Winnipeg Construction VIII

[Biff]

405 Broadway is slated to have its envelope replaced - we can only hope that it turns out as good as 363 Broadway (the colourful black and blue, green building). I'm not sure we can expect too much seeing as it is a government building but it will look new once done.

In the same vein plans are afoot to for a new envelope for one of the most visible and tired looking buildings in all Winnipeg..........The Trizek Bldg/Commodity Exchange Tower/360 main St. I am not sure how far off but it is in planning. Could have a huge impact to P&M.

[esquire]

^ Fantastic news on both fronts. 405 Broadway is a nice looking building, but it has never been maintained particularly well. The interior is a total write-off from an aesthetic point of view, but I'd settle for an exterior renovation.

And as for 360 Main, that building looked tired and dated before it was 10 years old. I wonder if they are just going to replace the cladding materials with something similar, or will it be a totally new look? (I'm hoping for the latter.)

[h0twired]

Speaking of reclad government buildings...

Has the Canada Building (352 Donald) renovation stalled? They seemed to be making decent progress last year replacing windows and such, but the exterior still looks pretty tired and drab.

Anyone know where this project is going?

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by esquire

It is interesting that Siloam is expanding this much at a time when the north Exchange/Chinatown is undergoing a minor residential upswing with the construction of a new building (Freedom Tower) and the renovation of others (Bag Factory, Edge). Even though Siloam has a golden reputation for the programs and services they provide, I can't imagine that developers with projects either planned or under way in that area are thrilled about the fact that Winnipeg's largest homeless shelter will now be permanently entrenched a couple of blocks away in a way that ensures there will be a significant homeless population in the area for decades to come.

Hoo boy. This is the sort of grumbling you'd only hear about after a few beers on Friday afternoon...

And they're rentals! These guys are invested for the long term. I'm guessing Siloam was less than forthright about their plans with the developers in the area...

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Speaking of reclad government buildings...

Has the Canada Building (352 Donald) renovation stalled? They seemed to be making decent progress last year replacing windows and such, but the exterior still looks pretty tired and drab.

Anyone know where this project is going?

Private developer. Manitoba Housing is now well-ensconced and the rents are flowing. I'm guessing they're just putting together a decent reserve before they keep carrying on with the money-out side of the equation...

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Hoo boy. This is the sort of grumbling you'd only hear about after a few beers on Friday afternoon...

And they're rentals! These guys are invested for the long term. I'm guessing Siloam was less than forthright about their plans with the developers in the area...

Meh.

Across the street from the Calgary Drop-In Center in Calgary (obviously) is a large development of $400-500k condos.

If managed properly you won't see much from the outside of the building.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Meh.

Across the street from the Calgary Drop-In Center in Calgary (obviously) is a large development of $400-500k condos.

If managed properly you won't see much from the outside of the building.

Yeah, that's true. but Siloam seems to do extra-good job of keeping people wandering the area in between services. That church lawn is something to behold at about 5:00...

[Cyro]

Construction on indoor soccer facility to begin this fall
By: Adam Wazny

Winnipeg's interest in full-sized indoor soccer facilities has made its way to Garden City.

The Manitoba government, City of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Soccer Federation are teaming up to fund a 120,000 square foot facility on the Garden City Community Centre grounds.

The estimated cost of the building, plus an adjoining outdoor field, is expected to be just under $21 million, with the province and city in for $7 million each.

Another $1.5 million, money that was originally put aside to build the indoor bubble at Investors Group Field, is going into the project and the WSF is in for $5.4 million. That $5.4 million is being fronted to the WSF as a loan from the city, Mayor Sam Katz said this morning.

Construction is expected to start this fall with a completion date set for the 2015 indoor soccer season. The outdoor field is expected to be up and running in time for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Organizers hope to use the outdoor field as a training pitch prior to the international event.

The indoor facility is expected to be put up in the northwest corner of the Garden City Community Centre footprint, at the corner of Leila Avenue and the Garden City Shopping Centre parking lot.


Artist's drawing of new soccer facility. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Image/Article Source

A very positive addition for the Garden City Area.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Biff

405 Broadway is slated to have its envelope replaced - we can only hope that it turns out as good as 363 Broadway (the colourful black and blue, green building). I'm not sure we can expect too much seeing as it is a government building but it will look new once done.

In the same vein plans are afoot to for a new envelope for one of the most visible and tired looking buildings in all Winnipeg..........The Trizek Bldg/Commodity Exchange Tower/360 main St. I am not sure how far off but it is in planning. Could have a huge impact to P&M.

I kind of like the cladding of 405 broadway (the silver building beside the law courts)...i hope it doesn't get too cute with some architect trying too hard.

the trizek building on the other hand....that needs a new look in the worst way....i would love them to open that big glass base to portage and main but that will never happen of course....still a new skin would at least help its drab appearance....maybe there will be an explosion during constriction and the building will collapse into hell where it belongs.

[armorand93]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I kind of like the cladding of 405 broadway (the silver building beside the law courts)...i hope it doesn't get too cute with some architect trying too hard.

the trizek building on the other hand....that needs a new look in the worst way....i would love them to open that big glass base to portage and main but that will never happen of course....still a new skin would at least help its drab appearance....[B]maybe there will be an explosion during constriction and the building will collapse into hell where it belongs.

And maybe Fortress could turn it into an ACTUAL office complex! With residential or a hotel on the unused podium...

That, or a Terminator-themed, 2029 theme park, right at Portage and Main. Thats what Downtown revival needs!!!

[roccerfeller]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I kind of like the cladding of 405 broadway (the silver building beside the law courts)...i hope it doesn't get too cute with some architect trying too hard.

the trizek building on the other hand....that needs a new look in the worst way....i would love them to open that big glass base to portage and main but that will never happen of course....still a new skin would at least help its drab appearance....maybe there will be an explosion during constriction and the building will collapse into hell where it belongs.

Its by no means an attractive tower (reminds me of the ugly telus tower in Calgary - the current one - ) but is it really that bad?

I wonder what type of re-cladding would be realistic for that building. I vaguely recall discussion about this before somewhere.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by trueviking

i would love them to open that big glass base to portage and main but that will never happen of course.

Is that space not currently occupied by a back office for a bank? Imagine the potential of that space though if it opened to a pedestrian friendly Portage and Main with a restaurant and patio occupying the space instead.

[Keh Vaughn]

Originally Posted by Biff

405 Broadway is slated to have its envelope replaced - we can only hope that it turns out as good as 363 Broadway (the colourful black and blue, green building). I'm not sure we can expect too much seeing as it is a government building but it will look new once done.

The current exterior, is...fine, I guess, but I can't tell you what I'd give to have some money/love put toward the interior of that place. I work with one of the government departments in there right now, and each trip to that building is seriously grim. It makes the idea of a "bare minimum" seem like an unimaginable luxury.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by Keh Vaughn

The current exterior, is...fine, I guess, but I can't tell you what I'd give to have some money/love put toward the interior of that place. I work with one of the government departments in there right now, and each trip to that building is seriously grim. It makes the idea of a "bare minimum" seem like an unimaginable luxury.

The interior is slated for renovations too.

[Keh Vaughn]

Originally Posted by Biff

The interior is slated for renovations too.

Well then, great!

[Flatland Metropolis]

Originally Posted by Biff

In the same vein plans are afoot to for a new envelope for one of the most visible and tired looking buildings in all Winnipeg..........The Trizek Bldg/Commodity Exchange Tower/360 main St. I am not sure how far off but it is in planning. Could have a huge impact to P&M.

That's been a *bleh* building for some time now, would be really nice for it to get a new 'do

[bomberjet]

^Maybe they'll build the second tower and adjoining office building! Jk. Pie in the sky, I know...

[marlo]

Originally Posted by Keh Vaughn

The current exterior, is...fine, I guess, but I can't tell you what I'd give to have some money/love put toward the interior of that place. I work with one of the government departments in there right now, and each trip to that building is seriously grim. It makes the idea of a "bare minimum" seem like an unimaginable luxury.

The exterior envelope of the Woodsworth building is shot. Working there, I'm sure you know she leaks like a sieve. That should be dealt with before the interior stuff.
Not so funny side story... someone once described the Woodsworth building as uhh... assaulting (he used a harsher word) the Old Law Courts building. Now when I see that skywalk connecting to Old Law Courts, that is the first thing that enters my head

[trueviking]

its not the trizek tower I hate so much, but the way it interacts with the surroundings at ground level. It is a complete city killer....knowing that it replaced a number of old buildings equivalent of 1/3 of the exchange district makes it all that much worse.

[esquire]

^ Agree completely. The effect would have been mitigated somewhat if it had actually been built out to the original concept... the fact that an entire block was demolished for an underground parkade with one measly tower on top of it is horrendous.

Originally Posted by CoryB

Is that space not currently occupied by a back office for a bank? Imagine the potential of that space though if it opened to a pedestrian friendly Portage and Main with a restaurant and patio occupying the space instead.

That would be phenomenal. For such a massive development, Winnipeg Square has the lamest, least impressive entrances imaginable. The only entrance that has any sort of grandeur is the entry to the 360 Main lobby off of Main, and hardly anyone actually uses it.

The same thing goes for TD Centre... it would improve the vibe of Portage and Main if that tower's entrance was there instead of on the Portage and Fort side. If only the entrance could be moved and a building built as originally intended on that Portage and Fort site...