Edmonton Construction 12 (December 2013)

[Rocket252]

It looks like a mish mash of styles and why does every building have red in it?

Lazy and no originality.

[Coldrsx]

Reference ID: Job No 179379815-001
Description: To change the Use from Professional, Financial and Office Support Services to Health Services and to construct interior alterations (medical clinic - tenant improvements).
Location: 9888 - JASPER AVENUE NW
Plan 7820103 Blk H Lot 4
Applicant: PCL CONSTRUCTION
Status: Issued
Create Date: 9/16/2015 4:09:21 PM
Neighbourhood: DOWNTOWN

[GreenSPACE]

Who cares about 'originality'. That's a 20th century concept.

Urban design is by FAR more important that architecture in how we interact with the building. Good architecture can sometimes do both, but I find that rarely happens. When doo-dads are more important that urban design you get podiums like the Pearl. Total nonsense.

[ciudad_del_norte]

Originally Posted by GreenSPACE

Who cares about 'originality'. That's a 20th century concept.

Urban design is by FAR more important that architecture in how we interact with the building. Good architecture can sometimes do both, but I find that rarely happens. When doo-dads are more important that urban design you get podiums like the Pearl. Total nonsense.

Funny thing is how many good walkable retail strips can actually be comprised of fairly boring, or even ugly buildings. But walking by on the street what do you actually notice? Are there windows? Interesting things to look at? Some variety in what you are seeing?

My only complaint with this building would be that the retail portion is a bit monotonous, a bit more variation would scale it better for pedestrians.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate interesting or beautiful buildings, but I find the obsession over them in much of architectural culture to have become a bit misguided in a way that is often unproductive.

[Daveography]

^ If we lived in a place that didn't already have so many mundane-to-downright-terrible architecture, this argument might make sense. As it stands, the bar is still low in the city, and this building - as good as the street interaction is and overall will be for the neighbourhood - does nothing to raise that bar.

Originally Posted by GreenSPACE

Who cares about 'originality'. That's a 20th century concept.

Urban design is by FAR more important that architecture in how we interact with the building. Good architecture can sometimes do both, but I find that rarely happens. When doo-dads are more important that urban design you get podiums like the Pearl. Total nonsense.

Good architecture doesn't mean doo-dads.

[ciudad_del_norte]

Originally Posted by Daveography

^ If we lived in a place that didn't already have so many mundane-to-downright-terrible architecture, this argument might make sense. As it stands, the bar is still low in the city, and this building - as good as the street interaction is and overall will be for the neighbourhood - does nothing to raise that bar.



Good architecture doesn't mean doo-dads.

Meh. I think we're doing well enough these days. Maybe not what a small group of people want to see in order gloat to the rest of the country, but I'm not generally that concerned with most of what's been happening in the last year or so. We aren't dong a lot of the super-trendy buildings that everybody oogles at in other cities. But I'm not too concerned about that. Although we could maybe get a few of of those...just so in 30 years we also have some to look at that everybody will think are super ugly, but indicative of this decade

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by Rocket252

It looks like a mish mash of styles and why does every building have red in it?

Lazy and no originality.

Red is our style. Or generally the style that is accepted across the Prairies and the Great Plains. It's just how we build stuff and there is nothing wrong with that.

[s4.audios]

I love the podium design, only thing negative maybe is that it does seem rather large for compared to its neighbour. But it looks like it will give a good vibe walking by it.

The apartments are a nice conservative look but they could have gone with something more fancy. Will also be a huge factor whether the exterior is stucco or some other material like metal panels.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Repair work begins on McDougall United Church
http://www.630ched.com/2015/09/24/repair-work-begins-on-mcdougall-united-church/

The south tower of the 100-year-old McDougall United Church downtown is about to get a quick face-lift.

McDougall Church council member Rob McLauchlin says a crane is scheduled to arrive at the historic building Thursday, heralding the beginning of repairs to the outside of the century-old structure.

“In the beginning we’re just going to shore up the south tower,” explained McLauchlin. “It’s aging and some of the brick point work needs work; and some of the cornices are a little unstable.”

McLauchlin says it’s expected to take a couple of days, with the repair work to continue on in the spring.

The province has just handed the church $750,000, and McLauchlin says they hope they’ll receive the $500,000 the city has committed to the repair work in the coming year — as they continue their fundraising efforts.

McLauchlin also says he doesn’t think they’ll need quite as much money as was first estimated by the city.

“The city said that it was going to cost $25 million to repair that church…and I think this project will actually be done, in full, for a fraction of that amount.”

The church is not only used weekly by the congregation for worship, but it’s also used seven days a week for weddings and funerals, and is put to constant use by all kinds of music groups.

McLauchlin says anyone looking to help out should contact the church to do so directly, adding they can also attend concerts and fundraisers that they’ll be announcing in the future. (td)

[tallisgood]

Originally Posted by ciudad_del_norte

Meh. I think we're doing well enough these days. Maybe not what a small group of people want to see in order gloat to the rest of the country, but I'm not generally that concerned with most of what's been happening in the last year or so. We aren't dong a lot of the super-trendy buildings that everybody oogles at in other cities. But I'm not too concerned about that. Although we could maybe get a few of of those...just so in 30 years we also have some to look at that everybody will think are super ugly, but indicative of this decade

To quote the Talking Heads: "Stop making sense"!

[Coldrsx]

^^great to hear!

[Coldrsx]

Building Lessons: New buildings, new spaces, new ideas for Alberta schools

ALEXANDRA ZABJEK, EDMONTON JOURNAL


edmjournal.com

The slate of new schools scheduled to open in Edmonton next fall will be home to generations of students. The school designs will affect how a neighbourhood looks and how children learn for decades to come.

Building a new school in Alberta takes about 18 months, with at least another year of planning before a hammer even hits a nail. Making it all work is a complicated — sometimes delicate — partnership between municipal, provincial and school district governments.

Lorne Parker, executive director of infrastructure for Edmonton Public Schools, and Catherine Nissen, assistant superintendent of facility services at Edmonton Catholic Schools, talk about the construction.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-ne...new-spaces-new-ideas-for-alberta-schools

[RicoLance21]

That Raymond Block reminds me a lot of this building in Calgary--nothing really special in comparison, and then there is a walkup-style apartment on top:

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Roots/@...!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x21347edca14174d!6m1!1e1

[GreenSPACE]

We need like 20 midrise buildings with retail in Edmonton built pronto. Then the streets will be alive.

[HomeInMyShoes]

^We'd also want those buildings to support a wide diversity of merchants which is the difficult part.

That school needs more parking.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by GreenSPACE

We need like 20 midrise buildings with retail in Edmonton built pronto. Then the streets will be alive.

the streets won't be any more alive if there's no-one in those buildings...

building buildings isn't really like building a baseball diamond in field of dreams.

[Coldrsx]

Join Eastside Eats! A Culinary Adventure in The Quarters Downtown

Enjoy a delectable afternoon out exploring the tasty eats of The Quarters Downtown. Learn the stories behind the hidden gems of Downtown’s east side from the owners themselves. And of course, sample the delicious, hand-selected fare representing their various cuisines.

The culinary adventure kicks off at Churchill Square and then will wind its way down 102A Avenue to 97 Street. The tour will end in Churchill Square just in time for Alberta Culture Days, capping off with Nuit Blanche.

Where: Meet in Churchill Square near the Cenotaph/ wading pool. Look for Eastside Eats signage.
When: Saturday, September 26th
​
Time:
1pm - 4pm
Tickets: $30

Call 780-442-5054 to purchase tickets through the Current Planning Service Centre.

Alternatively, you can visit the Current Planning Service Centre located on the 5th floor of the HSBC building to purchase tickets in person.

[Daveography]

Haven't done this angle in a while:



Doing fantastic work on the facade:

[HomeInMyShoes]

Me likey KR. I like that its got some girth and is sitting perpendicular to Commerce Place.

Me not likey that E on the A Downtown for Everyone marketing.

[Mikemike]

Originally Posted by kcantor

the streets won't be any more alive if there's no-one in those buildings...

building buildings isn't really like building a baseball diamond in field of dreams.

Other than his location in the cornfield, it is a lot like the movie.

Note that Kevin Costner never charged for the use of the field or made back any of his costs. Do that in the city and they'll come all right.