[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed

[teddifax]

Anxious on this, any more work being done on this site. There haven't been any pictures posted lately!

[FuzzyWuz]

They are doing an archeological dig right now. Earth has been moved but they aren't into the real excavation yet.

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Excavation updates:

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Looks like the archaeological dig is done:

[halifaxboyns]

That didn't take long at all!

[worldlyhaligonian]

May the real work begin! I'll be content when we see a crane.

[halifaxboyns]

I think we should have a victory celebration once the crane goes up. A screw you save the view protest or something.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by SekishikiMeikaiHa

Looks like the archaeological dig is done:

It will be nice to block the view of the ugly butt end of the Prince George hotel. This is a building STV uses as an example of how downtown should be developed. How wrong they were...........

Is there an archaeological dig planned for the Herald site? Maybe they will unearth some old newspapers.

[fenwick16]

The rural consultations for the Nova Centre have been completed and the Metro consultations will resume in Halifax on Wednesday, October 3rd at 1055 Marginal Road - Google Map Link

(source: http://buildyourcentre.ca/public-engagement/metro-engagement-1/#.UGhnQZjA_CY )

Metro Engagement – Streetscape around Nova Centre
When: October 3, 2012 — 7 - 9pm

Where: Kenneth C. Rowe Heritage Hall, Halifax

Purpose: This session will discuss how we can influence the streetscape, and the look and feel of the area surrounding the building.
What would you like to see on Grafton and Argyle Streets, adjacent to Nova Centre? How can the streetscape further revitalize the city’s downtown core?

In addition to engaging on the streetscape you will have the opportunity to provide your opinion on design concepts for Nova Centre generated from the public engagement sessions held to date.

Presenters:

Noel Fowler, Lead Architect for Nova Centre
Frank Palermo, Planning and Design Centre (Argyle Streetscape Plan)
This event is will be held in Halifax at the Kenneth C. Rowe Heritage Hall, Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Road (map link). Doors open at 6:30 pm for coffee, conversation and live music.

Capacity: 200.

[someone123]

Apparently new designs will be unveiled at the upcoming session on Wednesday. The final version will not be complete until November but I am guessing that the broader details are pretty much nailed down.

It sounds like the underground convention space is out. It will be very interesting to see what the new solution is. I'd say this is the most exciting project to happen in Halifax in a long time. Regardless of the design when it is built it will transform a substantial part of the downtown.

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by someone123

Apparently new designs will be unveiled at the upcoming session on Wednesday. The final version will not be complete until November but I am guessing that the broader details are pretty much nailed down.

It sounds like the underground convention space is out. It will be very interesting to see what the new solution is. I'd say this is the most exciting project to happen in Halifax in a long time. Regardless of the design when it is built it will transform a substantial part of the downtown.

I am glad to hear that the underground option is out! I feel that the centre should be open and airy, allowing as much light as possible and give a vibe to the streetscape

[worldlyhaligonian]

Evil developers trying to improve our downtown. Save the hole!

On a serious note... the whole area just looks better due to the removal of the shrubs/"trees" and minor excavation.

[musicman]

A bad idea for it to be above ground with windows... They are a pain in the ass to deal with for production and cost clients up to 20$ a foot more to get rid of them instead of a pre-darkened room...

[someone123]

Originally Posted by musicman

A bad idea for it to be above ground with windows... They are a pain in the ass to deal with for production and cost clients up to 20$ a foot more to get rid of them instead of a pre-darkened room...

Yeah, I'll wait to see what the design is, but I'm not really sold on the idea that it's better to put it above ground. One of the other problems is that the footprint doesn't fit on the small blocks, so they've got to either go over the street or eliminate it. In the past the results of destroying the old grid pattern have not been good. I doubt that a single orphaned block of Grafton would be as successful as one tied in well with the rest of the district.

The unfortunate thing about developers and architects is that in the past they've given us a lot of buildings that don't work. A lot of people don't trust them anymore or feel that they know how to correct what they perceive to be design flaws. Public consultation is very different from having the public create the design, however. Most people cannot give good direct input in technical areas. They don't know what the requirements are for a convention centre or how exactly the design will impact the cost. Developers and architects should listen to the public and try to be creative but they shouldn't let the public dictate building designs. Hopefully with the Nova Centre we'll get a balanced, creative design that takes public input into account and respects the area while also allowing the building to serve its primary purpose well.

[someone123]

Here are some of the images from http://twitter.com/BuildYourCentre

[q12]

Originally Posted by someone123

Here are some of the images from http://twitter.com/BuildYourCentre

Looks good.

Is there 3 towers in that image?

[Duff]

I think it looks great, but its really disappointing to hear that the parking garage has to go on Argyle.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by q12

Looks good.

Is there 3 towers in that image?

I had read somewhere before that the design was changed to 3 towers so I think it's likely.

That aside, I think I like the previous design more but I'll have to see more detailed renders.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Duff

I think it looks great, but its really disappointing to hear that the parking garage has to go on Argyle.

Parking is usually in the basement. Argyle is the lowest point in the property. Not sure where else it can go.

[someone123]

Some buildings have circular ramps down to lower levels of parking but they'd probably have to sacrifice a fair amount of space to do that and they pretty much have to put the loading bays on the Market Street side.

I think it's a nice design. Hopefully the big glass convention room will look bright and active. The setback, public space, overhangs, and atrium along Argyle should work well. Certainly it'll be a lot nicer than the Herald Building.

The towers might be addressed somewhere in the presentation. There are a couple of photos in the video that weren't on twitter.

One other thing mentioned was the possibility of an international competition for some public art. I really hope that won't turn out to be more lighthouses. The Keltic Lodge view makes me wonder if that was the outcome of the Sydney session; from now on when you're sitting on a patio on Argyle you'll have images of Cape Breton beamed at you. I am dreading the fiddle music that will be blasted out along with it.