Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[J.OT13]

I'm a little skeptical about this glass canopy deal. Most historic buildings downtown have had their street fronts altered beyond restoration over the years (Ogilvy, Blackburn, Plaza), but this one has been maintained beautifully since 1916. If they can install this thing without altering the integrity of the façade (i.e. we can just take it out after without having to repair the original façade), then fine. I do like the idea of new lighting to better highlight the building. I just wish they could do something about the blank walls of the east and south façades.

Here are examples of altered street fronts and the Transportation Building today and after alterations;

Ogilvy before and after, of course the ultimate alteration has been done; demolition.





Blackburn Building before and after, the cornace was also altered (taken out);





The Plaza building (45 Rideau, building on the left);





Transportation which has kept its street level detailing;

[Buggys]

That odd bit of glass canopy just looks out of place on the beautiful old building.

[citydwlr]

I don't mind the canopy too much, but I do have to agree with you all. It does take away from the building and doesn't quite fit in. Why do they even need the canopy? Other systems around the world use simple way-finding to signify to passersby where a subway station is (for example, on a lamp-post).


(via iStockPhoto)

Less is more - I think they are just overcomplicating that corner. If they wanted to, they could add some kind of faceted ceiling to that entrance (possibly illuminated) that would tie-in with the other exterior additions while not taking away too much from the existing heritage structure.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

I don't mind the canopy too much, but I do have to agree with you all. It does take away from the building and doesn't quite fit in. Why do they even need the canopy? Other systems around the world use simple way-finding to signify to passersby where a subway station is (for example, on a lamp-post).


(via iStockPhoto)

Less is more - I think they are just overcomplicating that corner. If they wanted to, they could add some kind of faceted ceiling to that entrance (possibly illuminated) that would tie-in with the other exterior additions while not taking away too much from the existing heritage structure.

I agree. The purpose of the canopy is not clear to me. It certainly doesn't seem necessary.

[trhgr]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

This horrible overpass between rideau and the bay really blocks the perspective on Rideau street. I hope the new design will be less obstructive. Also obvious on the picture is how bad the Chapter's building and the west wall of the Freeman mall look. Any plan on renovating these two?

[J.OT13]

Renovation plans for the Bay, but I doubt anything will be done to that wall. Heck, I don't even think they'll do anything to the horrid façades on George. Nothing for Chapters, but adding 2-3 more floors would be appreciated, or at least restore the façade to what it looked like when Woolworth occupied the space. Note that the Bay's west façade wasn't any better when Freiman's occupied the space.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by trhgr

This horrible overpass between rideau and the bay really blocks the perspective on Rideau street. I hope the new design will be less obstructive. Also obvious on the picture is how bad the Chapter's building and the west wall of the Freeman mall look. Any plan on renovating these two?

apparently they are gutting the top of the overpasses and keeping the structure itself. the bottoms will be refinished in a lighter colour and an entirely new frame will be built above. i'm really looking forward to this!

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Harley613

apparently they are gutting the top of the overpasses and keeping the structure itself. the bottoms will be refinished in a lighter colour and an entirely new frame will be built above. i'm really looking forward to this!

Nothing short of their removal would suffice, imho.

[J.OT13]

I've said this many times before, but my biggest concern about removing the skywalks is the Freiman façade that now has a big gaping hole. Of course this could be covered with a fancy new Hudson Bay's logo, which makes it less of a concern unless Saks moves in that building; there logo isn't as versatile (or nice) to cover that hole.

Steve Brandon Flikre picture.


Furthermore, I have a Citizen (Rideau at a Crossroads, Mach 15 2008) with pictures of the skywalk construction which I could not find on the internet. It shows two massive beams per skywalk over the street anchored into the façades. Their might be structural issues in removing these making it exorbitantly expensive for what we get.

For what's it's worth, I don't hate the skywalks and the wider one is usable as retail space ant craft shows. That said I would remove the one punching a hole in the Freiman Building.

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by Harley613

apparently they are gutting the top of the overpasses and keeping the structure itself. the bottoms will be refinished in a lighter colour and an entirely new frame will be built above. i'm really looking forward to this!

I think J.OT13 just answered this in the last post, but does the structure need to be so "heavy" on the bottom? It'd be nicer if it was a thinner platform all the way across. That coupled with the clearer glass walls would make it look "lighter", visually speaking. I personally don't want the overpasses kept, but if they insist on it, they should remove as much of the bulk as possible.

Actually, I would have expected them to do something a bit more creative with the overpasses, possibly even tie it in with the curved façade of the Ottawa Convention Centre:


(Arndale Footbridge, Manchester via Wikipedia)


(Arndale Footbridge, Manchester - street view via ManchesterHistory.Net)

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

... does the structure need to be so "heavy" on the bottom?...

Of course it doesn't, if it only carried people. But since they were built wide enough to house retail space as well (in the eastern one anyway) they built them strong and heavy.

[eemy]

For those interested, this is the rendering from the application:


Not quite what some of you are hoping for, but it seems to be an improvement to me.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

For those interested, this is the rendering from the application:


Not quite what some of you are hoping for, but it seems to be an improvement to me.

Not feeling the "RIDEAU CENTRE" lettering on the bridge.

[rocketphish]

Other views:







And in this cross-section you can see just how wide the eastern one is:

[Buggys]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Not feeling the "RIDEAU CENTRE" lettering on the bridge.

Me neither. Especially since I thought the bridge was connecting BOTH the Rideau Centre with the Freeman Mall?

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by Buggys

Me neither. Especially since I thought the bridge was connecting BOTH the Rideau Centre with the Freeman Mall?

Unless the Rideau Centre is taking over the ownership or creating such an agreement? Who owns Freiman?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Who owns Freiman?

Hudson's Bay Company.

Looking at the "new" skywalk, even the lower deck seems to be the same overbearing mass it is today.


I doubt (and hope) they won't have the "Rideau Centre" on the walkway. Those are likely just there as a preliminary proposal.

Anyway, I'm a little annoyed that they still haven't presented proper renderings, sort of like Nordstrom's renderings, of the redevelopment. At some point, there was even a proper rendering of the Transportation Building subway entrance.

[J.OT13]

As a fan of simple designs, I would like to see something to this effect, in Des Moines, Iowa, for the revamped Rideau Centre skywalks.

[thepeps]

I like the plans so far - I would, however, love to see the overpasses either removed or modernized. They're hideous in their current state.

[Shalaby]

Originally Posted by thepeps

I like the plans so far - I would, however, love to see the overpasses either removed or modernized. They're hideous in their current state.

Agreed, but it doesn't seem to be in the plan. Shame.