Claridge Icon [505 Preston St] | 143m | 45 fl | Completed

[mykl]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Is there a precedent for a condo developer putting their name on a building like this? In Ottawa we have actual brand names like 'Soho' and 'Nuovo' but I can't think of a case anywhere where the developer just slapped their own name on a building. It seems very odd to me.

Their new head office will be there.

[McKellarDweller]

Originally Posted by mykl

Their new head office will be there.

Yes. Everyone reading this forum thread knows this. It doesn't make it any less tacky for a primarily residential building in this setting.

[trhgr]

Originally Posted by McKellarDweller

Yes. Everyone reading this forum thread knows this. It doesn't make it any less tacky for a primarily residential building in this setting.

What an aggressive answer to a purely factual post. FYI: I didn’t know.

[daud]

There is just such an anti claridge sentiment on this board; I find it unfortunate.

I totally get the buildings are not of great quality. I totally get the dev apps do a bait and switch. But...The logo for the org is quite basic, it looks fine on the building. I just don't get the hate and I don't find it tacky at all.

Also, I would go on to say, their buildings may not be the best but they are not the worst either. Those student residences just up the street are far worse and nobody says boo about them. When I look at the skyline in that area, those student residences are the ugly ducklings.

Anyways, I know the hate for claridge will continue but I think the icon is a decent building (not great) and its our tallest so kudos to them for getting it done. As for the Claridge sign, I've got no issue with it at all.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by daud

There is just such an anti claridge sentiment on this board; I find it unfortunate.

I totally get the buildings are not of great quality. I totally get the dev apps do a bait and switch. But...The logo for the org is quite basic, it looks fine on the building. I just don't get the hate and I don't find it tacky at all.

Also, I would go on to say, their buildings may not be the best but they are not the worst either. Those student residences just up the street are far worse and nobody says boo about them. When I look at the skyline in that area, those student residences are the ugly ducklings.

Anyways, I know the hate for claridge will continue but I think the icon is a decent building (not great) and its our tallest so kudos to them for getting it done. As for the Claridge sign, I've got no issue with it at all.

I'm not quite as offended with the "Claridge" sign as others seem to be. It certainly isn't what "ruins" the building.

They did bait-and-switch with cheaper materials, and that's no surprise. I still find the Dow's Lake side pretty decent, but the Preston side disappointing.

It's the tallest building, the first of many. Thanks to Claridge for getting the ball rolling (though Mastercraft was the first to propose a new tallest, by the slightest of margins, and somehow was rejected even if it's right across the street).

As of for the yellow Envie towers, yes they can be qualified as uglier than Icon, and yes people bash them as well, though not quite as much as Icon, but our expectations were much lower.

Once SoHo Italia is built, we'll get a nice mix of towers with very different styles. Icon won't be quite as prominent. Ass the Hobin towers, Preston Square and the Booth complex, and we should have quite an impressive secondary skyline in the area.

[RideauRat]

I agree in the sense that this building coming from the south this building is beautiful. no complaints there. from the north however they definitely cut costs. but I can't see how it merits such MAJOR complaints.

[J.OT13]

As for Claridge in general, they have a few hits and misses. I'm a fan or 700 Sussex, though it took me about a decade to start appreciating it. LeBreton is a victim of the old NCC's overbearing bureaucracy. Honestly doesn't look too bad from up-close (slightly over mediocre). CP I-IV are atrocious, but honestly match the original renders quite well. Towers around the CBD (Pinnacle, TriBeCa, Loop) are pretty decent.

[AuxTown]

Claridge is an average developer. Unfortunately, their designs are usually dated before the buildings even get built. The great wall of CP looks like it was built in the mid-90's not the last 5-10 years. The main beef I have with this tower is that it is our new tallest and highly visible. I don't know how much money we are talking here but the bait and switch on the balconies really impacted the appearance from up close and is what stands out to me. The sign is fine. It will be better once we have Italia next door with its SOHO sign lit on the crown.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

As for Claridge in general, they have a few hits and misses. I'm a fan or 700 Sussex, though it took me about a decade to start appreciating it. LeBreton is a victim of the old NCC's overbearing bureaucracy. Honestly doesn't look too bad from up-close (slightly over mediocre). CP I-IV are atrocious, but honestly match the original renders quite well. Towers around the CBD (Pinnacle, TriBeCa, Loop) are pretty decent.

This sums up my feelings pretty much exactly. I'd just put the second phase of the Lebreton development well above mediocre. I really have no issue with the sign, particular given that the tower is partly offices.

As much as Claridge gets bashed, they are building to the Ottawa market. Developers that propose higher end buildings with better quality design tend to have more trouble selling. Claridge's cheaper units sell like hotcakes. If people have a beef, I think it should be with the Ottawa condo buyer's price sensitivity as much as with Claridge.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

This sums up my feelings pretty much exactly. I'd just put the second phase of the Lebreton development well above mediocre. I really have no issue with the sign, particular given that the tower is partly offices.

As much as Claridge gets bashed, they are building to the Ottawa market. Developers that propose higher end buildings with better quality design tend to have more trouble selling. Claridge's cheaper units sell like hotcakes. If people have a beef, I think it should be with the Ottawa condo buyer's price sensitivity as much as with Claridge.

Yes, the second set of buildings with metal cladding are far better than the first yellow brick and teal glass structure. At that point, Claridge had more freedom to design something outside the NCC's "box" while still maintaining the general massing of its winning (by default) proposal, but with a bit more density.

[Harley613]

A couple of progress pics from today:

[IMG]DJI_0218-Full JPEG to Desktop-2 by harley613, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]DJI_0210-Full JPEG to Desktop-2 by harley613, on Flickr[/IMG]

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by Harley613

A couple of progress pics from today:

Awesome shots! You were clearly having fun today

[OTSkyline]

Beautiful shots! thanks!

I don't see much activity on the site lately, is it stalled? There's also no more crane, do they not need one to finish installing all the glass and balconies?

[Harley613]

A scene only possible in Ottawa:

[IMG]_DSC8624 by harley613, on Flickr[/IMG]

[RogueNacho]

Doesn't look like any progress has been made to the balcony glass installation in months. Any ideas what's taking them so long?

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

Doesn't look like any progress has been made to the balcony glass installation in months. Any ideas what's taking them so long?

Its tough getting those shipments from AliBaba during the pandemic. PLUS the AliBaba supplier couldn't figure out how to cut that last sheet of glazing, and the odd-shaped base plate so that the balcony can come to a tight angle with the building face.

Most balcony railings are finished with a hastily cut piece of plywood at the moment.

Note only 100mm gap is allowed.

Maybe they're on pause until this can be figured out and ordered from the bargain catalogue, without *gasp* building anything custom at all.

[OttawaCondo]

Does anyone know how long it would take to finish based on what you see so far?

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by OttawaCondo

Does anyone know how long it would take to finish based on what you see so far?

I just haven't seen any progress on those Alibaba Buy-One-Get-One-Free balcony panes. I like to imagine they are fitting out the interiors while they try to figure out how to make the balconies work without buying the actual custom glass they promised in their renders and applications that were approved by the city.

Edit:

Just look at this balcony travesty a couple of days ago:
[IMG]20201119_143200 by harley613, on Flickr[/IMG]

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I just haven't seen any progress on those Alibaba Buy-One-Get-One-Free balcony panes. I like to imagine they are fitting out the interiors while they try to figure out how to make the balconies work without buying the actual custom glass they promised in their renders and applications that were approved by the city.

Edit:

Just look at this balcony travesty a couple of days ago:

Absolute garbage

[Kitchissippi]

Wow, it's like they still haven't resolved how the balcony railings are going to connect to the exterior wall.