Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Rusty Gull]

Originally Posted by Architype

Like I said, I couldn't be sure of it's legitimacy, but just came across it and found it to be interesting.

In which way is it thought to be inaccurate ?

The data was suspect. I think the survey only polled residents in something like two buildings. Totally unscientific.

[jlousa]

Few tidbits courtesy of DVBIA,

Starting November 24, the Province of BC's Robson Square will be open for free, public skating every day at the GE Plaza from noon to 9pm. You can bring a pair of skates, or rent them for $3 on site; helmets are an additional $2, and free to anyone 12 and under. Come and enjoy a lunch hour break, a stop on your way home, or a weekend family outing in the heart of downtown Vancouver

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

As part of the 2010 Cultural Olympiad programming, LunarFest partners with the DVBIA to bring Lunar New Year celebrations to downtown from January 22-February 28, 2010.

This free public exhibit features a lantern forest rooted down the middle of the 700 block of Granville Street illuminated with lanterns designed by schoolchildren, five totem lanterns composed of indigenous designs from Canada and Taiwan and public art from a collaboration between international professional artists.

Prosperity is an essential spirit of the Lunar New Year. DVBIA members are exclusively invited to participate in lunar red, modeled after the tradition of red pocket money. Coupons will be distributed across Lower Mainland on the eve of Lunar New Year in over 100,000 red pockets for families to enjoy a second boxing-day like tradition.

Businesses downtown may also distribute hand-held tiger lanterns to patrons so they can join a magical lantern procession lead by Public Dreams as part of the festivities.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The success of the 2010 Winter Games depends in part on the ability of visitors and residents to get around our city easily. To address Games-time impact on normal pedestrian movement, the City has implemented an easily recognizable and consistent wayfinding program that will go a long way in creating a positive Olympic experience for residents and visitors alike.

Before we fully implement our wayfinding signage around the City, we’re trying out the first in a series of information kiosks – that display a map that guides pedestrians and cyclists to key destinations, amenities, points of interest, with links to transit in downtown Vancouver—on Robson Street, between Howe and Hornby streets.

After we evaluate the results of this trial, over 200 additional wayfinding kiosks will be installed across Vancouver in early 2010, in time for the 2010 Winter Games. During the Games, these maps display Games-specific information, connecting visitors and residents to walking and cycling routes, transit stops, Games-time competition venues, attractions and important civic points-of-interest.

Tourism Vancouver will also expand their services at Games time, deploying eight Satellite Visitor Centres throughout the downtown core to provide information, direction and maps which are currently also provided to tourists at lodging locations. After the Games, the City’s wayfinding kiosks will stay in place as convenient tools to help visitors and residents of Vancouver learn how to easily get around our beautiful city.

[Hed Kandi]

..

[mcminsen]

Are these clean white wall panels on Sears new? I don't recall seeing them before. I think this is the wall where they will be doing some projections during the Olympics.


Sears, Granville St. side Nov. 16 '09 my pic

[SpongeG]

^^^ weren't they black tinted windows before?

Some plans for building are better than others

By john mackie, VANCOUVER SUNNovember 16, 2009 9:22 PM



Recession or no, the Vancouver Art Gallery still hopes to build a new gallery by 2015. But what is happening with the city’s other cultural venues?

- The Queen Elizabeth Theatre recently concluded a $59 million renovation that should make for much improved sound. The 1959 theatre also has new seats, and a much more dramatic lobby. The other big civic theatre, the Orpheum, also has new seats. But a planned expansion of the Orpheum stage into a space provided in the new Capitol Residences project is on hold until the city comes up with the $10 million cost.

- The provincial government is going ahead with a $458 million plan to renovate BC Place Stadium with a new retractable roof. The B.C. Lions will have to move out during construction, and will relocate to a temporary home to be built on the former Empire Stadium site at Hastings Park. Details are still being ironed out, but the stadium could have 24,000 to 30,000 seats.

- The Vancouver Whitecaps’ waterfront soccer stadium in Gastown looks dead, at least in the short-term. “It’s something we’re not discussing,” said Bob Lenarduzzi, the Whitecaps president. The team will play at Swangard Stadium in 2010 and BC Place in 2011. If BC Place isn’t ready in time for the 2011 season, when the Whitecaps join the bigger Major League Soccer circuit, they will play at Empire.

- The National Maritime Centre of the Pacific in North Vancouver is hoping to get funding from the provincial government to forge ahead. “We’ve got the space for it,” said North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto. “We understand the federal government is pretty much on side. [It’s] conditional upon the province contributing funds to the construction of the building.” Mussatto doesn’t know the cost, but said plans are for a 120,000-square-foot facility with a maritime centre, classrooms and retail space.

- The Vancouver Museum has rebranded itself as the Museum of Vancouver and is focusing on local history. Whether the museum moves from its Vanier Park site depends on what happens with the current Vancouver Art Gallery site at Robson and Hornby, which would make an ideal spot for a museum. The Vancouver Maritime Museum’s fate is also up in the air, depending on what happens with the National Maritime Centre in North Vancouver. The city of Vancouver owns the collection in the Maritime Museum, but North Vancouver Mayor Mussatto said “we have arranged a deal with the city of Vancouver so that we can have on loan many of the artifacts that are on display there.”

- The Coal Harbour Arts Complex is an oft-delayed theatre for live music. It was supposed to be built on the Coal Harbour waterfront, partly with $20 million that was raised from development fees in the neighbourhood. But the city sold the site to the province to build the new convention centre. If it ever gets built, the Coal Harbour Arts Complex probably won’t be in Coal Harbour: it would likely be situated at the north end of the Larwill Park site at Dunsmuir and Hamilton. One possibility is to build two theatres at the north end (1,900 and 450 seats) and build a new Vancouver Art Gallery at the south end. But that would probably be at least a half a billion dollars in new cultural venues ($200 million for the theatres, $300 million for the art gallery), which may be a bit rich in the current economy.

[email protected]

http://www.vancouversun.com/Some+plans+building+better+than+others/2230192/story.html

[trofirhen]

Amidst all this change, I hear no mention of the CURRENT VAG building on West Georgia; the one with the stone lions, columns
and classic dome roof.

What is to become of this heritage building?

Will it be torn down?

Will it be used in another function?

If so, what?

What would be the best role for it economically? Culturally?

Please give me your ideas

thanks

[SpongeG]

lots of rumours - some I heard were it becoming a kids museum, some suggest that the museum should move from kits to there - both good ideas

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Are these clean white wall panels on Sears new? I don't recall seeing them before.

Those have been there for a long time, since either the last Eaton's reno or the Sears switch-over.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Amidst all this change, I hear no mention of the CURRENT VAG building on West Georgia; the one with the stone lions, columns
and classic dome roof.

What is to become of this heritage building?

Will it be torn down?

Will it be used in another function?

If so, what?

What would be the best role for it economically? Culturally?

Please give me your ideas

thanks

I don't think the current VAG should be torn down. Vancouver doesn't have enough of those heritage buildings. They are classy pieces of architecture. Some would say, better architecture than today's mundane pieces of glass all over downtown, and sprouting in other areas of greater Vancouver. I hope they do use it for another function - what that function should be - I'm not really sure. Cultural? I could see it work. Economically? I really don't know. Other people here on these boards may have more input. Just my two cents worth.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Are these clean white wall panels on Sears new? I don't recall seeing them before. I think this is the wall where they will be doing some projections during the Olympics.


Sears, Granville St. side Nov. 16 '09 my pic

They really should do something with the entire building. Cleaning it every few years would help with their image, and it would also be a start. I don't understand why they would leave their building to looking like that

[Vancity]

I love "WE", but the other one, I'm not so sure about, but I will reserve judgment until I see it unwrapped. Anyone know if these pieces of public art going to be sticking around even after the Olympics are done?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vancity

I don't think the current VAG should be torn down. Vancouver doesn't have enough of those heritage buildings. They are classy pieces of architecture. Some would say, better architecture than today's mundane pieces of glass all over downtown, and sprouting in other areas of greater Vancouver. I hope they do use it for another function - what that function should be - I'm not really sure. Cultural? I could see it work. Economically? I really don't know. Other people here on these boards may have more input. Just my two cents worth.

I think the location is ideal for an expanded and upgraded Museum of Vancouver. There is so little focus on the history of Vancouver right now. Sure it is a young city but there are lots of great stories.

[hrhsheba]

Originally Posted by Vancity

I love "WE", but the other one, I'm not so sure about, but I will reserve judgment until I see it unwrapped. Anyone know if these pieces of public art going to be sticking around even after the Olympics are done?

With a few possible exceptions, the pieces will be on display until June of 2011 as part of the Biennale.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I think the location is ideal for an expanded and upgraded Museum of Vancouver. There is so little focus on the history of Vancouver right now. Sure it is a young city but there are lots of great stories.

Yeah. I agree. I think Vancouver's museums haven't given enough attention to the city's own history. So many people, and kids don't have a chance to understand how this city came together, and how it's grown. We do need a place to showcase the historicity of Vancouver. Along with that, they should really light up those lions on the front

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by hrhsheba

With a few possible exceptions, the pieces will be on display until June of 2011 as part of the Biennale.

I'm hoping the "WE" piece of art is an exception, and stays permanently.

There were supposed to be lighting effects on the Cambie Bridge - anyone know if those have been installed yet?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Are these clean white wall panels on Sears new? I don't recall seeing them before. I think this is the wall where they will be doing some projections during the Olympics.


Sears, Granville St. side Nov. 16 '09 my pic

Those panels are where the original EATONS sign was located. For some inexplicable reason (perhaps to do something, anything) the architects chose to relocate the sign towards the middle of the building. At the former sign location, the dark glass above the entrance turned 90 degrees upwards and merged with the sign.
Personally, I think that the aluminum panels at the old sign location just make the building look worse (i.e. compared to the terrazzo/marble aggregate panels on the rest of the builing (if they ware clean)) since the proportions are competely off compared to the original panels.

[Rusty Gull]

Why do we even need a new VAG? The current building is perfectly fine -- in fact, it's the best building in the best location, period. The argument for a bigger building ("more space for the collections, more space for exhibitions") is mostly an exercise in public relations.

[flight_from_kamakura]

the vag torn down? what planet are you guys living on?

[s211]

Originally Posted by flight_from_kamakura

the vag torn down? what planet are you guys living on?

Happy Planet, it would seem.

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by Rusty Gull

Why do we even need a new VAG? The current building is perfectly fine -- in fact, it's the best building in the best location, period. The argument for a bigger building ("more space for the collections, more space for exhibitions") is mostly an exercise in public relations.

If it is true that only around 3% of the collection is able to be displayed, then yes, a new VAG would be very desirable. Use that excellent building instead to bring the museum to the masses. The museum languishes in its current location. It's a travesty.