The Great Canadian Skyline Thread!

[VivaPhysicality]

That Montreal pic isn't recent, is it? Looks like it's in the dead of winter.

Cool shot regardless.

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by VivaPhysicality

That Montreal pic isn't recent, is it? Looks like it's in the dead of winter.

Cool shot regardless.

Yes it is. We got a snow shower last friday

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Is it just me or does Calgary's CBD have a larger footprint than Toronto's? (Obviously the skyline as a whole is smaller.)

Optical Illusion

There are large office towers (large by Calgary standards) all the way up to Bloor Street and South to Queens Quay. No way you could get them all in a picture like that.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Ashok

Looking really good here!

2nd that. love the gritty flour mill in the foreground.

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

2nd that. love the gritty flour mill in the foreground.

Griffintown really adds depth to the skyline.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by Beedok

An area where you don't go more than a (reasonably sized) block without an office highrise (or tall mid-rise) and minimal residential present.

Toronto probably has more downtown office towers, but there's bands of residential buildings and low rise areas.

Based on that definition, I would say their offices cores are pretty comparable, as a lot of Toronto's office buildings are "downtown" but outside of the traditional central business district, and instead mixed in with other kinds of uses. Note that (1) Calgary's is a rough estimate as I'm not too familiar with its core, and (2) Calgary's is taken from slightly lower elevation, meaning the size is slightly exaggerated:

Calgary: http://goo.gl/maps/R3EdC

Toronto: https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Scott+...,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21&z=16

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by Ramako

Based on that definition, I would say their offices cores are pretty comparable, as a lot of Toronto's office buildings are "downtown" but outside of the traditional central business district, and instead mixed in with other kinds of uses. Note that (1) Calgary's is a rough estimate as I'm not too familiar with its core, and (2) Calgary's is taken from slightly lower elevation, meaning the size is slightly exaggerated:

Calgary: http://goo.gl/maps/R3EdC

Toronto: https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Scott+...,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21&z=16

Okay yeah, dropping what's south of Union (it's a decent gap) they do seem to be about the same size. I guess Toronto buildings are taller and/or have a bigger footprint so it looks smaller. Or there's just fewer aerials focusing on that area.

If the area around Toronto's City Hall were switched with a few towers from elsewhere in Toronto I think Toronto would look much more solid.

[logan5]

Using those boundaries with Planimeter would be accurate. Don't feel like doing it myself. http://acme.com/planimeter/

[The_Architect]

Originally Posted by Ramako

Based on that definition, I would say their offices cores are pretty comparable, as a lot of Toronto's office buildings are "downtown" but outside of the traditional central business district, and instead mixed in with other kinds of uses. Note that (1) Calgary's is a rough estimate as I'm not too familiar with its core, and (2) Calgary's is taken from slightly lower elevation, meaning the size is slightly exaggerated:

Calgary: http://goo.gl/maps/R3EdC

Toronto: https://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Scott+...,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21&z=16

See I would include the Discovery District hospital buildings, but then there's the lower-rise buildings on Dundas between University and Bay which ruin it.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Basically the lack of colour is due to the lack of Maple trees in Calgary, though there are a few.

Red Oak turns red in fall too, but I don't think they grow over there either. (I know that naturally, they don't -- too dry, I suppose -- but if someone planted one on their front lawn, I don't see why it wouldn't survive? Growing season too short maybe?)

[1ajs]

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by lio45

Red Oak turns red in fall too, but I don't think they grow over there either. (I know that naturally, they don't -- too dry, I suppose -- but if someone planted one on their front lawn, I don't see why it wouldn't survive? Growing season too short maybe?)

Red Oak is rated for 3b -- on the edge of the hardiness zones for Calgary (3a and 2b, though there are microclimates in the city that can push things up to 3b and possibly 4a in a few areas). Even if it survives the extreme cold, the freeze/thaw cycle here is devastating to many species. Also, the natural soils in Calgary tend to be very alkaline (lots of sandstone and clay), which oaks in general do not do well in.

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by VivaPhysicality

That Montreal pic isn't recent, is it? Looks like it's in the dead of winter.

Cool shot regardless.

It's Montreal in early march. It is winter.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by lio45

Red Oak turns red in fall too, but I don't think they grow over there either. (I know that naturally, they don't -- too dry, I suppose -- but if someone planted one on their front lawn, I don't see why it wouldn't survive? Growing season too short maybe?)

I don't think Oak trees grow here, we get frost too late and too early, trees have to be pretty hardy to grow in Calgary.

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by lio45

Red Oak turns red in fall too, but I don't think they grow over there either. (I know that naturally, they don't -- too dry, I suppose -- but if someone planted one on their front lawn, I don't see why it wouldn't survive? Growing season too short maybe?)

I'm not an expert in any means regarding weather in Florida, but I thought a subtropical climate was humid? I remember it would usually rain almost every afternoon there in the summer (not for a long time, but it was a regular occurence)

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Red Oak is rated for 3b -- on the edge of the hardiness zones for Calgary (3a and 2b, though there are microclimates in the city that can push things up to 3b and possibly 4a in a few areas). Even if it survives the extreme cold, the freeze/thaw cycle here is devastating to many species. Also, the natural soils in Calgary tend to be very alkaline (lots of sandstone and clay), which oaks in general do not do well in.

How do maples do in Calgary? I could see the constant freeze/thaw winters as being difficult for any species that needs a dormant period.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I don't think Oak trees grow here, we get frost too late and too early, trees have to be pretty hardy to grow in Calgary.

I actually think the city is starting to plant what look to be oak trees in many areas of the city. Examples that come to mind are the medians in Lake Bonavista and beside Summit of Montreux in the SW along 85th st.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

How do maples do in Calgary? I could see the constant freeze/thaw winters as being difficult for any species that needs a dormant period.

We don't have any that I've seen. I remember reading that when the city was in its infancy only a few types of trees would grow here. Now there's something like a dozen, many of which are hybrids. The poplars that dominate the city are a mix of the local variety and a Russian species. The trees you see the most of are said poplars, aspens in natural areas and Spruce trees. An interesting side note is that if you go into Edworthy Park along the cliff and up the Douglas Trail you'll find some of the easternmost Douglas Fir trees on the continent. I had no idea these existed here until I took the hike last year. From afar you just think they're all spruce or pine trees. Some of them were rather large and I'd assume at least a few hundred years old.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

How do maples do in Calgary? I could see the constant freeze/thaw winters as being difficult for any species that needs a dormant period.

Not very well, there are a few Maple trees, but they don't usually grow very big or are killed by an early or late frost. What happened to that KW5150 guy, he was a landscape architect I believe and could probably provide clearer answers.

I think we do get Manitoba Maples here, but they make a damn mess with their helicopter seed pods.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

How do maples do in Calgary? I could see the constant freeze/thaw winters as being difficult for any species that needs a dormant period.

It's rather uncommon to see maples. You might be able to get a Manitoba Maple to work here but not much else (probably easier to find in Edmonton?). They are more adaptable to our soil conditions than oaks, at least.

Originally Posted by O-tacular

I actually think the city is starting to plant what look to be oak trees in many areas of the city. Examples that come to mind are the medians in Lake Bonavista and beside Summit of Montreux in the SW along 85th st.

Sure they aren't Brandon Elms? They have a similar profile (leaves and bark look really different though).