Winnipeg | CentrePoint | Alt/Glasshouse | 20F | 21F | 72.5M | 70M | Completed

[CoryB]

^^ Pretty sure the fin ultimately came down to cost. That said, the glow it would likely introduce to some rooms and the blocked view of Portage Ave, what little you can see, likely factored into the decision. I would imagine the rational would be very different if the fin was on the north end of the building and blocking the sight lines to the "bad" part of downtown.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by buzzg

If you look at the original renders, the windows were different, wider as opposed to the long vertical ones that went in. The windows changed when they decided to go for the cheaper cladding (it was supposed to be the same as the podium), and that forced them to have to ditch the fin.

Source:

Originally Posted by rkspec

There may be some variation in window size and configuration depicted in the 1st original render to the actual finished product but it would be difficult to tell if it was originally planned or changed due to (value engineering) ?

[bomberjet]

I would agree the cladding was changed. What's on the podium now looks very very close to what is shown in the rendering.

[buzzg]

Yeah the cladding was for sure originally designed have what's currently on the podium on the tower as well. I also find it bizarre (not necessarily good or bad) that just underneath the vertical yellow piece at the top of the podium, the cladding is fake wood... but there isn't wood anywhere else on the building, haha. It's a little strange to me.

[Biff]

I am not sure if it might have to do with the fact we really haven't had any glass high rise development downtown or not but my god, I looooove the way that Glasshouse is turning out. I'm sure in Toronto where these type of buildings are literally a dime a dozen it might be seen as fairly ordinary but for me it is turning into a real beauty.

I was hoping that they would never put the balconies up because it looked so good naked but even with the slabs it looks great. Maybe I am over doing it but I would take two and a half more of these over the 47 storey SkyCity anytime...........

don't get me wrong, I want the SkyCity Tower too....

[BigG]

If anyone is in the area and has the time and inclination, please post some pictures that we may see the progress and naked beauty of this building so orgasmically described by Biff.

[Kris22]

Originally Posted by BigG

If anyone is in the area and has the time and inclination, please post some pictures that we may see the progress and naked beauty of this building so orgasmically described by Biff.

Here ya go!

I wonder if the concrete balconies will be painted black to blend in more (at least the underside).

A walk up Hargrave today:

[bomberjet]

Thanks for the photos!

Peeking in some of the windows, looks like they have drywall, etc installed.

I noticed the parkade LED's have been turned off for the last while, too cold? Also i suspect the tower crane will be coming down once the balcony installation is complete. Not much more to put up on the tower! Another month or two maybe.

Those balconies in fronting the back lane will have a fantastic view of an old brick wall haha Also the white panels on the lane side of ALT are quite ugly.

[esquire]

^ Nice pictures! Once TNS gets going, Hargrave is going to become the best urban canyon in Winnipeg. Still not the greatest by overall urban canyon standards, but you'll be able to go from St. Mary to Ellice with at least a solid midrise on every block.

[Authentic_City]

Looking south down Hargrave from Cumberland reminds me of the vague proposal some years ago to build an African-Canadian community centre where the old JCC/YMHA building used to be. Other than that gaping hole in the streetscape, Hargrave has a pretty good urban feel to it. I don't suppose that proposal will ever get off the ground?

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Looking south down Hargrave from Cumberland reminds me of the vague proposal some years ago to build an African-Canadian community centre where the old JCC/YMHA building used to be. Other than that gaping hole in the streetscape, Hargrave has a pretty good urban feel to it. I don't suppose that proposal will ever get off the ground?

News reports in Sept 2015 said that the owner (Shelter Corp) has been given a 1 year extension by the downtown development committee to keep the lot open so the group wanting to build the center can continue to try and raise funds to build their building.

Lot has apparently been empty since 2002 when an apartment block was suppose to be built there but never started.

The African-Canadian Foundation has been trying to buy the land and start building since 2010 according to the news articles. They were opposed to a city order to Shelter Corp to provide proper paving and landscaping of the lot as it would increase the property value and thus their cost to buy the land

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Nice pictures! Once TNS gets going, Hargrave is going to become the best urban canyon in Winnipeg. Still not the greatest by overall urban canyon standards, but you'll be able to go from St. Mary to Ellice with at least a solid midrise on every block.

It looks very nice. The size of it is more "human scale" than the monstrosities we have around here (in Toronto).

[esquire]

Originally Posted by cllew

News reports in Sept 2015 said that the owner (Shelter Corp) has been given a 1 year extension by the downtown development committee to keep the lot open so the group wanting to build the center can continue to try and raise funds to build their building.

Lot has apparently been empty since 2002 when an apartment block was suppose to be built there but never started.

The African-Canadian Foundation has been trying to buy the land and start building since 2010 according to the news articles. They were opposed to a city order to Shelter Corp to provide proper paving and landscaping of the lot as it would increase the property value and thus their cost to buy the land

I figured it might be a tall order when it was first announced. The African community in Winnipeg is not that big and not that well established here (for instance, I don't think there are any Afro-Canadian new car dealership owners here who can stroke a cheque for $250,000 or something like that)... that could make the project a bit lengthier.

I really hope it happens, though. It would be a nice addition to the area.

[Kris22]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Those balconies in fronting the back lane will have a fantastic view of an old brick wall haha Also the white panels on the lane side of ALT are quite ugly.

Ya I'm curious what the difference in price is for those 2 lower units compared to the same unit a few floors up.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Also the white panels on the lane side of ALT are quite ugly.

They are, but you can really only see them from the lane. My guess too is they were made like that to reflect light to the rooms back there... it gets VERY dark back there at night (I have to go back there almost every day.

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Looking south down Hargrave from Cumberland reminds me of the vague proposal some years ago to build an African-Canadian community centre where the old JCC/YMHA building used to be. Other than that gaping hole in the streetscape, Hargrave has a pretty good urban feel to it. I don't suppose that proposal will ever get off the ground?

I thought the exact same thing. I hope they can come up with something.

Originally Posted by Andy6

It looks very nice. The size of it is more "human scale" than the monstrosities we have around here (in Toronto).

Well, except for the truly awful Air Canada building. So brutal that they were allowed to make almost that entire block/sidewalk of Hargrave a loading dock.

[BigG]

^^^Nice pics. Thanks.

[CoryB]

I recall reading somewhere that the lower units with balconies on the lane blocked by the building would be taken by the Alt Hotel as extended stay rental units.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Well, except for the truly awful Air Canada building. So brutal that they were allowed to make almost that entire block/sidewalk of Hargrave a loading dock.

The Air Canada Building is quite nice but you are right, the space on the east side is really awkward... the loading dock kills the streetscape on that side of the street.

The most awkward thing about the building, though, was the lawn that they put in to the north. For a while it was just a green space but of course it didn't take long for it to be converted to a surface parking lot. With the wall of windows to the north of the Air Canada building, I'm sure that surface parking lot will never get developed as the landlord won't want a large building a few feet away from all that glass.

[Urban recluse]

Originally Posted by esquire

I figured it might be a tall order when it was first announced. The African community in Winnipeg is not that big and not that well established here (for instance, I don't think there are any Afro-Canadian new car dealership owners here who can stroke a cheque for $250,000 or something like that)... that could make the project a bit lengthier.

I really hope it happens, though. It would be a nice addition to the area.

It would be; more infusions of culture give the city a better image, and the last proposal was interesting with so much color.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by Kris22

Here ya go!

I wonder if the concrete balconies will be painted black to blend in more (at least the underside).

A walk up Hargrave today:

.

First pic : Old and New working together

2nd pic: Urban density..at what cost..(view) .. kinda wierd to say it but...