Winnipeg Construction X

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Definitely not a fan of the 201 portage development. Little private banking offices with uncomfortably large windows lining Portage and Main is pretty weak. A little side door to scurry in. They were celebrating returning the corner to prominence and entering off the corner. It’s treated as a back wall.

Yeah it's dumb they copied Scotiabank and just made that offices. That should be the main banking hall.

[EspionNoir]

I guess with so much downsizing and thriving online banking services it’s no longer economically viable to have a new, big banking hall anymore.

[trueviking]

A few images of 201. Little offices lining the outside wall facing the intersection. Uncomfortably high windows which will certainly be blocked out. Already the offices are laid out to have the backs of filing cabinets face the windows. Entrance is pushed off to the side.

Banking hall can hardly be called that but I don’t understand why it didn’t face the intersection with an entrance at the corner. Pretty amazing that BMO left that amazing space for what looks like a strip mall outlet.

[Kris22]

^Ya I'd say the bottom 5 or 6 feet of those windows will be frosted over.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by Kris22

^Ya I'd say the bottom 5 or 6 feet of those windows will be frosted over.

Just like the Scotiabank ones

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Banking hall can hardly be called that but I don’t understand why it didn’t face the intersection with an entrance at the corner. .

Why face a crumbling concrete wall?

[GreyGarden]

I noticed last night on the way home that the surface lot in front of the medical arts building has been ripped up. I assume it's just being repaved but does anyone know for sure?

[post_man]

Seems like a super weird choice to put those offices in a place that's frankly pretty uncomfortable for the employee, the client, and the pedestrians.

I haven't been following this closely, but given how they were touting this project, I assumed the public-facing side would have public-oriented things, like a cafe or a common area of some sort.
Who pitched the idea of filling massive street/sidewalk-facing windows with the most mundane part of an office, short of the janitor's closet?

Wouldn't this be a lot more enticing to people walking or driving by?

[CoryB]

^^ Not really as Starbucks is rapidly moving to a service counter/drive thru only model. Guess they are tired of paying for space for people to camp all day using wifi and power while sipping a short drip coffee (likely about a $2 purchase).

[Luisito]

Originally Posted by buzzg

New apartments

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8520871&postcount=113

Thanks for the reply.

[post_man]

Originally Posted by CoryB

^^ Not really as Starbucks is rapidly moving to a service counter/drive thru only model. Guess they are tired of paying for space for people to camp all day using wifi and power while sipping a short drip coffee (likely about a $2 purchase).

Next time I'll censor the brand so as to not detract from my point. I didn't spend a lot of time finding stock photos to steal.

Boring offices on the most visible part of a major city landmark is a weak move, especially when 201 is branding themselves as

Lobby game. Our Stepping up

It's a wasted view both sides of the glass, especially in the context of trying to bring walking appeal and aesthetic update to downtown. You can put tiny offices literally anywhere. Is it a devastating mistake that has doomed the intersection? No, but it is pretty wack.

[OTA in Winnipeg]

Originally Posted by post_man

Next time I'll censor the brand so as to not detract from my point. I didn't spend a lot of time finding stock photos to steal.

Boring offices on the most visible part of a major city landmark is a weak move, especially when 201 is branding themselves as

Lobby game. Our Stepping up

It's a wasted view both sides of the glass, especially in the context of trying to bring walking appeal and aesthetic update to downtown. You can put tiny offices literally anywhere. Is it a devastating mistake that has doomed the intersection? No, but it is pretty wack.

Anybody have contacts with these people?

I mean seriously, I think I saw a fridge.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by post_man

Boring offices on the most visible part of a major city landmark is a weak move

Considering that same space was vacant before Starbucks moved into the building with their very awkward layout and stayed vacant when Starbucks moved out speaks volumes. Heck that space has been vacant as long as I have known about it and that is close to 20 years now and its likely been vacant since the building was built. Yes, the BMO branch is a "boring" use but at least the space is finally filled.

Before Starbucks moved in and before there was a Tim Hortons on Graham Ave and long before the whole craft coffee movement came here I thought the space would be perfect for a high profile coffee shop too.

[esquire]

To my recollection I don't think that space fronting onto P&M was ever occupied before now. I remember some 20 years ago the Glen Murray-led P&M design competition displayed entries in there... it was kind of a cool space and I was baffled that it wasn't occupied. It basically took 30 years (!) to find someone to fill it.

I recall vike once said that the space there was an afterthought... it was originally supposed to be the lobby until the architects had to shift it to the southwest corner after they realized that no one would use the P&M corner due to the pedestrian barricades there.

I suppose that space could be put to better use if TD Place II is ever built, along with the podium that was initially planned? At one point I never would have thought it could happen, but since Winnipeg Square is getting built out I believe anything is possible now

[Only The Lonely..]

Perhaps the awkward configuration of the 201 Portage lobby is because it was viewed as 'temporary' until the second tower was built and the lobby expanded.

West End Dumplings: http://westenddumplings.blogspot.com/2012/06/seven-stories-about-portage-and-main.html
In 1987 another large project was announced for Portage and Main. The TD Centre (now 201 Portage) was to be a two-tower development. While construction on the initial 33-storey tower was underway, the developer said that once it was 80% leased, details of the second, 23-storey building would be announced.

[Disjointed thought]
I also think you can roughly gauge how old someone is by whether they refer to the building as the 'TD Tower' ..


[Disjointed thought 2]
Tower II could be a sweet residence. Imagine that view looking west down Portage Ave.

[Kris22]

^Wow thanks for posting that. I knew about a second tower but had never seen the drawing. Even tho TD tower is very much of its time, it has a sleekness and classiness that is undeniable. Shame it wasn't built.

[Luisito]

It would be nice to see that second tower get built.

[trueviking]

Remember the Canwest Global HQ that almost got built there? Back in the day when pretty much anything built downtown was a big deal.

I heard today of another 20 storey tower in the works for downtown. Also a 14 storey one.

RFP for marketlands came out. Hopefully some good proposals come forward.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Remember the Canwest Global HQ that almost got built there? Back in the day when pretty much anything built downtown was a big deal.

I heard today of another 20 storey tower in the works for downtown. Also a 14 storey one.

RFP for marketlands came out. Hopefully some good proposals come forward.

Might the 20 storey tower be the one for the former McNaught lot 634 Portage or the open lot @ 416 Main?
Either way, looking forward to more lots built upon.
The 14 floor one have no clue unless next to the Boyd building? The Marketlands, I believe would be low to mid rise?
A 23 floor Wawanesa tower would makes it a bit more visible given the new cluster there and might reach 100 metres which makes it a skyscraper by definition.
Given the covid situation, any new announcements for hi-rises downtown in amazing.

[post_man]

Originally Posted by trueviking

RFP for marketlands came out. Hopefully some good proposals come forward.

Is the Daoust Lestage proposal still the plan for the Southern site? Or at least that firm? They're using a different artist's rendering in the RFP and the language doesn't sound like anything is sure yet.