Canadian City Proposals - Page 426

SignalHillHiker · #**8501** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 2:43 PM**

Star of the Sea is this one. It's one of those buildings that is near universally loved in St. John's, the type of blend of us and modern that people want to see for in-fill projects in the heritage zone.

Chadillaccc · #**8502** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 2:44 PM**

Oh right! I love that one too. Great colour and it blends well.

I thought these deserved a bump to this page.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Da Jama unearthed new renders for two proposals. We think they might be the final designs. Hard to say for sure...

This one is the Steel Hotel on George Street West. It's already U/C and completely framed. A heritage design was presented originally, but it looks like it's going to be completely different in appearance:

And there's a new render for the already-approved Deacon Building - a cool, triangular one that will be built at the edge of the Old West End, pushing our skyline significantly farther west:

SignalHillHiker · #**8503** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 2:52 PM**

And another. Finally a proper render for Legros & Motti and Jack Astor's, currently almost finished construction on Harbour Drive.

Now, might at first glance look like a waste of harbourfront space, BUT: Harbour Drive new, it used be the harbour itself. Water Street, one block uphill, used to be the first one in St. John's. We've expanded the Water Street block so that there are buildings behind the ones fronting Water Street and Harbour Drive. These used to be merchant warehouses - gritty, industrial. Now they're modern, and pretty industrial. Harbour Drive isn't a pretty, pedestrian-friendly area.

So that's the context. These buildings are actually the beginning of an entirely new block between Harbour Drive and the harbour, where before there was nothing but water. So think of them as really awesome boardwalk kiosks, and it all makes sense.

Chadillaccc · #**8504** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 2:54 PM**

Doesn't look like a waste, it looks colourful and vibrant and will surely draw more people down to the harbour which is great. Where is the PF Chang's going in?

SignalHillHiker · #**8505** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 2:56 PM**

PF Chang's is out, apparently. Jack Astor's took up the space instead. I'm unfamiliar with either chain but I understand this represents a downgrade, right?

Chadillaccc · #**8506** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 2:58 PM**

Hmmm, I wouldn't necessarily say that. Jack Astors is delicious, but I've never been to a PF Chang's so I wouldn't know for sure. So then that means this building is almost done and the restaurant tenants should be moving in by next summer I would imagine?

SignalHillHiker · #**8507** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 2:59 PM**

I'm not entirely sure - but the building's exterior is almost done. Still no final cladding, but the framing is done, roof is on, windows are in, etc. I think you can still drive a Ford through the interior though.

Chadillaccc · #**8508** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 3:01 PM**

Well in that case yeah, it should probably be done by mid-summer next year! St. John's is on fire. We need to get this kind of activity into Regina and Saskatoon considering how close they are to St. John's in population! Though I'm sure St. John's wouldn't mind having Regina's new tallest, Mosaic Potash Tower, in your downtown either

SignalHillHiker · #**8509** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 3:04 PM**

Yeah, that one's great. Would look really good where the Hilton is going downtown.

north 42 · #**8510** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 3:06 PM**

PF Chang's is a great chain with great food and cocktails, I visit the one at Somerset Collection in Troy Michigan often. Too bad it's not opening in St. John's.
Jack Astors is a downgrade for sure!

Chadillaccc · #**8511** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 3:07 PM**

When are the Deacon and Hilton expected to start?

Here is a rendering released today for a new $86 million library at Mount Royal University in Southwest Calgary.

Calgary Herald

Chadillaccc · #**8512** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 5:45 PM**

It was just announced that Snohetta has won the Calgary Central Library design competition, renders will be released imminently. Very exciting, Snohetta is an incredible firm with an immense amount of high quality, high profile projects.

EDIT: :/ no rendering released in the announcement. What a waste of excitement. It could be up to a year before a render is released.

Drybrain · #**8513** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 8:35 PM**

I think I'd like that St. John's one better if it were just pale glass--rather than try to mimic the coloured rowhouses, it might simply reflect the existing ones. It's maybe trying a bit too hard to fit into the local vernacular.

Decent building still though.

Not a huge fan of the that Deacon Building in Calgary though--projects in Calgary are weird these days. Half of them seem to be horrifically tacky, in keeping with the previous few decades, and half seem to be awesome, pointing towards hopefully future of better architecture. (Contrast the Deacon Building and that new MRU library, for example.)

Am I wrong, too, in thinking office tower design is way better in Calgary than residential tower design, generally speaking?

Chadillaccc · #**8514** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 8:38 PM**

The Deacon building is for St. John's, not Calgary.

trueviking · #**8515** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 9:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

It was just announced that Snohetta has won the Calgary Central Library design competition, renders will be released imminently. Very exciting, Snohetta is an incredible firm with an immense amount of high quality, high profile projects.

EDIT: :/ no rendering released in the announcement. What a waste of excitement. It could be up to a year before a render is released.

very jealous.

jeddy1989 · #**8516** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 11:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

The Deacon building is for St. John's, not Calgary.

I freaking love the Deacon design, it will fit in great in that area. you have to keep in mind too that this view is from the angle where you see 2 out of 3 sides so you're going to see detail from both sides and it is the busiest shot of the building. I love it either way.

Townie709 · #**8517** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 11:33 PM**

Double post

Townie709 · #**8518** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 11:33 PM**

Unless they build "Design 1" also listed on their website.. We do not need another uninspired glass box. I mean, if you're gonna have a glass box, it might as well be tall!

Seriously though, if this gets built there is something very wrong. Generic uninspired design, horrible street presence, eliminates the two stories of condos.. If this is what they propose, they can keep it. We don't need it and I don't want it haha

But the other one? Bring it on! It's great!

Edit: I like the palm trees in the background though.. Very St. John's! Here's to hoping this was designed in 5 minutes for a cheap office building in suburban LA.

Denscity · #**8519** Posted **Nov 5, 2013, 11:47 PM**

^^^Was gonna comment on that palm tree. Yes, very St. Johns. I don't even think there's a palm tree beside an office tower in Vancouver.

jeddy1989 · #**8520** Posted **Nov 6, 2013, 12:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Townie709

Unless they build "Design 1" also listed on their website.. We do not need another uninspired glass box. I mean, if you're gonna have a glass box, it might as well be tall!

Seriously though, if this gets built there is something very wrong. Generic uninspired design, horrible street presence, eliminates the two stories of condos.. If this is what they propose, they can keep it. We don't need it and I don't want it haha

But the other one? Bring it on! It's great!

Edit: I like the palm trees in the background though.. Very St. John's! Here's to hoping this was designed in 5 minutes for a cheap office building in suburban LA.

this was probably the initial concept lol ... I think it's crazy to think that it would even be a possibility now ... even the other one says Deacon Office Tower .. while this one says Downtown Office Complex Design #1... not gonna happen lol .. they probably pulled down the sign because they updated the design.