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

[RangerNS]

Renderings of the finished thing are here:

http://halifaxbloggers.ca/builthalifax/w...9322AttachmentASitePlanApprovalPlans.pdf

But, in short, mostly glass.

[teddifax]

Thanks for sharing the site!

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by teddifax

It looks like the framework on the outside is going to be steel. Will this make the building more visible with more glass and less concrete?

Most of the steel you see is for the box portion of the ballroom that sticks out.
Most of the Ballroom will actually be steel, as will the part between Grafton and market that supports it. The rest will be concrete.

[OldDartmouthMark]

A few from the lower side:

[Jonovision]

The lower part of the ballroom box is starting to makes its presence felt at the corner of Sackville and Argyle.

[ns_kid]

This is an update to a topic that's been kicked around on these pages before.

A report coming to Halifax council from finance director Greg Keefe turns thumbs-down on a proposal to extend the underground downtown link to the Nova Centre.

http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/150526cai06.pdf

The report acknowledges that the RFP for the convention centre required Rank to allow for a tunnel to connect the Nova Centre to nearby hotels. But Keefe goes on to say that staff "do not agree that a tunnel is a necessary feature." The report pegs the cost at between $7-10 million.

Keefe's report acknowledges that a "convenient, weather-protected pedestrian connection...is...desirable". Apparently staff are working on "practical and effective" (read cheaper) alternatives.

That said, it acknowledges that at the end of the day the tunnel may prove to be best option in which case the city will look to partners like the province (but not, apparently, the developer) to pick up part of the cost.

It has astounded me for some time that the downtown link question has been left unresolved. I'm not sure what "alternatives" are available, other than an overhead link via the Prince George Hotel, which would be both disruptive to the hotel and less direct for pedestrians.

Of course there are members here who eschew the idea of pedestrian bridges and tunnels. After living through the past winter in Halifax I find it hard to be sympathetic to that view. An indoor link to hotels and other facilities is a significant benefit to tenants and visitors alike and finding a solution should be a priority for council.

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

This is an update to a topic that's been kicked around on these pages before.

A report coming to Halifax council from finance director Greg Keefe turns thumbs-down on a proposal to extend the underground downtown link to the Nova Centre.

http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/150526cai06.pdf

The report acknowledges that the RFP for the convention centre required Rank to allow for a tunnel to connect the Nova Centre to nearby hotels. But Keefe goes on to say that staff "do not agree that a tunnel is a necessary feature." The report pegs the cost at between $7-10 million.

Keefe's report acknowledges that a "convenient, weather-protected pedestrian connection...is...desirable". Apparently staff are working on "practical and effective" (read cheaper) alternatives.

That said, it acknowledges that at the end of the day the tunnel may prove to be best option in which case the city will look to partners like the province (but not, apparently, the developer) to pick up part of the cost.

It has astounded me for some time that the downtown link question has been left unresolved. I'm not sure what "alternatives" are available, other than an overhead link via the Prince George Hotel, which would be both disruptive to the hotel and less direct for pedestrians.

Of course there are members here who eschew the idea of pedestrian bridges and tunnels. After living through the past winter in Halifax I find it hard to be sympathetic to that view. An indoor link to hotels and other facilities is a significant benefit to tenants and visitors alike and finding a solution should be a priority for council.

I said quite a long time ago that any new developments, especially the new convention centre should be required to be connected to the downtown link, it only makes sense. It is so nice to go from the Casino all the way up through Barrington Place, into Scotia Square and over through the WTCC and into the Prince George without ever having to go outside or up the steep hills.

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by teddifax

I said quite a long time ago that any new developments, especially the new convention centre should be required to be connected to the downtown link, it only makes sense. It is so nice to go from the Casino all the way up through Barrington Place, into Scotia Square and over through the WTCC and into the Prince George without ever having to go outside or up the steep hills.

Also, on a side note, as I don't know where to put this.... When the WTCC becomes obsolete and is taken over by the city, what is to become of it? I know the ceilings are low, etc, but I have a radical solution.... Why not expand the Scotiabank centre into this space, we could greatly expand the seating in the east end on the Argyle St. side. I don't know if it could be physically possible to do this but it is worth stating in my opinion anyway.

[ns_kid]

Originally Posted by teddifax

Also, on a side note, as I don't know where to put this.... When the WTCC becomes obsolete and is taken over by the city, what is to become of it?

Keefe's report to council also speaks to the future of the WTCC.

When the building is vacated, the province will put it on the market. If a buyer is found, the city has the option of matching the price. If HRM chooses not to buy, the sale to the original bidder will proceed. If no buyer is found it automatically transfers to the city at "book value", expected to be under $1 million.

So, as to future use, it will very much depend on the outcome of the sale process. If the building stays in public hands I believe it would make sense to maintain some exhibit and support space for the Scotiabank Centre. During major sporting events, this ancillary space has been very important for registration, media services, administration, volunteer support and the like.

I do find it hard to see how seating could be successfully expanded into this area, without a major (and costly) increase in the height of the SBC ceiling. It would certainly be an asset though. Anything to correct the damage to upper bowl sightlines caused by the half-witted skybox installation would be welcome.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

Keefe's report to council also speaks to the future of the WTCC.

When the building is vacated, the province will put it on the market. If a buyer is found, the city has the option of matching the price. If HRM chooses not to buy, the sale to the original bidder will proceed. If no buyer is found it automatically transfers to the city at "book value", expected to be under $1 million.

So, as to future use, it will very much depend on the outcome of the sale process. If the building stays in public hands I believe it would make sense to maintain some exhibit and support space for the Scotiabank Centre. During major sporting events, this ancillary space has been very important for registration, media services, administration, volunteer support and the like.

I do find it hard to see how seating could be successfully expanded into this area, without a major (and costly) increase in the height of the SBC ceiling. It would certainly be an asset though. Anything to correct the damage to upper bowl sightlines caused by the half-witted skybox installation would be welcome.

I agree with your post regarding the benefits of the municipality keeping the current WTCC. Also, sometime down the road (perhaps in 10 - 20 years) the combined Metro Centre and WTCC site could easily provide room for a new 15,000+ seat arena Metro Centre (with the ice surface rotated 90 degrees).

If the city can get the current WTCC for $1 million dollars then that sounds like a fantastic deal. The gross floor space of the current WTCC is 180,400 square feet on 7 levels (excluding space in the Metro Centre). This information is taken from page 27 (section 2.2.1) of this report - http://www.tradecentrelimited.com/site-t..._Feasibility_Study_Volume_1_May_2007.pdf).

At $1 million, that would be a price of $1,000,000/180,400 Sq.ft. = $5.54 per square foot. Newly constructed office space would cost at least $200 per square foot which would be about $36 million dollars replacement cost.

I wonder if the $1 million dollar figure in the report - http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/150526cai06.pdf - is a mistake? A few years ago, when the debates surrounding the deposition of the current WTCC were going on between the municipality and province, I remember a market value of $20 million being mentioned (I don't have a reference). I would think that a market value of at least $10 million would be more realistic.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

This is an update to a topic that's been kicked around on these pages before.

A report coming to Halifax council from finance director Greg Keefe turns thumbs-down on a proposal to extend the underground downtown link to the Nova Centre.

http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/150526cai06.pdf

The report acknowledges that the RFP for the convention centre required Rank to allow for a tunnel to connect the Nova Centre to nearby hotels. But Keefe goes on to say that staff "do not agree that a tunnel is a necessary feature." The report pegs the cost at between $7-10 million.

Keefe's report acknowledges that a "convenient, weather-protected pedestrian connection...is...desirable". Apparently staff are working on "practical and effective" (read cheaper) alternatives.

That said, it acknowledges that at the end of the day the tunnel may prove to be best option in which case the city will look to partners like the province (but not, apparently, the developer) to pick up part of the cost.

It has astounded me for some time that the downtown link question has been left unresolved. I'm not sure what "alternatives" are available, other than an overhead link via the Prince George Hotel, which would be both disruptive to the hotel and less direct for pedestrians.

Of course there are members here who eschew the idea of pedestrian bridges and tunnels. After living through the past winter in Halifax I find it hard to be sympathetic to that view. An indoor link to hotels and other facilities is a significant benefit to tenants and visitors alike and finding a solution should be a priority for council.

Overground pedestrian bridges are disasters. If you're going to connect, do it underground.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Overground pedestrian bridges are disasters. If you're going to connect, do it underground.

I would think that many people would feel safer in a pedestrian bridge than an underground tunnel. Glass enclosed pedestrian bridges are brighter and have views of the outside environment. For example, I think the Purdy's Wharf pedestrian bridge across Barrington Street is quite impressive.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I would think that many people would feel safer in a pedestrian bridge than an underground tunnel. Glass enclosed pedestrian bridges are brighter and have views of the outside environment. For example, I think the Purdy's Wharf pedestrian bridge across Barrington Street is quite impressive.

See, I'm not really a fan of that bridge. I think it obstructs views of Barrington and imposes the ugly brutalist facade of Scotia Square onto the entrance to our oldest and most important street. I think it's also played a role in deterring development of parts of this area, including that vacant parking lot in the Hollis/Barrington fork, that is accessible below Barrington bus stops.

With that bridge, I there's been less incentive to make the actual street safer and more accessible for pedestrians. Trying to cross Hollis, for example, is a treacherous nightmare from that spot.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

This is an update to a topic that's been kicked around on these pages before.

A report coming to Halifax council from finance director Greg Keefe turns thumbs-down on a proposal to extend the underground downtown link to the Nova Centre.

http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/150526cai06.pdf
.
.
.

There is some encouraging information in the report regarding the Marketing of the new convention centre:

Marketing and Sales
The number of national and international clients choosing Nova Scotia’s new Halifax Convention Centre to host their events continues to grow. TCL is on track to achieve the public market projections. While the change in opening date to 2017 did impact some clients, TCL has successfully rebooked 14 of the 17 impacted clients in the existing facility or moved them to a future year.

As of May 4, 2015, 27 national and international events were secured for the new convention centre resulting in 23,150 delegates. Fourteen of those events (4 international, 9 national associations, 1 national corporate) are for the first year of operations, resulting in 14,000 delegates which is 80% of the delegate goal for year 1.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by RangerNS

Renderings of the finished thing are here:

http://halifaxbloggers.ca/builthalifax/w...9322AttachmentASitePlanApprovalPlans.pdf

But, in short, mostly glass.

After Nova is done, we'll have TWO iconic pieces of architecture in the city.

This, and the new library. Finally a bit of variation beyond the same boring brick/concrete midrisers...

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

After Nova is done, we'll have TWO iconic pieces of architecture in the city.

This, and the new library. Finally a bit of variation beyond the same boring brick/concrete midrisers...

Would have liked them to have done colored glass like the Montreal Convention Center

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by hokus83

Would have liked them to have done colored glass like the Montreal Convention Center

But then people here would have been complaining about the color they chose, regardless of what it was.

[enjoy*responsibly]

No way man, nobody complains on here

[Hali87]

A construction video with some previously-unreleased models/renderings

• Video Link

[pblaauw]

Am I the only one who saw something in the video about it being connected to other buildings in the area?