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

[NewBalearic]

The first excavator was on site today!

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by NewBalearic

The first excavator was on site today!

Thanks for the update. Hopefully we will start to see some serious excavation taking place soon.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Thanks for the update. Hopefully we will start to see some serious excavation taking place soon.

In the past they mentioned that the pit would have to go down something like 70-90 feet to accommodate parking and the convention space. Presumably it won't be quite so deep now that the convention space is going above grade.

I wonder what net impact that change had on the project's budget. Some money could be saved from excavation but there might be extra costs associated with having such a large room built on the second storey and over a surface street.

[kph06]

From Nova Centre Website:


"Major Excavation Work Set to Begin

October 17, 2012

With the archeological study on the site of the future Nova Centre nearing completion, Dexter Construction Ltd. has been awarded the project’s major excavation contract and work has begun. Excavation activities are expected to ramp up on the site in the coming weeks.

Regular construction updates will be posted on this website. If you have questions or concerns, please contact [email protected]."

This will be impressive to watch, Dexter will surely attack this with a pile of equipment.

[RyeJay]

I'm restless to see finalised renderings.

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

I'm restless to see finalised renderings.

I, too am really anxious to see the final outcome. I really like the elevated Convention Ctr, leaving ground level for a retail streetscape.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Still very interested with the outcome at street level.

[someone123]

There will be another meeting next week to discuss street level design. I expect that we'll see some revised renderings. I think some relatively small details could make or break this project. The biggest risks are that Grafton Street will be unwelcoming or have nothing to offer non-convention-goers.

The Argyle side will probably not be that difficult to get right, but another common failure of newer buildings in Halifax is that they put nothing of interest on the sloped streets. This is true of the most recent renderings; along Sackville there's just a stretch of blank wall and then a row of shrubs. If they put in, say, a corner entrance (I guess not possible on Argyle due to the unfortunate car entrance), or a storefront or two, or added some windows and art displays along with the landscaping it would look a lot better.

[fenwick16]

There are a few rendering in this document that I hadn't seen previously - http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/buildyourcentre/nova-centre-engagement-oct-3/3 (source: http://buildyourcentre.ca/public-engagement/metro-engagement-1/#.UICXxK6wXEq). I was worried that Grafton Street might have to be closed off to pedestrian traffic, but it isn't (thankfully). The Ballroom is raised a few levels to be above ground but most of the exhibit hall is still below ground where many people think that it should be (so that it will be easy to darken it when necessary). Looking at the renderings of the previous design and new design (in the previously posted document - http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/buildyourcentre/nova-centre-engagement-oct-3/3) it appears that the excavation will be almost 30 feet less in depth. This will speed up the start of construction and completion date.

The next public engagement is October 24th - http://buildyourcentre.ca/public-engagement/metro-engagement-2/#.UICYRa6wXEp

[Jonovision]

The event on the 24th has been moved to the Westin so that it can run in conjunction with this year's VivaCity event put on by Fusion Halifax's Urban Development Team.
Come out and have your say on the convention centre and then meet the developers shaping our city.
Keynote speaker for VivaCity this year is architecture critic and Toronto Star columnist Christopher Hume.

[someone123]

Should be an interesting event. I was pretty impressed with Christopher Hume's assessments of Halifax. The negative and positive points he brings up tend to be real. The truck traffic really is a negative, and the city really is underpopulated compared to what it should be, although I think a lot of progress is finally being made in that area. Other commentators, particularly speakers brought in from the US, tend to come up with generic comments designed to address problems in US cities.

I also think Halifax has improved a lot when it comes to civic engagement and awareness of building projects. What it needs most now is similar direction when it comes to transportation planning. Right now when it comes to transportation Halifax is in the same terrible spot it was 10 years ago with urban development; there's no real sense of vision aside from a contingent of NIMBYs who don't want anything built ever. None of the solutions on the table are good enough to solve any real problems the city is experiencing.

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

A lone excavator dug up the lower site:

[teddifax]

Will there be an archaeological dig at this site as well?

[sdm]

Originally Posted by teddifax

Will there be an archaeological dig at this site as well?

Yes, that is what the lone digger is doing.

[someone123]

I guess they'll be closing Grafton Street soon. They will have to remove the street lights and whatever utilities are buried there.

It will be interesting to hear more details about how they'll do the streetscaping around the periphery of the site and on Grafton Street itself. Whatever they do, it will probably be an improvement over the barren concrete and suburban-style sodium lights that are there right now.

[TheNovaScotian]

I was walking down Argyle St. the other day watching the excavator moving things around. I'd like to see what is in all the vaults under the site because i could see them littered all over the place.

If done right this area could be popular during winter as more people begin living in the area. It would be a great place to start a night if a decent venues was part of the plans.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by TheNovaScotian

I was walking down Argyle St. the other day watching the excavator moving things around. I'd like to see what is in all the vaults under the site because i could see them littered all over the place.

If done right this area could be popular during winter as more people begin living in the area. It would be a great place to start a night if a decent venues was part of the plans.

I'd like to see a club on the Argyle section across from the bars... it would be a perfect venue and shake up the non-existant Halifax club scene.

By club I mean one that plays progressive house and has a dress code... as opposed to the thugged out, top 40 nonsense typical of Halifax.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by someone123

Should be an interesting event. I was pretty impressed with Christopher Hume's assessments of Halifax. The negative and positive points he brings up tend to be real. The truck traffic really is a negative, and the city really is underpopulated compared to what it should be, although I think a lot of progress is finally being made in that area. Other commentators, particularly speakers brought in from the US, tend to come up with generic comments designed to address problems in US cities.

I also think Halifax has improved a lot when it comes to civic engagement and awareness of building projects. What it needs most now is similar direction when it comes to transportation planning. Right now when it comes to transportation Halifax is in the same terrible spot it was 10 years ago with urban development; there's no real sense of vision aside from a contingent of NIMBYs who don't want anything built ever. None of the solutions on the table are good enough to solve any real problems the city is experiencing.

Are you referring to the program he did on CBC "A Living City" where he gave Halifax very high marks for retaining the old downtown Halifax development pattern or another talk he may have given?

[someone123]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Are you referring to the program he did on CBC "A Living City" where he gave Halifax very high marks for retaining the old downtown Halifax development pattern or another talk he may have given?

He has also written about Halifax a few times in the Toronto Star. Here's one example: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/...-to-toronto-all-roads-lead-to-the-future

[halifaxboyns]

Ah yes, I remember that article. It's great that they got him to come in, he's a very interesting speaker. We're bringing him out here in the new year.