Winnipeg Construction IX

[borkborkbork]

Originally Posted by ketch22

It is very upsetting to have one's design/creation demolished, especially because of circumstances not of one's control. This is one of those designs that came together very quickly over an intense weekend and was a "just right" solution for the then proposed Peace Tower. We were hired to do only the design, so it was out of our control as to how it was built, and so the design was modified to meet budget constraints (it was originally to be 150' tall instead of 120'). The reflecting pool was never built and it was to be finished with Tyndal stone, not concrete. (Although even in concrete I would not have classified this as a Brutalist design.) This was my original design sketch for the tower showing the design as intended. Even with the changes it was very gratifying to realize that it had become such an iconic symbol of the Peace Gardens. I hope the money will be found to build its replacement.

K22

Thanks for sharing this bit of background and history. I really liked this design and am very disappointed that it is being demolished. Was it really beyond saving? I haven't been following this story.

[MG922]

I appreciate the additional info behind the design! I grew up in near there, and I didn't know those details about the pool, tyndal, etc. It really was an icon of the area, and it's sad that such a "young" structure has to come down.

I was at a presentation by the engineers who completed the assessment on the structure a few years ago. The aggregate in the concrete was sourced locally, and there was a lot of concrete degradation due to alkali-silica reaction. I can't remember exact details, but apparently something about the ASR found in the structure was very rare in north america.

If they would have used different aggregate during construction, it would probably be in much better condition today. Definitely would have lasted longer.

[Wolf13]

Originally Posted by DirtWednesday

Oh, I'm just anti brutalist architecture.

... as any decent person should be ...

Kelly Leitch should include a similar stance in her "canadian values" test.


somewhat joking... there are quality exceptions to the doldrums that make up the large chunk of a wasted architectural style...

but in my opinion they remain exceptions.

[Urban recluse]

There is nothing appealing about it IMO.

[Wolf13]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

There is nothing appealing about it IMO.

"But the Radisson on Portage is an architectural icon..."

[Urban recluse]

Oh, it's something alright. It looks like an unfinished development, still needing to be clad after 50 years...

[cllew]

Winnipeg Free Press tweeted at 3am that the Canad Inn @ 826 Regent in Transcona is getting a 63 room addition as well as renovating the existing 50 rooms

[bomberjet]

There was supposed to be a 100-150 room boutique hotel going in on the west side. I wonder if that's still in play with the CanadInns expansion.

http://www.chrisd.ca/2015/06/19/club-reg...aurants-expansion-winnipeg/#.WLg14U0zWUk



Also the link to Number Ten's website.
https://www.numberten.com/projects/the-club-regent-casino-show-theatre

I couldn't seem to find a good official site for the reno/expansion projects.

[esquire]

^ With those two expanding hotels, CanadInns really has a hammerlock on the Transcona hotel market. Who knew there was so much demand out that way? Transcona's not even really the kind of place where you get a lot of inter-city traffic passing through like on Portage, Pembina, or even McPhillips.

[bomberjet]

People come for the casino I guess haha no shortage of cliental. And with the event centre, there's a lot going on there.

[Kronos]

Originally Posted by cllew

Winnipeg Free Press tweeted at 3am that the Canad Inn @ 826 Regent in Transcona is getting a 63 room addition as well as renovating the existing 50 rooms

There is a Best Western Plus going up pretty much next door to that Canad Inn property.

[Kronos]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

People come for the casino I guess haha no shortage of cliental. And with the event centre, there's a lot going on there.

From what I've heard, there is demand for rooms from the CN Campus on Pandora East and from the expanded East End arena with out of town hockey teams attending tournaments.

Perhaps a bit of demand given the residential growth in the area

[Urban recluse]

Despite it being Canad (I get a bad taste in my mouth when saying that name aloud), that hotel needs a dramatic face lift, and this is good for the area. Regent Ave has seen basically no developments along it.

[bomberjet]

Regent is full of car dealerships. They renovate every once in a while. Not much else you can do really. Regent is a retail strip.

[1ajs]

cn has created a hudge demand.

the event center at the casino is aparently quiet fancy for its stage setup

both our casinos are so booring.

[bomberjet]

Not sure how I could forget about the CN training centre. The only other one like it is in Chicago. CN sends many people here every week for training.

[1ajs]

been good for downtown at this point


anyhow poked my head in this gem looking

[Urban recluse]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Regent is full of car dealerships. They renovate every once in a while. Not much else you can do really. Regent is a retail strip.

Does not have to be exclusive. Plenty of space for multi-family.

[cllew]

Doesn't CN billet their staff at the Radison downtown? I know I have seen the bus they use for taking the trainees to and from the training center around there.

[Kronos]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Does not have to be exclusive. Plenty of space for multi-family.

Looks like most of the multi-family builds in that area are being built just north of Regent along Peguis and the west end of Transcona Boulevard; a lot of multi story condo and apartment units being built on Peguis