Winnipeg Construction IX - Page 404

buzzg · #**8061** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 12:50 AM**

Building looks gorgeous, but that seems like an odd location for an organization like that.

May explain why much of the Scotiabank atrium has been empty for a while, although I was under the impression Scotia was planning on moving tellers upstairs and keeping the branch there.

Jeff · #**8062** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 12:51 AM**

kinda like with what took over the old federated insurance space further down portage..

buzzg · #**8063** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 12:52 AM**

Where?

Jeff · #**8064** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 12:56 AM**

New Directions at Portage and McGee. It's a great area for access as a social agency, just a tad of a let down to have a corporate HQ flee to the suburbs, etc etc...

Pinus · #**8065** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 1:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

New Directions at Portage and McGee. It's a great area for access as a social agency, just a tad of a let down to have a corporate HQ flee to the suburbs, etc etc...

Where did Scotiabank move to?

Jeff · #**8066** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 1:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinus

Where did Scotiabank move to?

Federated Insurance headquarters was at Portage and McGee and that was replaced by the social agency New Directions (bit of a tangent to the conversation). They moved to the monstrous Terracon business park on Kenaston. Scotiabank is leaving/left Portage and Main for fancy new digs at True North Square... still in the CBD thank god.

Phil’s neighbour · #**8067** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 1:23 AM**

[QUOTE=buzzg;8304820]Building looks gorgeous, but that seems like an odd location for an organization like that.

You’d think an outfit like this would get a better bang in an established medical precinct such as around the HSC than smack in the centre of the city’s CBD with its bankers and suits. Better access to complementary disciplines. Heck of a place to launch. Doesn’t sound like a serious plan.

Wpg_Guy · #**8068** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 1:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil’s neighbour

You’d think an outfit like this would get a better bang in an established medical precinct such as around the HSC than smack in the centre of the city’s CBD with its bankers and suits. Better access to complementary disciplines. Heck of a place to launch. Doesn’t sound like a serious plan.

They own the building (Carmyn Aleshka founded Kid Think and owns 200 Portage Ave Inc.) that is why it's going in at Portage and Main.

buzzg · #**8069** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 1:37 AM**

Yeah not only is it not the most glamorous use for that corner, but it really just seems like it's not a good location from a business perspective either. The only loading zone near it will be the private one at 360 Main. Odd. Seems like they'd be better off going somewhere else, and if necessary selling that building to fund a new one somewhere else.

cllew · #**8070** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 1:39 AM**

[QUOTE=Phil’s neighbour;8304868]

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzg

Building looks gorgeous, but that seems like an odd location for an organization like that.

You’d think an outfit like this would get a better bang in an established medical precinct such as around the HSC than smack in the centre of the city’s CBD with its bankers and suits. Better access to complementary disciplines. Heck of a place to launch. Doesn’t sound like a serious plan.

When the building owner is also involved in this organization there may be a deal on the rent and there may not be any available space for rent around the HSC.

Rehabilitation Centre for Children had to move almost 2km away into the old MWG (Christie Biscuit) building as there was not anything available closer to the HSC campus.

buzzg · #**8071** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 1:41 AM**

[QUOTE=cllew;8304895]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil’s neighbour

When the building owner is also involved in this organization there may be a deal on the rent and there may not be any available space for rent around the HSC.

Rehabilitation Centre for Children had to move almost 2km away into the old MWG (Christie Biscuit) building as there was not anything available closer to the HSC campus.

I don't think framing it that it was a negative they "had" to move there is accurate. It was a fantastic opportunity to start with an almost clean slate, repurpose the building, and build a state-of-the-art facility with easier access and private parking. I think they're probably elated to be further from HSC.

ywgwalk · #**8072** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 1:42 AM**

A very high profile location for an organization that deals with something that if anything needs to be more high profile. What better place than smack dab in the middle of where thousands of parents work?

esquire · #**8073** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 3:53 AM**

That is an absolutely massive mental health undertaking. The scale is off the charts compared to anything else involving child mental health. It's a wonderful initiative, but I too find the location quite odd.

Simply put, it seems weird to put something like that focused on health and children in a location that's all about business. I don't know how the project wouldn't be better off by taking buzzg's advice and selling 200 Portage, and then using the proceeds to buy/build a more appropriate building.

That said, the design concept looks promising, although I lament the loss of the unified look of 200 Portage and the rest of Winnipeg Square.

buzzg · #**8074** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 4:04 AM**

To be fair, the unified look is already lost. Don't think they'd ever match the updates to 360 unless they sold it to Artis.

trueviking · #**8075** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 5:02 AM**

That is very bizarre. I had heard quite definitively that Scotia was moving to the ground floor. Maybe this is just part of the building? What a strange location for a program like that. A real head scratcher.

esquire · #**8076** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 2:29 PM**

Yeah, I'm not sure how I feel about this. I can't say I love the trend of Portage Avenue becoming lined with government offices, social service agencies and other vaguely public sector-affiliated offices. At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, seeing an entire office building at Portage and Main converted to health services would be taking it to a whole new level... I don't think it would really project the greatest image.

I think the mental health services being considered as part of this initiative are vitally important, but maybe just not in that location specifically.

Ando · #**8077** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 2:59 PM**

It's a very odd location I agree. How realistic is it that this is actually going to happen?

wardlow · #**8078** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 2:59 PM**

Scotiabank is still moving to the ground floor of 200 Portage. Renovations were supposed to have wrapped up mid-August.

Biff · #**8079** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 3:28 PM**

Not really sure where I would put this, but I really like this new proposal for downtown Minneapolis. I have always likes this style, much like the Wells Fargo Tower. It seems like it could be the right size for a tall building in Winnipeg at 43 floors, 528 ft and 101 units.

Pinus · #**8080** Posted **Sep 6, 2018, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ando

It's a very odd location I agree. How realistic is it that this is actually going to happen?

I hope not too realistic. I have nothing against the actual concept itself, but I don't think it should be located at the centre of the CBD. I agree with the comments stating it would project not-so-great asthetics regarding the city centre, especially to tourists. It could have easily been located at any other of the offshoot areas of the city centre.