHTHOUSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT UNDERWAY IN SASKATOON












Below are a few photo links related to this topic from previous posts.

Previous Post From 04-16-2011
Previous Post From 04-19-2011
Previous Post From 06-18-2010

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by gowest

The walkways are being hung under the bridge now. Circle and 11th are changing daily. 11th St. where it is being moved over closer to the CP tracks is paved, lines painted and light poles up. They are just finishing the connection at Circle Drive. Lots of action where the new road to the landfill and the approach onto the bridge from Valley Road. Pretty impressive to see all the action on the western portion of the project.

Hey gowest thanks for the update. I have one photo dating back to Aug 1/11 of the bridge construction.

[Jerry]

Just had to take a drive out to the bridge site on Sunday morning to check out the progress.

Good to see a lot of people are using the the observation deck overlooking the site.

[Jerry]

The Wolf Willow Cohousing project is well underway. Residents should be moving in spring 2012.

Wolf Willow Cohousing













^^ Image Source

[Jerry]

An interesting read.



Lest we forget, demographic change still often rules the economy
August 22, 2011
Alex Carrick
Chief Economist, CanaData

The three fastest growing cities on a percentage change basis were Saskatoon (+2.81%), Vancouver (+2.31%) and Regina (+2.26%).

Cities harboring a younger population were mainly in the bustling West – Saskatoon (35.4), Calgary (35.8), Edmonton (36.0) and Regina (36.9).

[...]

Read More > http://dcnonl.com/article/id46345

[Jerry]

City, North Ridge battle over value of land
The StarPhoenix August 23, 2011

One of Saskatoon's major housing developers is fighting the city over the value of land required for the Circle Drive South project. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/City+North...ue+land/5291498/story.html#ixzz1VqDke3hL

[Mike with an M]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Just had to take a drive out to the bridge site on Sunday morning to check out the progress.

Good to see a lot of people are using the the observation deck overlooking the site.

You know the website that has a camera setup for viewing construction at Diefenbaker? Well apparently they've added two more with views from 11th street except I can't get any feed, is that just me or is it the same for everyone? Here's the link: http://www.circledrive.ca/

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Mike with an M

You know the website that has a camera setup for viewing construction at Diefenbaker? Well apparently they've added two more with views from 11th street except I can't get any feed, is that just me or is it the same for everyone? Here's the link: http://www.circledrive.ca/

Yeah its been posted serval times before. If you noticed it's also in Jerry's signature, just below the pictures you quoted.

Anyway, all 3 cameras work for me.

[Treesplease]

neither of the 11th st views work for me either.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Would be really nice if after construction they just kept the cameras up as traffic cams. I think that would be cool. Anyone else think so?