[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by someone123

Some buildings have circular ramps down to lower levels of parking but they'd probably have to sacrifice a fair amount of space to do that and they pretty much have to put the loading bays on the Market Street side.

I think it's a nice design. Hopefully the big glass convention room will look bright and active. The setback, public space, overhangs, and atrium along Argyle should work well. Certainly it'll be a lot nicer than the Herald Building.

The towers might be addressed somewhere in the presentation. There are a couple of photos in the video that weren't on twitter.

One other thing mentioned was the possibility of an international competition for some public art. I really hope that won't turn out to be more lighthouses. The Keltic Lodge view makes me wonder if that was the outcome of the Sydney session; from now on when you're sitting on a patio on Argyle you'll have images of Cape Breton beamed at you. I am dreading the fiddle music that will be blasted out along with it.

I am hoping the Keltic Lodge view is a changeable video screen. That would be awesome to have a giant screen. I had never thought of that! The pictures released so far don't really show much. I want to see more than just these rough sketches. Are there more pictures somewhere? If so, can someone please let me know!

[someone123]

I think the sketches are meant to look rough because there's still more public input to come. They'll release more finalized renderings in November.

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by someone123

I think the sketches are meant to look rough because there's still more public input to come. They'll release more finalized renderings in November.

I guess I am just anxious to see the final result!

[Haliguy]

It would be really cool if they could play hockey games etc on the big screen.

[bluenoser]

Looks good to me so far. My initial impression is that the previous design had some more interesting features, but I'll have to wait and see the final renderings. Moving the convention space above ground is a huge plus to me; it changes the entire scope of the building for the better. There will probably even be some harbour views from that height. I also hope that at least one of the towers is at least 18 storeys.

[Nilan8888]

After seeing that screen and a big videoscreen was the first thing that came into my head, and seeing that it was the first thing that came into the heads of a few people here, I think it would be a major disappointment if it wasn't. Lot's of cities have little touches like that: it's about time Halifax got one too.

It's a small thing, perhaps, but it could go a long way to affecting the psychology in Halifax and perhaps make the city seem a little bigger and more modern. What they really should do is add one at the side of Scotia Square, on the corner of Barrington and Duke.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Nilan8888

After seeing that screen and a big videoscreen was the first thing that came into my head, and seeing that it was the first thing that came into the heads of a few people here, I think it would be a major disappointment if it wasn't. Lot's of cities have little touches like that: it's about time Halifax got one too.

It's a small thing, perhaps, but it could go a long way to affecting the psychology in Halifax and perhaps make the city seem a little bigger and more modern. What they really should do is add one at the side of Scotia Square, on the corner of Barrington and Duke.

This is exactly what these STV, HT, "Friends of" groups hate, evil capitalist video screens.

I can hear the screams of "this isn't manhatten" from afar.

[Keith P.]

People will complain if the screen is as eye-searingly bright as the one that was on the Casino (maybe it's still there). It was absurdly bright when it was first installed.

[someone123]

I could see the screen being really annoying if you're sitting on Argyle Street, but it could also be okay depending on how bright it is and what they display on it. Overall the new building looks like it's really going to improve that block as an outdoor public space. Like I said, the Herald building was never anything to write home about.

The Times Square look have novelty* value but after a couple of minutes there I was ready to leave. It's understandable why that area's not very popular with native New Yorkers.

*So it was ripped off by Toronto for Dundas Square, complete with oversized mediocre chain stores.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by someone123

I could see the screen being really annoying if you're sitting on Argyle Street, but it could also be okay depending on how bright it is and what they display on it.

The Times Square look have novelty* value but after a couple of minutes there I was ready to leave. It's understandable why that area's not very popular with native New Yorkers.

*So it was ripped off by Toronto for Dundas Square, complete with oversized mediocre chain stores.

Haha, I'll never understand why Canadian Tire is in that location... seems like they could have better retail there.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by someone123

I could see the screen being really annoying if you're sitting on Argyle Street, but it could also be okay depending on how bright it is and what they display on it. Overall the new building looks like it's really going to improve that block as an outdoor public space. Like I said, the Herald building was never anything to write home about.

The Times Square look have novelty* value but after a couple of minutes there I was ready to leave. It's understandable why that area's not very popular with native New Yorkers.

*So it was ripped off by Toronto for Dundas Square, complete with oversized mediocre chain stores.

Have we come full circle and realize that original heritage streetscapes rule?
After all, it can't be duplicated.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by someone123

I could see the screen being really annoying if you're sitting on Argyle Street, but it could also be okay depending on how bright it is and what they display on it. Overall the new building looks like it's really going to improve that block as an outdoor public space. Like I said, the Herald building was never anything to write home about.

The Times Square look have novelty* value but after a couple of minutes there I was ready to leave. It's understandable why that area's not very popular with native New Yorkers.

*So it was ripped off by Toronto for Dundas Square, complete with oversized mediocre chain stores.

Having recently written rules for digital signs, I can tell you that most good models have installed an ambient light sensor that dims the sign as the sunlight levels drop so that the sign is not over powering. If you look at the digital billboard out at the airport, the little circular thing on the top is the ambient light sensor. There are also controls that can be used to turn the sign off after a certain time of the night. Which is why I didn't have a problem with the idea of the pedestrian walkway being similar to Las Vegas' Freemont street, because it could operate throughout the day and into the evening and then turn off to avoid interfering with adjacent residents. I'm sure that could be a condition of installing the sign/digital features.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Wishblade

I had read somewhere before that the design was changed to 3 towers so I think it's likely.

That aside, I think I like the previous design more but I'll have to see more detailed renders.

I believe three towers would be more optically pleasing than just two, of which the large fore-building seemed somewhat box-like and flat (similar to the BellAliant Tower).

Three towers will give a sense of more density, and contribute to Halifax's bonsai character.

The original form of two towers is, however, a better use of space, as part of the convention centre was full enough (and angled) to come into direct contact with the edge of the Georges Island viewplane. Now the development isn't filling as much of the available envelope as before.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

I believe three towers would be more optically pleasing than just two, of which the large fore-building seemed somewhat box-like and flat (similar to the BellAliant Tower).

Three towers will give a sense of more density, and contribute to Halifax's bonsai character.

The original form of two towers is, however, a better use of space, as part of the convention centre was full enough (and angled) to come into direct contact with the edge of the Georges Island viewplane. Now the development isn't filling as much of the available envelope as before.

3 towers may have been a response to some concerns about getting sunlight down to Agricola too. With the two towers, they were bigger and bulky so sunlight to Argyle might have been an issue. With 3 smaller towers the you would have smaller towers but more sunlight to the street (depending on the design of course).

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Having recently written rules for digital signs, I can tell you that most good models have installed an ambient light sensor that dims the sign as the sunlight levels drop so that the sign is not over powering. If you look at the digital billboard out at the airport, the little circular thing on the top is the ambient light sensor. There are also controls that can be used to turn the sign off after a certain time of the night. Which is why I didn't have a problem with the idea of the pedestrian walkway being similar to Las Vegas' Freemont street, because it could operate throughout the day and into the evening and then turn off to avoid interfering with adjacent residents. I'm sure that could be a condition of installing the sign/digital features.

Why didn't they do this with the Metro Centre sign. That thing can be seen shining all night on the MacDonald Bridge.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by someone123

Here are some of the images from http://twitter.com/BuildYourCentre

Yes, this is just a rough sketch (and yes, the public consultations aren't completed), but, would anyone mind if this development also sported the recently birthed trend in Halifax of coloured balconies?

I mention this because of the sketch: the appearance of the tower in behind, closest to Brunswick Street.

I actually hope developers in Halifax expand and stick with this trend for a little while. It'll bring more colour to the city, which is desperately needed in the downtown during the winter months.

Has anyone seen a convention centre that was effectively landscaped with evergreen trees? I'd love for the city to diversify the types of trees it plants. Summer shouldn't be the only time of year to appreciate the downtown's urban forest.

[teddifax]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/NS/ID/2286708072/

[Empire]

Has there been any indication of a link to the Prince George Hotel?

This would provide access to the entire downtown via pedways and tunnels.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Why didn't they do this with the Metro Centre sign. That thing can be seen shining all night on the MacDonald Bridge.

The technology is constantly evolving and it may have been a cheaper sign, that didn't have that. That's a constant problem - people go cheap.

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by Empire

Has there been any indication of a link to the Prince George Hotel?

This would provide access to the entire downtown via pedways and tunnels.

I agree that ANY new buildings downtown should be incorporated into the downtown tunnel system, wherever possilbe.