Saskatoon Construction III - Page 105

Crisis · #**2081** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 4:33 PM**

^^^ Just a comment on the post above - Concrete prices have dropped significantly across the board from what we'd been paying a couple years ago. I'd say the price drop has been in the range of 15%. This is based on increased competition (Burnco has come to the market), more than on increased demand.

Echoes · #**2082** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 5:08 PM**

I would not be so certain that Baydo's Broadway project is cancelled. I've recently heard from a source that while it was delayed for technical reasons it's still proceeding.

Maybe Mr. Quenneville can ask Baydo about the status of that one for his article.

GTR200 · #**2083** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 6:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skSK

I was thinking the exact same thing—currently watching it and pulled up the page to see this Soviet-style monstrosity.

Holly Molly. I Know some 6 year old kids that could come up with something better.
This looks like a hospital, or a prison. Can't imagine anyone who would want to live there. Those windows are tiny. Looks depressing.

roryn1 · #**2084** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 6:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skSK

I was thinking the exact same thing—currently watching it and pulled up the page to see this Soviet-style monstrosity.

it's almost like they took design elements from The Lighthouse and just threw on some balconies

NotToScale · #**2085** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 6:38 PM**

Proposed concepts to the conservatory at the old Mendel Gallery site. I like the modular and pronged concepts the best.

Source: https://thestarphoenix.com/news/loca...c-conservatory

circle33 · #**2086** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 6:48 PM**

This Baydo thing is all political posturing. We release Meng Wanzhou and they call the whole thing off.

Echoes · #**2087** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 7:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotToScale

Proposed concepts to the conservatory at the old Mendel Gallery site. I like the modular and pronged concepts the best.

Source: https://thestarphoenix.com/news/loca...c-conservatory

At first glance I really like the "modular" option as something that could be iconic but I wonder about the cost of building such a structure to a high quality of design and finish (Remai quality, not Baydo quality). Clearly these are very preliminary sketches without a lot of design rigour or costing applied.

But in the end I think the current south exposure of the conservatory and landscaped forecourt is really important to the original design concept of the Mendel, so to build directly on to that side or conceal it from view with a new structure would be a disservice to what is now a heritage building.

Source

For that reason I favour any option that is offset from the north-south organizing axis of the Mendel Building to preserve the south exposure. It looks like the "expand" option is the only one that does that, but I would like the pods too if they were spatially offset like that:

This is to say nothing about how on earth this project will be funded, given the talk about a new arena/convention centre and central library. I've been told that an expanded conservatory would be intended to be revenue-generating by being able to accommodate weddings and special events. I suppose a capital fundraising campaign and introducing an admission fee would be on the table as well.

NotToScale · #**2088** Posted **Jun 10, 2019, 8:35 PM**

^^^^ I agree with your comments. The cost and final look will change most definitely, these are early concepts.

I think much, or all, of the existing building should be maintained as much as possible. The reason I like the two options mentioned is to the linear nature of the buildings. The conservatory always felt as a separate node to the art gallery, and these two additions are a continuation of that. The modular does have a physical separation from the existing structure which is nice. And it would create an enclosed courtyard setting between the buildings.

Side note, but I wonder if there is a way to come up with a concept to accentuate and bring the ferry dock into the overall design, if they push the addition towards the river. The dock seems hidden and looks dated.

roryn1 · #**2089** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 1:46 PM**

I would love for it to become something as great or greater than the Muttart Conservatory's Pyramid botanical gardens in Edmonton. They sure are a tourism attraction and place for us permanent folk to take our minds off of the winters, and get exposed to some different climates in the summer. We could name the domes "Atchison Domes"

prairieguy · #**2090** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 2:14 PM**

The Muttart Conservatory is one of my 5 year old nephew's favourite places to go....and he is very much a "little jock", but still loves walking around the 'pyramids'.

I think the combination of the Children's Museum and the Conservatory is a winner! Hope it actually happens.

Echoes · #**2091** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 3:05 PM**

While we're on the topic, some fantastic photos of the exhibits at Nutrien Wonderhub have been shared on their facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/wonderhubsk/

EpicPonyTime · #**2092** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 3:06 PM**

When I first saw the Baydo proposal I wasn't against it, but after reading the materials on what should be, yikes. I'm all in favour of more height but this is the type of development that adds fire to the NIMBY flame. Saskatoon needs smart developments which provide benefits to the wider community whether they commercially or aesthetically. This proposal provides nothing but a sister prison to go along with the Holiday Inn downtown.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roryn1

We could name the domes "Atchison Domes"

Only if they are relocated to Stonebridge.

Echoes · #**2093** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 4:45 PM**

Baydo is staying mum on its plans for the 25th St site but in a news release today announced that they'll be building their Broadway project. No mention of a start date but the tweet is a screenshot of the release, so that detail might be cropped out.

Echoes · #**2094** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 4:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

When I first saw the Baydo proposal I wasn't against it, but after reading the materials on what should be, yikes. I'm all in favour of more height but this is the type of development that adds fire to the NIMBY flame. Saskatoon needs smart developments which provide benefits to the wider community whether they commercially or aesthetically. This proposal provides nothing but a sister prison to go along with the Holiday Inn downtown.

I've been thinking about this lately as well... where a poorly designed development can be counter-productive to the cause of infill and intensification.

SaskE30 · #**2095** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

Baydo is staying mum on its plans for the 25th St site but in a news release today announced that they'll be building their Broadway project. No mention of a start date but the tweet is a screenshot of the release, so that detail might be cropped out.

Well, I've been wrong before!

Taken today:

The Bess · #**2096** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 7:14 PM**

I think the Luxe would classify as recent residential. By the way didn't Ken Achs try to build his at least this high?

skeet1991 · #**2097** Posted **Jun 11, 2019, 7:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bess

I think the Luxe would classify as recent residential. By the way didn't Ken Achs try to build his at least this high?

I think the release states that it is the first residential rental to be built in the area since the 70s, which seems about right. Good to see developers providing options near the core, even if they leave something to be desired.

That said, I think the Broadway proposal is somewhat better than the city park monstrosity.

Urban Capital, basically.

Temperance · #**2098** Posted **Jun 12, 2019, 12:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roryn1

I would love for it to become something as great or greater than the Muttart Conservatory's Pyramid botanical gardens in Edmonton. They sure are a tourism attraction and place for us permanent folk to take our minds off of the winters, and get exposed to some different climates in the summer. We could name the domes "Atchison Domes"

Or maybe a smaller version of the Canada's Diversity Gardens they are building in Winnipeg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlyFuTasXk8

Ricopedra · #**2099** Posted **Jun 12, 2019, 8:19 AM**

edit

alt_center · #**2100** Posted **Jun 12, 2019, 1:00 PM**

Re. 880 Broadway

This is slightly better than the "City Park Atrocity" but part of that's just due to its smaller scale I think.

The podium looks OK but a bit boring. But the whole thing together looks like a mess. I don't care for the strong horizontal elements on the tower that conflict with the vertical elements on the podium, and I don't like the small windows on what I presume will be vast expanses of stucco. Other than the colours the tower and podium look totally incongruous. I think some clever design could tie the podium and tower together and at least obscure the current appearance of "cheap cheap cheap" a little bit.