Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed - Page 84

rocketphish · #**1661** Posted **Oct 15, 2015, 11:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by daud

I had to dig a bit to find where I had seen this. I've seen it mentioned a few times including this quote from Cindy Van Buskirk from early 2015:

"As the Rideau Centre expansion wraps up, Ms. vanBuskirk said her attention could soon be directed to future development potential on lands already owned by Cadillac Fairview. These could include the “red parking garage” – a four-level building on the corner of Nicholas Street and Daly Avenue – and property where a land registry building sits."

http://www.obj.ca/Local/2015-01-29/artic...-GM-gives-update-on-renovation-project/1

For some reason I also remember seeing a graphic with a tower in the spot where the red garage currently is located. I would guess this type of redevelopment would still be years away but with a LRT station at the Rideau Centre, I would think this lot would become infinitely more valuable than a parking garage alone.

The last image in this post, maybe?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6104713&postcount=285

Kitchissippi · #**1662** Posted **Oct 16, 2015, 12:01 AM**

I can't imagine a tower in this location would be a real condo, though. Giving up part of the mall property over to co-ownership and a condo association would unnecessarily complicate management. They'd be better off with high-end rental apartments or offices.

Luker · #**1663** Posted **Oct 16, 2015, 12:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketphish

The last image in this post, maybe?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6104713&postcount=285

As I recall, it was written here that the Red Garage was built to be expanded. Whether that meant only as a parking structure or a building, I do not know.. You'd think they have enough foresight to not build a parking structure and demolish 5, 10 years later..

daud · #**1664** Posted **Oct 16, 2015, 1:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketphish

The last image in this post, maybe?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6104713&postcount=285

That would be one of the visuals I saw! Funny, they go right out and label it condo. I'm hopeful a hotel/condo hybrid would get built. The shaw centre needs attached rooms so badly to book better business.

MoreTrains · #**1665** Posted **Oct 16, 2015, 1:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by daud

That would be one of the visuals I saw! Funny, they go right out and label it condo. I'm hopeful a hotel/condo hybrid would get built. The shaw centre needs attached rooms so badly to book better business.

The Westin isnt good enough?

daud · #**1666** Posted **Oct 16, 2015, 1:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreTrains

The Westin isnt good enough?

The westin is great, but its not always a great partner for the Shaw Centre. Its often full, and it also has its own sizeable meeting facilities.

Very often when the Shaw centre is trying to book a big piece of business, it needs connected rooms. If the westin is booked, which it often is, the Shaw centre is forced to work with other hotels which are not directly connected to submit a proposal. If the rooms are not connected to the convention space, it puts the proposal at a disadvantage. Another big issue is the size of hotels. Big conventions want their delegates in as few properties as possible. this is another problem for the Shaw centre.

There were times this september when the expedia rate for a room in Ottawa was over $400. There is a supply issue in my opinion that is hurting the convention market.

Another big issue for the Shaw centre is the contiguous exhibit floor space. Despite the expansion, its simply not big enough for many conventions and we really lag behind other canadian cities. That being said, its a beautiful building and Ottawa is a great destination for conventions-its just that we don't have the infrastructure in place to up our game.

eltodesukane · #**1667** Posted **Oct 16, 2015, 5:32 PM**

"its a beautiful building"
The curved glass windows does look nice from the outside,
but the inside building is very ordinary.

J.OT13 · #**1668** Posted **Oct 16, 2015, 11:39 PM**

OCC is like Lansdowne, the best mediocre facility around. Falls just short of "world class". I imagine the Confederation Line will be very much the same.

As for the Rideau Centre, there was a 3D concept of the facility in 25 years or so, with a 30-some storey tower on the Registry site and a 20-ish floor building on the Red garage site. I would imagine the Registrar's site will be the first developed; they're not going to tear down a garage built 8 years ago. I'm hoping 2016, as soon as the expansion is over, but after 10 years of all talk and no action (we were supposed to get after the OCC, then Watson was trying to attract a 400-500 room hotel...), I won't hold my breath.

McC · #**1669** Posted **Oct 17, 2015, 12:09 AM**

There's a lot of daylight between "mediocre" and "falls just short of world class"

J.OT13 · #**1670** Posted **Oct 17, 2015, 12:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McC

There's a lot of daylight between "mediocre" and "falls just short of world class"

Not if we're talking about our politicians' definition of "world class". Although Watson made it clear that the Confederation Line will be a "Chevrolet", not a "Cadillac".

Kitchissippi · #**1671** Posted **Oct 25, 2015, 3:52 AM**

They've reopened the bridge to the Bay

DEWLine · #**1672** Posted **Oct 25, 2015, 11:16 PM**

I didn't even think to try it on my most recent visit. Didn't believe it was ready for foot traffic!

Admiral Nelson · #**1673** Posted **Nov 4, 2015, 2:57 AM**

Another shot of the new bridge.

Glimpse inside the expansion / Ogilvy

LRT construction and Rideau Centre work... lots of change!

And not the Rideau Centre, but close enough, The Bay and its renovation.

OTSkyline · #**1674** Posted **Nov 4, 2015, 8:18 PM**

LOVING all of these changes! Rideau Centre, Rideau Street and The Bay there were all so old, dated and ugly before, nice to see all of these changes!

The exterior of the Rideau Centre and the Ogilvy Building are turning out VERY nice! (Still wish that was an electronic screen though instead of some art piece, oh well).

Plus, visited the men's section of The Bay the other day and wow, what a difference! The floors, open concept, new merchandise, all a much needed facelift! Can't wait to see when all will be said and done!

AuxTown · #**1675** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 6:42 PM**

Ogilvy looks much better than I had imagined it would. Great use of the heritage materials and integration with the more modern ones. I don't feels so bad about the demolition now.

J.OT13 · #**1676** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 6:20 PM**

Granted, the replicated façade (using mostly original materials) has been done masterfully however, I continue to have a huge problem with the floor (oh so obvious brilliant white) of the modern expansion running at the bottom of the original third floor windows. If they could at least fix this by placing historic photographs down there or possibly decorations in keeping with the time of year or celebrations (Christmas, Canada Day, confederation themes in 2017), it would alleviate the black eye to Ogilvy's memory.

ortelius · #**1677** Posted **Nov 14, 2015, 6:31 AM**

The new bridge is brighter and more spacious.
Simons is to open in September 2016. I'm wondering if they'll finish before that from the look of it.

mykl · #**1678** Posted **Nov 19, 2015, 5:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ortelius

The new bridge is brighter and more spacious.
Simons is to open in September 2016. I'm wondering if they'll finish before that from the look of it.

The bridge is exactly the same size as its always been. Its an illusion.

AuxTown · #**1679** Posted **Nov 25, 2015, 12:49 AM**

I hate the new floor tiles. I was in there with my dress shoes the other day and I was slipping a tiny bit with each step. It was like running on soft sand. Anyone else have that problem. FYI, they are not cheap shoes

kevinbottawa · #**1680** Posted **Nov 26, 2015, 5:57 PM**

Shoppers and Freshly Squeezed are open. I think Shoppers opened today. These stores plus LCBO make that wing look amazing! There's a space to the left of Shoppers that looks like it'll be the LRT entrance. I really can't wait to see how an LRT station changes the mall experience. When I first moved to Ottawa six years ago Rideau was a disappointment of a downtown mall. I'm really impressed with the renovation and the expansion isn't even open yet.