[Moncton] Infinity | Harper & Main & Bateau | 104m | 30 Storeys | Proposed

[new kid in town]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I would like to see a mixture of styles. As for glass boxes, they are usually office buildings aren't they? With modern work from home culture, I don't think we will be seeing one of those built in Moncton for quite a while.

I realize that glass faced apartment buildings are quite popular in some jurisdictions (like Vancouver), but, Spitfire seems to have a stranglehold of the local market as an architectural design firm, and it does not seem like they do glass boxes. It's just not in their armamentarium.

I want a mixture of styles as well. Which is why I want a glassbox since none of the current nor known future designs seem to have that. While I love Spitfire designs for the most part, I do think they fit mid-sized buildings better instead of towers.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by new kid in town

I want a mixture of styles as well. Which is why I want a glassbox since none of the current nor known future designs seem to have that. While I love Spitfire designs for the most part, I do think they fit mid-sized buildings better instead of towers.

My daughter lives in the Yaletown section of Vancouver. I love the soaring glass tower look of the 25-30+ floor buildings where she is along False Creek. Amazing views with living room floor to ceiling glass on a high floor!

[MonctonRad]

Workers back on site, as well as a large mobile crane. I’d say they are building the boom for the tower crane!

[Leroy321]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Workers back on site, as well as a large mobile crane. I’d say they are building the boom for the tower crane!

Someone just commented on Facebook retail talk saying “It is NOT the construction crane...It's Irving Test hole crane for testing the ground for Engineering purposes.....I Live right next to it and was talking to the Irving Rep yesterday.”

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

Someone just commented on Facebook retail talk saying “It is NOT the construction crane...It's Irving Test hole crane for testing the ground for Engineering purposes.....I Live right next to it and was talking to the Irving Rep yesterday.”

Perhaps, but why would they need what is essentially a tower crane for soil sampling???

And, on another topic, a contact of mine who has an informant in the industry says that Infinity has been approved for a full 30 storeys (i guess barring any surprises on final soil testing).

[Riberview]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Three Sisters and Two Brothers.

I count nine buildings of 15 storeys or more:

- Assumption Place - 20 storeys
- Three Sisters - 3 x 15 storeys
- Two Brothers - 2 x 22 storeys
- St Bernard Place - 18 storeys
- Infinity Tower - 30 storeys
- Ashford/Downing - unknown, but likely 15-20 storeys

And there will be most definitely more to come

The Ashford/Downing projects will be multiple buildings. The building fronting Assumption about 20 storeys,
the building north of that, rumblings are 50 storeys or so.

Just wait and see.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Riberview

The Ashford/Downing projects will be multiple buildings. The building fronting Assumption about 20 storeys,
the building north of that, rumblings are 50 storeys or so.

Just wait and see.

I don't believe any rumours of 50 storeys. 30 storeys is pushing the limits of credulity in Moncton.

But, yes, the Ashford development will consist of multiple buildings. At least one will be close to 20 storeys. I think the rest will mostly be mid rises, but, we'll just have to wait and see.........

[Leroy321]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Perhaps, but why would they need what is essentially a tower crane for soil sampling???

And, on another topic, a contact of mine who has an informant in the industry says that Infinity has been approved for a full 30 storeys (i guess barring any surprises on final soil testing).

A boom crane is being built right now with the parts we thought were for a tower crane. I assume there going to use the boom crane to pile drive for the tower crane pad.

[Monctoncore]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Perhaps, but why would they need what is essentially a tower crane for soil sampling???

And, on another topic, a contact of mine who has an informant in the industry says that Infinity has been approved for a full 30 storeys (i guess barring any surprises on final soil testing).

I would say it’s either going to be used for Pile driving or used to assemble the larger crane when it arrives. Though pile driving seems like the more obvious answer. They wouldn’t use a crane this big to test the ground for engineering purposes. Usually engineers would do what’s referred to as “test pit” which is to see if the ground is stable. Though there is a Pit Viper which looks like a crane that drills deep into the ground, but those are usually only used mining operations.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by Monctoncore

I would say it’s either going to be used for Pile driving or used to assemble the larger crane when it arrives. Though pile driving seems like the more obvious answer. They wouldn’t use a crane this big to test the ground for engineering purposes. Usually engineers would do what’s referred to as “test pit” which is to see if the ground is stable. Though there is a Pit Viper which looks like a crane that drills deep into the ground, but those are usually only used mining operations.

Where it's close to the river they may take soil samples but that is usually done with a drill mounted in a small tracked vehicle from what I've seen.

[Leroy321]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Where it's close to the river they may take soil samples but that is usually done with a drill mounted in a small tracked vehicle from what I've seen.

If I recall correctly they soil sampled last year before they even published there plans

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

If I recall correctly they soil sampled last year before they even published there plans

I agree. Soil sampling has already been done.

After thinking on this for a bit, I can accept the idea of a boom crane being used for pile driving.

I imagine what is going on is that this is a 30 storey building. That's a lot of weight. They probably will have to pile drive to reach bedrock, and put in anchors to attach to the foundation for the purposes of stability.

once this is done, then excavation can begin and the foundation poured, and attached to the anchors.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I agree. Soil sampling has already been done.

After thinking on this for a bit, I can accept the idea of a boom crane being used for pile driving.

I imagine what is going on is that this is a 30 storey building. That's a lot of weight. They probably will have to pile drive to reach bedrock, and put in anchors to attach to the foundation for the purposes of stability.

once this is done, then excavation can begin and the foundation poured, and attached to the anchors.

I believe that's what they are currently doing at the Fundy Quay project in Saint John. In order, they're pile driving first then the excavation afterwards. The pile driving can take several weeks.

[Monctoncore]

We will find out soon enough!

[new kid in town]

Originally Posted by sailor734

My daughter lives in the Yaletown section of Vancouver. I love the soaring glass tower look of the 25-30+ floor buildings where she is along False Creek. Amazing views with living room floor to ceiling glass on a high floor!

It is amazing. Downtown Toronto waterfront also has several of them. Of course Moncton's waterfront is significantly less visually impressive but I still hope to see at least one building in our skyline in the near future.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Would it not be possible to use the pile driving technique for a residential project on the land surrounding CF Champlain? I have been reading about some of the history of Boston, and a large part of Boston is built on reclaimed land that was a tidal flat like in Moncton. If a large city like that can be built on mostly reclaimed land, I can’t see why Moncton (Dieppe) couldn’t build medium density buildings on its reclaimed land.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

Would it not be possible to use the pile driving technique for a residential project on the land surrounding CF Champlain? I have been reading about some of the history of Boston, and a large part of Boston is built on reclaimed land that was a tidal flat like in Moncton. If a large city like that can be built on mostly reclaimed land, I can’t see why Moncton (Dieppe) couldn’t build medium density buildings on its reclaimed land.

It would be interesting to know if it's ever been considered. Probably not yet, as CF just started into residential at the end of 2022. I'm sure there are other markets that they'd prioritize over Moncton.

That said, their first residential project was a beautiful 288 unit building, connected to their mall - the Rideau Center in Ottawa.

Imagine something like this attached to CF Champlain:

[NBNYer]

I drove by a moment ago and the boom crane is fully erected. There was also a private security guard on site.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Riberview

The Ashford/Downing projects will be multiple buildings. The building fronting Assumption about 20 storeys,
the building north of that, rumblings are 50 storeys or so.

Just wait and see.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I don't believe any rumours of 50 storeys. 30 storeys is pushing the limits of credulity in Moncton.

But, yes, the Ashford development will consist of multiple buildings. At least one will be close to 20 storeys. I think the rest will mostly be mid rises, but, we'll just have to wait and see.........

Late last evening, I received a PM from a usually reliable source - an individual who is in a position where he/she is occasionally exposed to information circulating amongst those who are really in the know.

This individual says that discussions are indeed occurring behind closed doors regarding the possibility of an Ashford/Downing building in the vicinity of 50 storeys!!

Will this actually transpire??? No one knows for sure. This however explains why things are so secretive regarding the Ashford/Downing project. The lips around this project are not only sealed, but sewn shut. There is virtually no information to be had.

All we know for sure is that this is a multiyear project, likely to take a decade to complete, encompassing the whole city block in behind Assumption Place. There are to be multiple buildings in the project with a signature tower, and that there will be a large parking structure and a relocated city market.

We also know that discussions are ongoing regarding the market space doing double duty as a convention space. This in turn has a bearing on the size, features and the style of the market. Municipal, provincial and federal funding for the market/convention space are involved, meaning a lot of behind the scenes haggling, slowing down the final planning process.

I would imagine it is discussions around the market/convention space and the height of the signature tower which are slowing down the development.

What do you guys think. Is a 50 storey tower desirable for Moncton? This would rival any building in Montreal and would be far taller than anything in Halifax. Would it stick out like a sore thumb? Would the downtown be better served with two buildings of 25 storeys each? This would still be impactful on the city skyline, but more consistent with the scale of the city.

I know this is off topic for the Infinity Tower thread, but, the topic was raised here, and, is a conversation worth having.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Late last evening, I received a PM from a usually reliable source - an individual who is in a position where he/she is occasionally exposed to information circulating amongst those who are really in the know.

This individual says that discussions are indeed occurring behind closed doors regarding the possibility of an Ashford/Downing building in the vicinity of 50 storeys!!

Will this actually transpire??? No one knows for sure. This however explains why things are so secretive regarding the Ashford/Downing project. The lips around this project are not only sealed, but sewn shut. There is virtually no information to be had.

All we know for sure is that this is a multiyear project, likely to take a decade to complete, encompassing the whole city block in behind Assumption Place. There are to be multiple buildings in the project with a signature tower, and that there will be a large parking structure and a relocated city market.

We also know that discussions are ongoing regarding the market space doing double duty as a convention space. This in turn has a bearing on the size, features and the style of the market. Municipal, provincial and federal funding for the market/convention space are involved, meaning a lot of behind the scenes haggling, slowing down the final planning process.

I would imagine it is discussions around the market/convention space and the height of the signature tower which are slowing down the development.

What do you guys think. Is a 50 storey tower desirable for Moncton? This would rival any building in Montreal and would be far taller than anything in Halifax. Would it stick out like a sore thumb? Would the downtown be better served with two buildings of 25 storeys each? This would still be impactful on the city skyline, but more consistent with the scale of the city.

I know this is off topic for the Infinity Tower thread, but, the topic was raised here, and, is a conversation worth having.

I don't really know enough about development and costs to have an opinion on this. Off the top of my head It would strike me as unlikely. Are "per unit" costs the same/higher/lower for taller buildings? Say, as you suggested 1 50 floor vs 2 25's?

I always thought the major factor in going up was densely populated, geographically limited areas (think downtown Vancouver between False Creek and the harbour or Manhattan) where building sites were in very short supply and land prices astronomical.