[Halifax] Scotia Square Redevelopment | Completed

[Jonovision]

20170314_163151 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20170314_163247 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[Jonovision]

The tint on this glass is deceiving. In pics it looks blue but in person it looks much more green.

20170316_162109 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[Jonovision]

20170330_123410 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[fenwick16]

^^^ What's the impression of people who drive, ride the bus, or walk past Scotia Square; is it an improvement?

It will be good to have street-level retail as in the rendering below. It is good that developers have started to realize that this is a good idea, but it makes me wonder why weren't they doing it in the 1960's- 2000's. This is right next to a bus stop, it seems like there will be many people running in for a coffee or donuts, so the retailers should do well.

(source: http://www.dsra.ca/projects/scotia-s...ion-renovation)

[Keith P.]

I don't think a useful opinion can be formed until this is closer to completion. It is taking a very long time for this one to get finished.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I don't think a useful opinion can be formed until this is closer to completion. It is taking a very long time for this one to get finished.

True. Does anyone know when this will open?

[IanWatson]

Compared to the windswept concrete "courtyard" that was there before, this is a huge improvement so far. How much of an improvement it ultimately ends up being remains to be seen.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

^^^ What's the impression of people who drive, ride the bus, or walk past Scotia Square; is it an improvement?

It will be good to have street-level retail as in the rendering below. It is good that developers have started to realize that this is a good idea, but it makes me wonder why weren't they doing it in the 1960's- 2000's. This is right next to a bus stop, it seems like there will be many people running in for a coffee or donuts, so the retailers should do well.

IIRC, I read somewhere (maybe in this forum) that originally the main entrance for Scotia Square was intended to be on Market (Albemarle) Street, and thus the blank wall on Barrington was not a consideration. We can see now that it was a mistake, but I think it was the mindset of 1960s planners/developers that functionality of the building was of greater concern than how the building related to the public.

[JET]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

IIRC, I read somewhere (maybe in this forum) that originally the main entrance for Scotia Square was intended to be on Market (Albemarle) Street, and thus the blank wall on Barrington was not a consideration. We can see now that it was a mistake, but I think it was the mindset of 1960s planners/developers that functionality of the building was of greater concern than how the building related to the public.

Yes, malls were built with no windows so that shoppers could focus on the beauty inside, and not be distracted by the ugliness outside.

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

IIRC, I read somewhere (maybe in this forum) that originally the main entrance for Scotia Square was intended to be on Market (Albemarle) Street, and thus the blank wall on Barrington was not a consideration. We can see now that it was a mistake, but I think it was the mindset of 1960s planners/developers that functionality of the building was of greater concern than how the building related to the public.

yep. all access was to be off market Street. the buses were to stop there. The Barrington street merchants cried murder, the city refused to move the buses at the last minute, and the Duke Street mall entrance was added as an afterthought.

barrington was supposed to be the back of the building. that's why the service entrance is there.

[Ziobrop]

Recall the 3 other Proposals for what would become Scotia Square:

the first 2 are different proposals for the Cornwallis Center
1.


2.We actually signed a contract to build this one:

Details of the first 2: http://halifaxbloggers.ca/builthalif...ared-now-what/

3. Centennial Square (http://halifaxbloggers.ca/builthalif...tenial-square/):

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

Recall the 3 other Proposals for what would become Scotia Square:

the first 2 are different proposals for the Cornwallis Center
1.

Man, that is sweet! Shame it wasn't chosen.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

yep. all access was to be off market Street. the buses were to stop there. The Barrington street merchants cried murder, the city refused to move the buses at the last minute, and the Duke Street mall entrance was added as an afterthought.

barrington was supposed to be the back of the building. that's why the service entrance is there.

Thanks!

[q12]

Source: Twitter @scotiasquare

[Jonovision]

20170503_150607 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[Jonovision]

20170521_204559_HDR by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

20170521_204559_HDR by Jonovision23, on Flickr

What's upstairs? Is it an expanded Scotiabank Contact Centre?

[Dmajackson]

The new entrance area on Barrington Street. There's retail space to the left and behind the picture.


Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

The new entrance area on Barrington Street. There's retail space to the left and behind the picture.


Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

Nice picture. Is it open now?

[teddifax]

I thought I had read that the original plans were for 3 escalators, with the center one alternating up in the morning and down in the afternoon. Or am I imagining this?