[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed - Page 292

Jonovision · #**5821** Posted **May 8, 2018, 9:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Mmmm... looks good. Was that a stout?

Thanks for posting the pics. We were there early evening after the ECMA event was over, and it was still quite busy with many people out and about enjoying the area. The widened sidewalks have improved the atmosphere very much and car traffic was minimal along both of those sections of Argyle. There didn't seem to be anybody inconvenienced by this new configuration - I think that motorists have realized there is no available parking and have adjusted their habits accordingly - no harm no foul.

I feel I can now judge this layout as definitely a plus - a huge improvement over the street being lined with parked cars and a steady stream of traffic driving along it as had been the situation in the past. A 'win' for the city for sure.

I did notice that it was quite windier near the Carleton than anywhere else downtown, but maybe it was just the prevailing winds that day.

Yes, it was a Guinness

We managed to keep some of the sun for a little while as well which was nice.
I also noticed the wind, but if you went around the city that day it was windy everywhere. The harbour had whitecaps on it.

OldDartmouthMark · #**5822** Posted **May 8, 2018, 9:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonovision

Yes, it was a Guinness

We managed to keep some of the sun for a little while as well which was nice.
I also noticed the wind, but if you went around the city that day it was windy everywhere. The harbour had whitecaps on it.

Nice!

someone123 · #**5823** Posted **May 8, 2018, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

I think the streetscaping looks nice. I'm not convinced the convention centre is an asset to the activity though - strikes me as a glossy behemoth at street level in those photos, somehow more apparent with lots of people in the foreground. I guess the evidence of human activity removes some of the abstraction - I'm used to thinking of the building more in terms of a sculptural form in the skyline or from a distance.

Isn't it true that the Nova Centre is eventually supposed to have commercial space for restaurants and stores, and that these spaces are empty right now aside from the BMO branch?

Some developments take a long time to fill in.

These new public spaces put the lack of investment in downtown Halifax into sharp relief. I think this type of transformation could be repeated over again many times in different areas. Central parts of Halifax lack a lot of "polish" that thankfully is pretty cheap and yields a great bang for the buck.

Keith P. · #**5824** Posted **May 9, 2018, 3:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

I think the streetscaping looks nice. I'm not convinced the convention centre is an asset to the activity though - strikes me as a glossy behemoth at street level in those photos, somehow more apparent with lots of people in the foreground. I guess the evidence of human activity removes some of the abstraction - I'm used to thinking of the building more in terms of a sculptural form in the skyline or from a distance.

None of those people wandering around and sitting on the patios would have been there if not for the ECMAs which would not have been there itself without the CC.

eastcoastal · #**5825** Posted **May 9, 2018, 11:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

None of those people wandering around and sitting on the patios would have been there if not for the ECMAs which would not have been there itself without the CC.

You're right, it provides people. I was hoping it'd provide more... maybe we have to wait, as Someone123 says, for the retail to move in and animate the edge. Otherwise, it looks like a shiny blank wall.

From a distance, I think it looks good in the skyline, but between what I see in those photos and the tunnel-like space that is the privatized portion of Grafton St., it may be missing the mark when it comes to being more than a big shiny container for people.

OldDartmouthMark · #**5826** Posted **May 9, 2018, 7:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

You're right, it provides people. I was hoping it'd provide more... maybe we have to wait, as Someone123 says, for the retail to move in and animate the edge. Otherwise, it looks like a shiny blank wall.

From a distance, I think it looks good in the skyline, but between what I see in those photos and the tunnel-like space that is the privatized portion of Grafton St., it may be missing the mark when it comes to being more than a big shiny container for people.

I don't think it's a fair judgement to make when it's not yet in its finished state. NC aside, this section of Argyle seems to be a success so far, so I think it's safe to assume if you add more bars/restaurants/retail to the street it will be even busier.

TheNovaScotian · #**5827** Posted **May 9, 2018, 10:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I don't think it's a fair judgement to make when it's not yet in its finished state. NC aside, this section of Argyle seems to be a success so far, so I think it's safe to assume if you add more bars/restaurants/retail to the street it will be even busier.

I have to agree with you, walking by this as often as I do, I noticed how quick it turned into my favorite part of the walk. As people find more uses for the area and get used to the patios being a permanent fixture on the street I hope we can keep this momentum and spread it to other parts of the city.

Jonovision · #**5828** Posted **May 15, 2018, 9:33 PM**

20180514_210744 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

Jonovision · #**5829** Posted **May 27, 2018, 8:56 PM**

It actually looks just like one of the renderings with the lighting from last night.

20180526_204507 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20180526_204651 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20180526_210352 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

RoshanMcG · #**5830** Posted **Jun 2, 2018, 10:57 PM**

kph06 · #**5831** Posted **Jun 3, 2018, 12:30 AM**

Awesome shots!

I noticed the lights on in the hotel tower the other night, maybe they have started the internal fit-up?

iamcivilengineer · #**5832** Posted **Jun 9, 2018, 5:43 AM**

really these are some of the amazing construction pictures...

Acadia95 · #**5833** Posted **Jun 9, 2018, 1:45 PM**

i walked through the covered street portion last evening and the pavers are a mess. they are cracked, wide gaps between many, with many heaving throughout. it is just a matter of time before some one will get hurt. a real shame for what should be an impressive streetscape. i hope there was a warranty on the install work.

someone123 · #**5834** Posted **Jun 9, 2018, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acadia95

i walked through the covered street portion last evening and the pavers are a mess. they are cracked, wide gaps between many, with many heaving throughout. it is just a matter of time before some one will get hurt. a real shame for what should be an impressive streetscape. i hope there was a warranty on the install work.

You'd think the covered portion would be much easier to pave than, say, Argyle Street, since it won't get rained and snowed on. Heaving is normally from water that works its way unto the paving surface and expands when it freezes.

Jonovision · #**5835** Posted **Jun 10, 2018, 8:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

You'd think the covered portion would be much easier to pave than, say, Argyle Street, since it won't get rained and snowed on. Heaving is normally from water that works its way unto the paving surface and expands when it freezes.

Not to mention that its built a solid man made concrete surface as opposed to gravel or dirt....

OldDartmouthMark · #**5836** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 3:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Walked through there today. I didn't notice any of the pavers to be installed poorly or any that were uneven from block-to-block - not that there weren't any, just none where I was walking. I didn't find any 'ankle benders' there, anyhow, as there seemed to be a smooth transition between blocks.

However, the whole 'street' surface is very wavy and uneven, as though the base was not made level and straight. It is such that if you stand at one end and sight down it looks like sine wave in some spots and other areas look like there are 'pockets' sunk into the surface. My thoughts were that maybe it was done that way to encourage drainage, but it still seemed a little severe even with that mindset. A little perplexing, really, for an area that will be so prominent.

I posted the above last December. I haven't been through there in awhile, but it sounds like it has deteriorated somewhat since then. Perhaps driving machinery over it during construction has caused some damage?

I would think this should be something that the contractor would be required to fix at their expense, though, given that the building isn't even finished yet.

Hali87 · #**5837** Posted **Jun 12, 2018, 10:57 AM**

Halifax June 2018 by Hali87, on Flickr

kwajo · #**5838** Posted **Jun 12, 2018, 1:44 PM**

I also walked through last week while in town for work and the heaves on the pavers were so large I started to wonder if the inundations were a design feature of some kind (to mimic waves?). If they are not intentional, it is a remarkably shoddy bit of work.

The rest of the development looks good and the Argyle street portion seems to already be more vibrant than it ever did when I lived in Halifax.

bluenoser · #**5839** Posted **Jun 18, 2018, 4:59 PM**

https://www.instagram.com/efraser1o3/?hl=en

terrynorthend · #**5840** Posted **Jun 19, 2018, 2:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenoser

https://www.instagram.com/efraser1o3/?hl=en

Checked out his instagram, Fraser does great work! Is this you bluenoser?