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

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Actually, I take that back. I mentioned before that i wouldn't have minded it down near the water, but I didn't immediately pick up on why.

Dark colours and modern materials like that tend to feel very cold and overbearing. Other blue glass buildings like 1801 Hollis and Purdy's Wharf are at the bottom of the hill which really suits them. We really should have limited them to no higher than Barrington St., because having something so cold, cold and dark so high up the hill feels really overbearing and oppressive. If they wanted something of that scale, in that location, it should have been lighter colours and warmer textures.

This is a paradigm found throughout various schools of design rather than just community planning. It's found in architecture, fashion, even interior decoration and design.

Its a trigger bro. I feel so oppressed.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Yet nobody is allowed to complain about the sacred library. Ironically, the two buildings are very similar.

Except the library is far uglier.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Yet nobody is allowed to complain about the sacred library. Ironically, the two buildings are very similar.

Talk about a false equivalence-based strawman. Implying that if you support one then you must support the other under the premise that they're inextricably similar, when in reality, none of the criticisms I levied against the NC apply to the Library. I specifically called out the NC's scale in conjunction with the colour and materials. The Library is what, 1/3 the height? Not to mention that it's one set-back building rather than the NC's several built right to the sidewalk and even above the street. And you can't even see the library from the lower part of downtown due to both being far smaller, and blocked line of sight. They're even different colours. The Library combines cool blue with warm red/orange accents and white detail. I may not be a huge fan of the library's exterior, but similar situations they're not.

I'm sure you're just joking, but come on...

[TheNovaScotian]

I drive past this daily and it's a definite addition to the downtown. The view down Sackville St. is much improved and will continue to change.

To be honest I feel it was too short and looks squat from some vantage points because of the "It's too tall squad".

[Hali87]

The width is a bit awkward, but I like it overall. I'll reserve final judgement until cladding is done and Grafton Street reopens though.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Not to mention that it's one set-back building rather than the NC's several built right to the sidewalk and even above the street.

Yet the library looms over Queen St just by its look...

Your post is a good example of what he was talking about when it comes to the "sacred library".

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Talk about a false equivalence-based strawman. Implying that if you support one then you must support the other under the premise that they're inextricably similar, when in reality, none of the criticisms I levied against the NC apply to the Library. I specifically called out the NC's scale in conjunction with the colour and materials. The Library is what, 1/3 the height? Not to mention that it's one set-back building rather than the NC's several built right to the sidewalk and even above the street. And you can't even see the library from the lower part of downtown due to both being far smaller, and blocked line of sight. They're even different colours. The Library combines cool blue with warm red/orange accents and white detail. I may not be a huge fan of the library's exterior, but similar situations they're not.

I'm sure you're just joking, but come on...

Not joking. And you made my point.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Credit: The Hartford Guy on Flickr
The Citadel in Halifax Nova Scotia by That Hartford Guy, on Flickr

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Not joking. And you made my point.

No, I didn't, unless your point was secretly that the two examples have little in common. In which case I illustrated it perfectly.

[Jonovision]

20160915_170650_HDR by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[someone123]

Source

[Good Baklava]

Originally Posted by someone123

Source

The Nova Centre does excellent job at catching the sunset.

[hoser111]

Me thinks that's a sunrise!

[DT Hfx]

Wow!...And Blue turns into Gold...that a nice picture Someone!

[RoshanMcG]

[Jonovision]

20160930_071407 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20160930_071604 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20160930_071722_HDR by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[sneakyzero]

The convention centre opening date is delayed… again.

https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/province-house/the-convention-centre-opening-date-is-delayed-again/

October 4, 2016 By Tim Bousquet

Construction of the hotel above the convention centre is nowhere near completion, and an operator of the hotel has not been announced. Photo: Halifax Examiner

The Halifax Convention Centre will not open as scheduled on April 1. A new opening date has not yet been established, but at least seven national and international conventions that have been booked into the convention centre are affected — Trade Centre Limited representatives are working for alternative arrangements, including rebooking the conventions into the existing convention centre.

Completion of the convention centre was delayed once before. In December 2014, developer Joe Ramia announced that the scheduled January 1, 2016 “substantial completion” date of Nova Centre would be pushed back to September 30, 2016, with the convention centre component ready by January 1, 2017. That date was subsequently revised to April 1, 2017.

I walked around the building yesterday and realized that with winter weather approaching and much of the exterior of the building still open to the elements, there is no way construction could be finished by April.

Besides the convention centre, the hotel component of Nova Centre is also behind schedule. An operator of the hotel still hasn’t been announced, and it strikes me as unlikely that an operator could agree to a lease and get the hotel operational in less than six months.

I’ve asked Trade Centre Limited for comment, and will speak with councillors and city staff at today’s city council meeting.

More to come.

Updated, 11:50am:

I’ve received the following response from TCL spokesperson Suzanne Fougere:

“
Based on the information we have, and in the interest of ensuring those impacted have appropriate notice, we have begun discussions with national and international clients booked in the new convention centre in the spring. We’ve started working with them on alternatives, which includes relocating them to the existing WTCC if they choose. There are a total of seven national and international events (April-June) that are directly impacted. Steps are underway to get confirmation of the construction timeline from the developer.

As it relates to the hotel partner, we look forward to that announcement from the developer once those details are finalized. "

[connect2source]

Don't panic Halifax, here in Vancouver, many of the premier projects are way behind. Trump Tower is 1.5 - 2 years behind, Telus Gardens was about 1.5 years late, even smaller developments can be 6-9 months late. Welcome to your boomtown reality. I'm gunning for a regal 5* brand to manage the hotel like Fairmont.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Don't panic Halifax, here in Vancouver, many of the premier projects are way behind. Trump Tower is 1.5 - 2 years behind, Telus Gardens was about 1.5 years late, even smaller developments can be 6-9 months late. Welcome to your boomtown reality.

Trump Tower isn't even called Trump Tower anymore. I suggested "Rump Tower" as a convenient new name (no need to buy a whole new sign) when Trump became unpopular but I don't think they went for that.

Developers in Halifax have a proud tradition of announcing completion dates to the media that in retrospect look comically optimistic. Delays of a year or longer are common even on smaller projects, and the Nova Centre is much more complicated than those.

[Keith P.]

I thought Bousquet had repeatedly claimed there would be no conventions here? How can they now be postponed, delayed or cancelled if they do not exist?