Edmonton Construction 13 (November 2015)

[Urban recluse]

And tagged?

[Black Star]

Not a bad design, but She's fat. As fat as those hideous light bases!!

[EdmTrekker]

Unfortunately - many if not all will be covered in graffiti soon enough. It's a too perfect a palette in smooth grey for graffiti "artists" to ignore. If the graffiti is tasteful maybe they will look better than they do now.

[Abii]

What's the story with the library renovations? Are they going through with it? It's been a couple of years since I looked into it.

[EdmTrekker]

Its stripped to the bones. Here is the webcam:

https://www.epl.ca/milner-live-cam/

[Abii]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

Its stripped to the bones. Here is the webcam:

https://www.epl.ca/milner-live-cam/

Holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵, thanks

Hopefully they can do something about the homeless population too when it reopens. I went there a bunch of time between 2013-2015 and there were always fights inside the library. One time cops had to drag out a guy screaming and hollering. Clearly out of it. I'm not saying it should be "gentrified" and turned into a country club, but at the same time the library needs to function for its intended purpose.

When you walked in, there were two security guards/police officers standing in the front with breathalyzer test kits! As you went up to the top floor you were greeted with a crazy number of homeless people dosing off on chairs, clearly high on something. I already mentioned the random fights and disturbances.

I honestly don't know what the solution is. Here in Vancouver the homeless population of East Hastings is famous. But for some reason the library is never packed with homeless people. Not that you don't see them, but they're a lot less visible. You can find a quiet corner and not be disturbed. Maybe it's because the library is so much bigger?

Disclaimer: I did have my 1500 dollar camera stolen from me in the Vancouver library (taken right out of my bag while I was studying). No such thing to report from the Edm. library though.

In any case, amazing to see so much happening in Edmonton. The new library design looks great.

[EdmTrekker]

New design looks like 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

"I honestly don't know what the solution is. Here in Vancouver the homeless population of East Hastings is famous. But for some reason the library is never packed with homeless people. Not that you don't see them, but they're a lot less visible. "

One solution is offering to buy folks one-way tickets to Vancouver where "they're a lot less visible." Maybe you don't like that one so much.

Another is to help them find affordable and safe apartments in buildings with some support and amenities so they can get a leg up. I like this option.

[Abii]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

New design looks like 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

"I honestly don't know what the solution is. Here in Vancouver the homeless population of East Hastings is famous. But for some reason the library is never packed with homeless people. Not that you don't see them, but they're a lot less visible. "

One solution is offering to buy folks one-way tickets to Vancouver where "they're a lot less visible." Maybe you don't like that one so much.

Another is to help them find affordable and safe apartments in buildings with some support and amenities so they can get a leg up. I like this option.

Context is important in any conversation. My "less visible" comment was clearly in relation to "the library needs to function for its intended purpose" statement made in paragraph one. No need to get triggered and take my words out of context.

Tons of homeless people here are from outside Vancouver btw. The climate cooperates more and the city provides a lot of services. Your threatening solution is already the status quo.

I'm all for "affordable and safe apartments" and any other solution you and others can come up with. All I said was this: "the library needs to function for its intended purpose."

The new design is great. Massive improvement to the old uninviting square yellow box.


Not saying you believe the old one was great (I don't know what your position on that is), but when you're going from that, to this, there is nothing to complain about.

[mintzilla]

^ we are actually trying to move away from the "good enough" mentality here so no the new design isnt good at all and is worth complaining about.

[Abii]

Originally Posted by mintzilla

^ we are actually trying to move away from the "good enough" mentality here so no the new design isnt good at all and is worth complaining about.

Fair enough.

I personally don't have an issue with it. I find it modern and inviting at the same time. I just spent 5 minutes looking at other modern libraries around the world and I agree, there are better examples out there. But there are also tons of libraries that are way worse.

The Calgary library costs 245 million dollars and is 240,000 square feet (4 stories). The Edmonton library costs less than 70 million and is 244,000 square feet (6 stories). In terms of design, the Calgary library wins. But if the 175 million dollars in savings can be spent elsewhere in Edmonton, I'd rather have that. Edmonton's downtown needs more work still. That's a huge chunk of cash. Not sure if it's prudent to spend a quarter of a billion dollars on a library when there are so many other areas in need of improvement.

[EdmTrekker]

Neat article in the E Examiner about 3 PhD students at the UofA working on a new virtual platform aimed at simplifying the planning, monitoring and management of construction projects using Google Earth.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/2017/07/18/construction-planning-taken-to-new-dimension

Thank you Ledcor.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Indeed. Just had an interview with David. A bit bulky, but lots of glass.

Ian interview, plus more pics of the new Corners proposal
http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1170911

[hilman]

^ Some images from that video:






http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1170911

[hilman]

https://twitter.com/uptown_one/status/887785774711619585

[Coldrsx]

twitter.com/dbayeg

[Threlc]

Originally Posted by Abii

Fair enough.

I personally don't have an issue with it. I find it modern and inviting at the same time. I just spent 5 minutes looking at other modern libraries around the world and I agree, there are better examples out there. But there are also tons of libraries that are way worse.

The Calgary library costs 245 million dollars and is 240,000 square feet (4 stories). The Edmonton library costs less than 70 million and is 244,000 square feet (6 stories). In terms of design, the Calgary library wins. But if the 175 million dollars in savings can be spent elsewhere in Edmonton, I'd rather have that. Edmonton's downtown needs more work still. That's a huge chunk of cash. Not sure if it's prudent to spend a quarter of a billion dollars on a library when there are so many other areas in need of improvement.

Stayed at the new Hilton Garden Downtown, in Calgary, last week and since their elevators are slow, spent a lot of time looking at what is built of the new library. Also walked around most side of it and I like the shape plus the glass panels, but I think it is going to be a place that is photographed from one angle to always make it look its best. Those whitish panels are super meh and there are big chunks of solid meh whitish panels along the back and towards the South.

[Urban recluse]

Councillor worries Holyrood Gardens will bend rules for development near LRT

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-ne...will-bend-rules-for-development-near-lrt

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Councillor worries Holyrood Gardens will bend rules for development near LRT

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-ne...will-bend-rules-for-development-near-lrt

Councillor needs to grow a pair.....

These rules are bent all the time.

I say go for it. There will be some shadowing that will upset some. But the over all project IMO is worth it.

[Urban recluse]

Density is paramount; I agree.

[GreenSPACE]

Is there even a market for that many towers? Just thinking out loud.