Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[mac_junkie1]

The video posted on YouTube regarding the Expansion was just a "sketch" or "rendering" of what to potentially expect once completed. The original design did have the 2 bridges renovated, but along the way, plans change; sometimes for the best, sometimes for the worst. As practical as it was having 2 bridges, there was no "use" for 2. So they decided to brighten up the street and save a bit of cash along the way and decided to just take the smaller west bridge out. The east bridge I believe is slated for completion in September.

Originally Posted by loga0082

I am not sure whether you remember the YouTube video on the Rideau Centre expansion dated September 2013. When I watched that video which was made almost two years ago, it did have both the East and West pedestrian bridge nicely renovated with the beautiful shiny glass. Why did they decide to change their mind and get rid of the West pedestrian bridge? I remember that they had benches where people could sit to have lunch. When is that East pedestrian bridge going to be finished?

loga0082

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

I didn't find the design an eyesore at all. It was a nice design and had it been maintained, would've looked even cooler. It fit the "rustic" look of the street, but 2 bridges were a little cluttering. The views without it are really cool, but the bridge great. With all the new around, it was cool to still have that "old" around. The new design on the remaining bridge is shaping up nicely and should look cool when completed for a September opening. Its almost done...

I agree; the design of the bridges wasn't bad at all, just terribly worn out due to a lack of upkeep, just like everything else on Rideau Street.

I'm ecstatic that the smaller bridge was demolished. opens up the views of Freiman's very well. I am a little worried about how they will fix the hole in the Freiman façade (frankly, I'm worried about the whole renovation. I'm expecting them to cheap out and only do the minimum). They might be better off just building a new, modern main entrance taking up three floors of that narrow/taller façade on the west end of the building.

[jslath]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I agree; the design of the bridges wasn't bad at all, just terribly worn out due to a lack of upkeep, just like everything else on Rideau Street.

I'm ecstatic that the smaller bridge was demolished. opens up the views of Freiman's very well. I am a little worried about how they will fix the hole in the Freiman façade (frankly, I'm worried about the whole renovation. I'm expecting them to cheap out and only do the minimum). They might be better off just building a new, modern main entrance taking up three floors of that narrow/taller façade on the west end of the building.

Hudson's Bay has done some amazing work renovating their stores- inside and out. Not sure why you automatically assume they'll cheap out?

[Norman Bates]

It's Ottawa. That's what we do.

[loga0082]

I walked through the Bay to the market. I see that they are renovating the rooms. The Bay will probably look very nice, once it is completely finished. It probably needed some renovation, because the place was looking a bit run down.

Loga0082

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by jslath

Hudson's Bay has done some amazing work renovating their stores- inside and out. Not sure why you automatically assume they'll cheap out?

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

It's Ottawa. That's what we do.

What he said

The private sector has a bad habit of cheeping out or falling short in Ottawa while doing amazing work everywhere else.

We look at hotel chains who go all out renovating or building in other cities while cutting back in Ottawa. Delta's a great example; they did an exceptional job with the lobby and new entrance but fell short of re-facing or replacing the stained concrete panels all around the podium. Westin did some work, but it still looks like an 80s nightmare.

Then we have the bland office towers in Ottawa. The same developers go all out when its Calgary or Toronto. And no, it's not a height thing. Just look at Winnipeg for examples (recently built and proposed) of good architecture at 20-30 floors. Even Washington DC, with barely anything over 12 floors.

HBC will probably do a decent job inside, but they will fall short outside. The screw up that is the Freiman Mall and Geaorge Street façade will not be rectified. I wouldn't be surprised if they plugged the skywalk hole with a ridiculous Band-Aid sonlution.

[loga0082]

In my opinion, I think that they should renovate the exterior of the Bay. One should put new bricks and install new windows. It will look much better that way.

Loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

Freiman's Main Building, as it sits looks pretty damn marvelous and has been well maintained over the years, just like Ogilvy's was too up until it switched hands in 1984...

As for the adjoining Freiman Annex (the building with the hole/former skywalk), I'm sure proper care will go into renovating it properly or eventually restoring it. HBC in a press statement a few months ago said it wanted to do the inside and outside and make it look stunning again. All other big cities that have HBC in heritage buildings SHINE with proudness. I walked by the one on Young Street in Toronto a month ago and they've done a fantastic job at shinning up the exterior and such. Give it time for them to do the same here. Let's see how it goes. With Rideau Street getting such an elegant makeover, it would clash to have something so ugly put up alongside all the new and renovated. Even the tall Noffke building on the corner of Rideau & Sussex got a nice exterior makeover last year and a full interior rebuild this year. These things take time, so let's wait and see

Originally Posted by loga0082

In my opinion, I think that they should renovate the exterior of the Bay. One should put new bricks and install new windows. It will look much better that way.

Loga0082

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

Freiman's Main Building, as it sits looks pretty damn marvelous and has been well maintained over the years, just like Ogilvy's was too up until it switched hands in 1984...

As for the adjoining Freiman Annex (the building with the hole/former skywalk), I'm sure proper care will go into renovating it properly or eventually restoring it. HBC in a press statement a few months ago said it wanted to do the inside and outside and make it look stunning again. All other big cities that have HBC in heritage buildings SHINE with proudness. I walked by the one on Young Street in Toronto a month ago and they've done a fantastic job at shinning up the exterior and such. Give it time for them to do the same here. Let's see how it goes. With Rideau Street getting such an elegant makeover, it would clash to have something so ugly put up alongside all the new and renovated. Even the tall Noffke building on the corner of Rideau & Sussex got a nice exterior makeover last year and a full interior rebuild this year. These things take time, so let's wait and see

You are right. I should be patient and wait and see what happens. Certainly, Rideau Street looks much better without the West pedestrian bridge. When I go up on the roof terrace, I can see the parliament buildings and downtown Ottawa much better.

Loga0082

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

Freiman's Main Building, as it sits looks pretty damn marvelous and has been well maintained over the years, just like Ogilvy's was too up until it switched hands in 1984...

As for the adjoining Freiman Annex (the building with the hole/former skywalk), I'm sure proper care will go into renovating it properly or eventually restoring it. HBC in a press statement a few months ago said it wanted to do the inside and outside and make it look stunning again. All other big cities that have HBC in heritage buildings SHINE with proudness. I walked by the one on Young Street in Toronto a month ago and they've done a fantastic job at shinning up the exterior and such. Give it time for them to do the same here. Let's see how it goes. With Rideau Street getting such an elegant makeover, it would clash to have something so ugly put up alongside all the new and renovated. Even the tall Noffke building on the corner of Rideau & Sussex got a nice exterior makeover last year and a full interior rebuild this year. These things take time, so let's wait and see

The only press release I saw was a short article, I think it was in the Citizen, with little detail other than placement of a few departments within the buildings. I hope you're right and they put in as much care and pride as they id in Vancouver and Toronto.

Last time I passed a week ago, the Noffke building still had scaffolding, no?

[mac_junkie1]

Scaffolding is gone. It was only put up for the bridge tear-down incase something went flying. The outside renovations finished a few months ago I believe!

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The only press release I saw was a short article, I think it was in the Citizen, with little detail other than placement of a few departments within the buildings. I hope you're right and they put in as much care and pride as they id in Vancouver and Toronto.

Last time I passed a week ago, the Noffke building still had scaffolding, no?

[UrbOttawa]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

Scaffolding is gone. It was only put up for the bridge tear-down incase something went flying. The outside renovations finished a few months ago I believe!

Is this the building on the northeast side of rideau/sussex? If so what did they renovate? the cibc facade still looks as horrible as ever

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by RobOttawa

Is this the building on the northeast side of rideau/sussex? If so what did they renovate? the cibc facade still looks as horrible as ever

I walked by that area recently along Rideau and Sussex, because I was walking from the National Gallery to the Rideau Centre and that place does not look renovated at all. To me, it looks exactly the same. If this corner was renovated, it would looks much nicer. The exterior of Hudson bay needs a good renovation.

loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

I guess I'll clarify a little more... They worked on the mortar and brickwork for a good year on that building. CIBC is in charge of renovating the corner they're on if they so choose so. Yes it does look older and could be better, but maybe they'll do it one day. The building itself got a nice cleanup on the brick work and such. It's an old building, so it needed some maintenance to keep it looking nice.

Originally Posted by RobOttawa

Is this the building on the northeast side of rideau/sussex? If so what did they renovate? the cibc facade still looks as horrible as ever

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by mac_junkie1

I guess I'll clarify a little more... They worked on the mortar and brickwork for a good year on that building. CIBC is in charge of renovating the corner they're on if they so choose so. Yes it does look older and could be better, but maybe they'll do it one day. The building itself got a nice cleanup on the brick work and such. It's an old building, so it needed some maintenance to keep it looking nice.

I am sure that they would eventually renovate the exterior of the CIBC. These days, they are always renovating buildings and doing a lot of roadwork. They most likely will renovate outside the Bay sooner or later. They are now concentrating in renovating the interior of the day. We will wait and see what happens.

loga0082

[J.OT13]

As I was looking for more info on what they will do to the exterior of HBC, I found a rendering of the proposed Skywalk between HBC's Toronto Queen Street flagship and the Eaton Centre. I wish they would have done something similar to this for the Rideau-Freiman Mall skywalk.



I realize ours is significantly wider, but they could have done a little bit more.

I'm still happy with the results; one gone and one totally re-done. It's not a sticking point for me. Just saying.

[Harley613]

I think the biggest design limitation is the inclusion of retail floorspace on the skywalk. If it was just a walkway they could have made it much more unique.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

As I was looking for more info on what they will do to the exterior of HBC, I found a rendering of the proposed Skywalk between HBC's Toronto Queen Street flagship and the Eaton Centre. I wish they would have done something similar to this for the Rideau-Freiman Mall skywalk.



I realize ours is significantly wider, but they could have done a little bit more.

I'm still happy with the results; one gone and one totally re-done. It's not a sticking point for me. Just saying.

What lovely pictures which you sent of the renovated Rideau centre and the Eaton centre in Toronto. When I look at that picture of the finished Rideau centre expansion, that glass of the East Pedestrian bridge looks far brighter than the new windows which they put in person. Is the H&M store and the Bridgestone coffee shop going in the expansion? One of the guys told us in one of the forums that Richtree is supposed to go where Shoppers Drug Mart is located now.

loga0082

[mac_junkie1]

From what I heard, the shoppers back wall will be knocked and it'll continue into the expansion to make for a larger store. We already all know the "current" shoppers is moving into the former food court. The current unit will be split in half with part of it most likely becoming H&M going long into the new section and the other half is for another tenant, which I do know who it is, but can't say just yet in case it isn't finalized. LCBO is also moving, so the boundaries of said new stores aren't tied to current unit sizes as they will all be moved and re-split accordingly. The "new" tenants are supposed to open up in February or March I believe and one is potentially a store that isn't too far from the area right now! Oh the suspense

Originally Posted by loga0082

What lovely pictures which you sent of the renovated Rideau centre and the Eaton centre in Toronto. When I look at that picture of the finished Rideau centre expansion, that glass of the East Pedestrian bridge looks far brighter than the new windows which they put in person. Is the H&M store and the Bridgestone coffee shop going in the expansion? One of the guys told us in one of the forums that Richtree is supposed to go where Shoppers Drug Mart is located now.

loga0082

[rocketphish]

Closer up view of "The Patch":


Aug 7, 2015
Photo by me