Saskatoon Construction II

[Crisis]

http://police.saskatoon.sk.ca/index.php?loc=messages/newhq.php

^^^^Interesting publication from Police Services. They certainly seem very defensive about the cost of the project. Not your typical blurb about an exciting new building.

I'm hoping that the rendering does not do it justice. To me, it looks like this could be any govt builidng that was being constructed in the 60s or 70s.

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by Echoes

The Police building? 25th Street? Or both?

As for 25th Street, it's hard to believe that it's ACTUALLY finally happening.

I have always viewed it as a complete package so yes both. It was like they were both waiting on each other to get started.

Originally Posted by Crisis

http://police.saskatoon.sk.ca/index.php?loc=messages/newhq.php

....................
I'm hoping that the rendering does not do it justice. To me, it looks like this could be any govt builidng that was being constructed in the 60s or 70s.

Yes it appears modeled after the early 60's research center style.

[kgc087]

So has anyone heard news on how the proposal to the community planning committee went for raising the building cap to 30 stories? This could really change the entire pace of Saskatoon and make it feasible for developers to develop here! As well I'm pretty sure it would spawn high density development in vacant lots and in other parts of the inner city

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by Echoes

As for 25th Street, it's hard to believe that it's ACTUALLY finally happening.

I feel the same way when I walk past it on the way to work. It blew my mind the day they put the sidewalk in .

[The Bess]

Thanks Bess! Do you think the absorption rate is going to continually be high over the next two Quarters?

I beleive it will , according to Colliers and Conference board it Saskatoon should be one of the better places in Canada to do business. May not see huge buildings but the amount of sqare footage available in the A class is nil and companies that come in from other provinces or countries probably would prefer this first.

[Brutopian]

More funding announced, preliminary design released for Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan

By Janet French, The StarPhoenix, July 12, 2012

Saskatchewan’s health minister has unveiled an early design of the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan after nearly a year of work to trim $30 million from its budget.Photograph by: Supplied photo , courtesy Saskatoon Health RegionSaskatchewan’s health minister has unveiled an early design of the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan after nearly a year of work to trim $30 million from its budget.

Construction of the $229.9-million hospital is set to begin in 2014 next to Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital.

Health Minister Dustin Duncan told a crowd assembled at a warehouse in Saskatoon’s north industrial area Thursday morning the government is also throwing in another $15.5 million for the project, bringing the province’s total contribution to $215.5 million.

[........]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Mor...tchewan/6923412/story.html#ixzz20RCGn6jd

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

More funding announced, preliminary design released for Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan

By Janet French, The StarPhoenix, July 12, 2012

Saskatchewan’s health minister has unveiled an early design of the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan after nearly a year of work to trim $30 million from its budget.Photograph by: Supplied photo , courtesy Saskatoon Health RegionSaskatchewan’s health minister has unveiled an early design of the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan after nearly a year of work to trim $30 million from its budget.

Construction of the $229.9-million hospital is set to begin in 2014 next to Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital.

Health Minister Dustin Duncan told a crowd assembled at a warehouse in Saskatoon’s north industrial area Thursday morning the government is also throwing in another $15.5 million for the project, bringing the province’s total contribution to $215.5 million.

[........]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Mor...tchewan/6923412/story.html#ixzz20RCGn6jd

The image provided doesn't give us the greatest view. Is this the backside? What about the riverbank side?


Source

[macca]

River Landing amendments to be considered by the Meewasin Valley Authority at their August 3rd meeting:

http://www.meewasin.com/development/developers_area/current_projects/

[Echoes]

Excerpts from the SP article regarding the hospital's design:

Kim Camboia, the mother of a pediatric patient, was tasked with unveiling a three-dimensional model of the trapezoidal hospital by whisking off her daughter Aleina’s polka-dotted baby blanket.

The hospital, which looks like a stack of pie slices without their tips, will be located west of Royal University Hospital where that hospital’s old parkade is currently located. Traffic to the children’s hospital will go up a ramp, around the south end of the building and lead to its main entrance, which faces the South Saskatchewan River.

Source

[Echoes]

Wolf Willow Cohousing is progressing nicely.

Updated photos are available on their website: http://www.wolfwillowcohousing.ca/our-project/design/

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Echoes

The image provided doesn't give us the greatest view. Is this the backside? What about the riverbank side?

The picture appears to be the riverbank side.

There's some videos here which give a better perspective.

[WoodlandCritter]

I'm diggin the new design for the Children's Hospital. Seems thought out for a preliminary design. And I am a fan that it completely blocks the view of RUH along the riverbank. Looks like it will be perched pretty high up on the parkade so it should be able to be seen from the west riverbank side nicely.

It will be nice to see more final renderings in the coming months.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by dsim249

The picture appears to be the riverbank side.

There's some videos here which give a better perspective.

Ah, thanks for the link! Overall, not bad. Seems like the exterior finishings could be a bit bland, but I dig the sharp angles on the building - could provide some interest. Same with the overhangs and the inner courtyard type thing shown in the fly throughs.

The hospital's perch atop a parkade could be a bit awkward, IMO. And the parking between the main entrance and the riverbank side is unfortunate. I was hoping for a more seamless connection between the building and the riverbank, not parking. Oh well, I guess they're doing what they can with the space they have.

[WoodlandCritter]

Originally Posted by Echoes

Oh well, I guess they're doing what they can with the space they have.

Yeah I don't think knocking down the parkade would have been a feasable option. Its not a very organized space to begin with.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by dsim249

The picture appears to be the riverbank side.

There's some videos here which give a better perspective.

Thanks for posting the link.

Hospital's need parking...but, not like that. Oh well.

The trapezoidal form looks interesting. I can't think of another building like that in Saskatoon.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Went over to Lorne Ave last night to look at the progress on the paving overtop of Circle Drive South. They have the first layer of blacktop on the bridge and the first layer / finished layer on the north side. They are about to put in the ballast for the south side of the road.

They also have most of the wiring in place for the lights (minus the lights themselves)

I would venture a guess that traffic will likely be flowing over that bridge in 2.5-3 weeks time.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

Went over to Lorne Ave last night to look at the progress on the paving overtop of Circle Drive South. They have the first layer of blacktop on the bridge and the first layer / finished layer on the north side. They are about to put in the ballast for the south side of the road.

They also have most of the wiring in place for the lights (minus the lights themselves)

I would venture a guess that traffic will likely be flowing over that bridge in 2.5-3 weeks time.

*Crosses fingers* Any idea when the Preston Ave overpass will wrap up?

[skSK]

Overall I quite like the hospital design too. From the pictures and the videos it looks as if there will be a grassed terrace on the 2 or 3 floor in between the children's hospital and the 1970s wing of RUH. That will be nice, and hopefully a place that patients and visiting families can go. As for the entrance, I think a winter wind blowing around would make for a wickedly harsh place to be. The trees may do a little to screen it but it's still pretty open. But for the space they were given, I think they've done a good job with the design.

My friend who works at the cancer centre says that, in total, they (RUH, cancer centre, and all other nearby buildings' employees) are losing 800 parking spots; not sure if that's accurate but the parkade expansion sure doesn't seem like it will suffice. Maybe they're just accounting for a future LRT station...

[bastinado]

Originally Posted by skSK

My friend who works at the cancer centre says that, in total, they (RUH, cancer centre, and all other nearby buildings' employees) are losing 800 parking spots; not sure if that's accurate but the parkade expansion sure doesn't seem like it will suffice. Maybe they're just accounting for a future LRT station...

With the current construction for the parking structure at RUH they have been busing people from parking lot E at the University. Three small buses have been running most of the day all day transporting people back and forth.

They added a gate in lot E so perhaps they plan on doing that permanently?

[kgc087]

I think the overall design is pretty cool, I have a bit of a soft spot for trapezoids. The exterior finishes are nice but not very exciting for children. It would have been fun to do something like colour blocking or using unique textures. It does fit in well with the RUH aesthetic and will be a fine addition to the riverbank.