SkyTrain Station Renovations - Page 190

MIPS · #**3781** Posted **Apr 1, 2021, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirisboy

That’s awful. Why would they want it to look like that

It's surrounded by some of the tallest buildings in the city. It gets lots of time in the shadows. The fact that most of the day it can be entirely lit with ambient light is a neat design feature. Also you know, there's the garden out back that given the shade isn't doing too bad after 36 years.
Interestingly does this mean that they are going to entirely abandon the underground connections? The escalators will be going where the knock-out currently is.

jollyburger · #**3782** Posted **Apr 1, 2021, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIPS

It's surrounded by some of the tallest buildings in the city. It gets lots of time in the shadows. The fact that most of the day it can be entirely lit with ambient light is a neat design feature. Also you know, there's the garden out back that given the shade isn't doing too bad after 36 years.
Interestingly does this mean that they are going to entirely abandon the underground connections? The escalators will be going where the knock-out currently is.

Do you mean across to Park Place or the Bentall complex?

Klazu · #**3783** Posted **Apr 1, 2021, 7:03 PM**

Abandoning the connections would make zero sense. We need more of those, if anything.

I do like the sunken garden but architecturally all the buildings are from the 80s. I would have liked something bold and modern.

WarrenC12 · #**3784** Posted **Apr 1, 2021, 7:39 PM**

That's such a prime spot it would be nice to see them actually build something on top. I don't know what's feasible with the site and not interrupting the train... commercial, retail, etc.

officedweller · #**3785** Posted **Apr 1, 2021, 10:12 PM**

I think he means a potential connection to Park Place.
You can tell that the access to and from grade only carries some of the volume and a lot come from Bentall Centre and Royal Centre,
otherwise they would have retained/installed more escalators to street (as they are doubling the escalators to the platforms).

Given that the Park Place connection has not been built after 35 years, it's not going to happen.
Park Place also has the smallest possible retail basement you could imagine for such a big tower and there's nothing significant to connect to directly east of Park Place.
Bentall V doesn't even have any underground retail.

It makes sense to move on.

s211 · #**3786** Posted **Apr 2, 2021, 4:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think he means a potential connection to Park Place.
You can tell that the access to and from grade only carries some of the volume and a lot come from Bentall Centre and Royal Centre,
otherwise they would have retained/installed more escalators to street (as they are doubling the escalators to the platforms).

Given that the Park Place connection has not been built after 35 years, it's not going to happen.
Park Place also has the smallest possible retail basement you could imagine for such a big tower and there's nothing significant to connect to directly east of Park Place.
Bentall V doesn't even have any underground retail.

It makes sense to move on.

From what I recall from conversations, a few years ago Translink tried to make a go of it but wanted Park Place to pick up 100% of the tab.

Changing City · #**3787** Posted **Apr 2, 2021, 4:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

That's such a prime spot it would be nice to see them actually build something on top. I don't know what's feasible with the site and not interrupting the train... commercial, retail, etc.

That almost certainly would never happen. It's shared ownership between Translink and the City, and the City's part is designated as a park.

J.OT13 · #**3788** Posted **Apr 2, 2021, 11:51 AM**

From an outsiders perspective, I love the Burrard Station entrance and the surrounding cherry blossoms. I've only been once during a visit in 2019. I'm glad they are keeping the current design. A new modern design, could have been nice, but it could also have ended up looking tacky.

All of Ottawa's station entrances are integrated within buildings (expect for one double elevator bank on a sidewalk). It's very space efficient, but makes for generally small, relatively dark spaces.

officedweller · #**3789** Posted **Apr 2, 2021, 11:55 PM**

A common theme for underground entrances in park-like settings is a low arch. I think a tall arch pavilion (still retaining a lot of glass) would be cool, but probably expensive.

Express691 · #**3790** Posted **Jul 13, 2021, 6:12 PM**

Starting early 2022, Burrard is to close fully for 2 years to allow for station upgrades.

https://youtu.be/mXhlAOgEuhE

officedweller · #**3791** Posted **Jul 13, 2021, 8:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Express691

Starting early 2022, Burrard is to close fully for 2 years to allow for station upgrades.

https://youtu.be/mXhlAOgEuhE

Big news, thanks for posting.
I suppose a lot of those buses will be diverted to Waterfront or Granville Stations.
The businesses in Royal Centre and Bentall Centre in the undergound passages will take a hit.

Migrant_Coconut · #**3792** Posted **Jul 13, 2021, 8:33 PM**

Question: could they have done this three years ago while they were repairing the escalators, or does it have to be two separate stages?

cganuelas1995 · #**3793** Posted **Jul 13, 2021, 8:35 PM**

I heard someone on ELMTOT say that other countries have built entire lines in 2 year spans. Why can't they just do the 4.5 year one where they keep the station open?

jollyburger · #**3794** Posted **Jul 13, 2021, 8:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Question: could they have done this three years ago while they were repairing the escalators, or does it have to be two separate stages?

Are you talking about Granville? I don't think the Burrard escalators were replaced (?)

Vin · #**3795** Posted **Jul 13, 2021, 8:49 PM**

2 years for this kind of upgrade? They might as well not do anything to it.

Even those instant one-day bathroom replacement service (Bath Fitter) does a better job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I heard someone on ELMTOT say that other countries have built entire lines in 2 year spans. Why can't they just do the 4.5 year one where they keep the station open?

What you heard is absolutely correct.

Migrant_Coconut · #**3796** Posted **Jul 13, 2021, 8:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Are you talking about Granville? I don't think the Burrard escalators were replaced (?)

You would be correct. Whoops.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I heard someone on ELMTOT say that other countries have built entire lines in 2 year spans. Why can't they just do the 4.5 year one where they keep the station open?

"Keep it open" is another $33 million; walking to Waterfront or Granville-City Centre is an option too.

jollyburger · #**3797** Posted **Jul 13, 2021, 8:55 PM**

Stadium-Chinatown also getting upgrades

Quote:

We’re replacing the escalators at Stadium–Chinatown Station sooner than originally planned as part of the Expo Line Escalator Replacement Program. With the easing of provincial health restrictions, we’re expediting work to prepare the station for increased passenger volumes associated with future events.

Here's what you need to know:

Work on the first of the station’s two escalators, between the platform and mezzanine levels, will begin on July 5, 2021 and is expected to take four months to complete.

Please use the adjacent staircase to travel between the platform and mezzanine levels.

For your safety during construction, the elevator will also be closed as of July 12, 2021. Customers who normally board Expo Line at Stadium–Chinatown Station and require an elevator or escalator should use Granville Station and Main Street–Science World stations, if possible, to access Expo Line during construction.

https://www.translink.ca/plans-and-projects/projects/maintenance-and-upgrade-program/rail-projects

Hotwax · #**3798** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 1:41 AM**

Anyone know if King George will receive some sort of upgrade in the near future now that the Langley extension is closer to reality. It could really use an escalator on the eastbound platform once the extension opens.

Tvisforme · #**3799** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

2 years for this kind of upgrade? They might as well not do anything to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

...Why can't they just do the 4.5 year one where they keep the station open?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

"Keep it open" is another $33 million; walking to Waterfront or Granville-City Centre is an option too.

It is quite possible that the decision to accelerate the upgrade was influenced by the Surrey extension, especially now that the Expo Line will extend all the way to Langley. While the closure will certainly be inconvenient for existing passengers from 2022-24, Translink might be more concerned about adding thousands of new passengers through a station that is only at partial capacity.

Migrant_Coconut · #**3800** Posted **Jul 14, 2021, 2:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tvisforme

It is quite possible that the decision to accelerate the upgrade was influenced by the Surrey extension, especially now that the Expo Line will extend all the way to Langley. While the closure will certainly be inconvenient for existing passengers from 2022-24, Translink might be more concerned about adding thousands of new passengers through a station that is only at partial capacity.

Perhaps, but that concern seems a little overblown when most SoF commuters stay SoF, and most CBD-bound traffic gets off at Granville-City Centre... unless they're also laying the groundwork for a West End extension?