Robson Square Renovations

[Yume-sama]

Who knows what could be under that road, it would cost a lot of money to do, and take a long time to accomplish. I don't see anybody being a proponent of closing traffic on Robson Street long enough to accomplish this goal. Where would all the tricked out Porsche 911's cruise? Think of the rich folk for once!

[officedweller]

I think you'd be running through what is currently UBC Downtown if you put a tunnel in (Mind you, if the sunken plaza is roofed over, there would be space created in those areas for the campus).
A tunnel ramp would also have to cut across/through the existing Howe Street underpass/tunnel - but there may be just enough height in that tunnel there to insert a second level (although it is used for overheight trucks to load and unload into both the Robson Square complex and the Law Courts).

[deasine]

On CTV Canada AM this morning, Premier Gordon Campbell gave very few details regarding the clamshell.

Apparently, Arthur Erikson is involved in this project, but he said he has "minimal involvement."

[mr.x]

What should be done with Robson Square?
Vancouver/CKNW(AM980)

4/23/2008

The provincial government has announced it will consult the public on the future development of Robson Square in downtown Vancouver.

The ministry of economic development plans to hire a consulting company in the next few weeks to begin the process.

It's not clear at this point if the consultations will include Premier Gordon Campbell’s proposal for a giant wooden "clamshell" to cover Robson Square.





Posted by jlousa

GE Ice plaza drawings.
Have to admit they are not impressive.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/...2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/...2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/...2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/11/1862053/A2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/11/1862053/A2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/11/1862053/A2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/11/1862053/A2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/11/1862053/A2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/11/1862053/A2.0%5B1%5D.pdf
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/11/1862053/A2.0%5B1%5D.pdf






posted by leftcoaster










If they're going to have public consultations, it's going to be pretty pointless. Lots of hippy kids going "hey man, you can't chop that tree...it's a living thing, just like you" or senile seniors saying "the provincial government plans to build a roof that will cast a dark shadow over Robson Square, turning it into a safe haven for junkees, the homeless, and addicts. Will somebody think of the children?!!!! FOR GOD'S SAKE THINK OF THE MOTHER F@C!K!N@ CHILDREN!"

.....as with the aquarium consultations, observation tower consultations, Waterfront Stadium consultations, and the knoll.

[Jacques]

QUOTE "If they're going to have public consultations, it's going to be pretty pointless. Lots of hippy kids going "hey man, you can't chop that tree...it's a living thing, just like you" or senile seniors saying "the provincial government plans to build a roof that will cast a dark shadow over Robson Square, turning it into a safe haven for junkees, the homeless, and addicts. Will somebody think of the children?!!!! FOR GOD'S SAKE THINK OF THE MOTHER F@C!K!N@ CHILDREN!"

.....as with the aquarium consultations, observation tower consultations, Waterfront Stadium consultations, and the knoll."
I agree with you, that being said they wouldn't be any druggies or homelessness if the frigging government Municipal and Provincial would get their act together and start building those Affordable housing as promises and relocate the bunch of Crakcheads to Mayencourt "second Hope in prince Georges, they are offered a chance to be there for 3 to 5 years that would be a good fix and they could take up to 500 of these would be lost causes.
But eh who's listening when there is a solution, no one as usual, I would close insight and move all of them out of town, end of storey.
As for the three hugger well send them back to KITS and mothers with children and Old lady scared with their anting and ranting can stay in Yaletown because they are too good to be in the Downtown core any way.
they may as well be safer with Urban fare and their lattes on sunny day not rain on their precious poodles and Chiwawa. WT

[deasine]

But then again, when the Provincial Government does public consultations, things start to change a little. Their method of public consultations is literally to consult the public with their proposal, ask feedback from them [ignore the back ones], and continue on the project. It's just a stepping stone.

[jlousa]

Wish I wasn't right, but looks like there won't be a clamshell.

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ne...72e193&k=18145

An idea to build a wooden "clam-shell" roof over Robson Square has been shucked and thrown out with the garbage.
Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen said yesterday the idea for a wooden roof over the square, linked to Premier Gordon Campbell, is now officially dead.
"We had never adopted that concept," he said. "That concept for a so-called clam-shell roof is not on."

The B.C. government has announced a public-consultation process over what to do with Robson Square, designed by architect Arthur Erickson.
Les Bazso, The Province

The idea was floated last year, but received almost universal derision, including a plea from the prestigious Royal Architectural Institute of Canada to drop the concept.
Hansen said the province wants public input into the future of the downtown Vancouver plaza, which is getting an $87-million facelift.
Much of the site is currently under tarps, to plug leaks in the 30-year-old structure.
Hansen wants Robson Square to become a cultural space that could be used for public events.
"We're open to ideas," Hansen told The Province. "I hope
people will look at how Robson Square can become a meeting-place, and a place where Asia-Pacific cultures can be celebra-ted."
Part of the plan is to build a new $23-million Asia-Pacific Centre.
Robson Square is to be one of the celebration spaces around the city during the 2010 Olympics and the outdoor skating rink is being refurbished in time for the Games.
The square's architect, Arthur Erickson, has been giving advice on the project, Hansen said,and will be part of any design changes.
NDP Olympic critic Harry Bains wanted to know if this is another Olympic cost.
"The taxpayer has every right to know if this is another hidden cost," said Bains. "The public should make the decision. There should be real input by [the] public, then act upon those suggestions."
Fred Kent, president of the New York-based Project for Public Spaces, said the square's sunken plaza rarely works because people don't like to go below ground.
Kent said Robson Square should remain open 18 hours a day, with cafes, restaurants and activities.
"It has to work all the time. It can't just work when there are festivals," he said, adding that it should also link up with the lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
"You really don't have any great gathering place in downtown and that's really a fatal flaw," he said. "It may be the last attempt to make it work."

[mr.x]

^ that's quite dissapointing.....a public consultation????? yea, Robson Square probably won't be changing anytime soon.

[flight_from_kamakura]

you know, when erickson is standing before st. peter, and the balance of his life is under scrutiny, robson square will figure in the judgment. unfortunately, that doesn't help those of us concerned with vital public spaces.

this quote says it all:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Fred Kent, president of the New York-based Project for Public Spaces, said the square's sunken plaza rarely works because people don't like to go below ground.
Kent said Robson Square should remain open 18 hours a day, with cafes, restaurants and activities.
"It has to work all the time. It can't just work when there are festivals," he said, adding that it should also link up with the lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
"You really don't have any great gathering place in downtown and that's really a fatal flaw," he said. "It may be the last attempt to make it work."

i just don't get how moronic some people can be - the foolish urbanists and architects who want to protect this idiotic "square" were formed during an era when precisely this form of development seemed clever and progressive, and as such, they, among all others, should be precisely who we are ignoring! despite the fact that it came from the mind of a confirmed philistine (gordo), the "clam-shell" arch was actually a great idea, and it would undoubtedly have given the "square" (more of) a sense of place. i just can't believe that he wouldn't ram it through! gordo, you know you're right! you're willing to lay off thousands of government workers, privatize medical services, and eliminate the ministry of environment BUT it's too much to impose a fairly well-considered project upon this failure of a public space?? come on pal.

oy, anyway. personally, i think that when the olympics are done, we ought to raze the courthouse block between smythe and robson, and build a grand public plaza.

[officedweller]

The main thing they need to do is remove the hedge and the domes to improve visibility down into the sunken plaza.

[TwoFace]

Taking advantage of cheap Tuesday at the Gallery the other day, there was a Ball Hockey game going on downstairs.
Little dark down there, needs more light for sure.

[deasine]

Forgot about this last night: CTV reports that this project is scrapped but public consulations about how to improve the square will come soon. i think we need to change the thread name to "Robson Square Renovation | proposed"

[agrant]

Originally Posted by flight_from_kamakura

personally, i think that when the olympics are done, we ought to raze the courthouse block between smythe and robson, and build a grand public plaza.

Yea. That part of the courthouse and area under Robson doesn't work for the public. I'd even go further and block car traffic between Hornby and Howe. I'd like to see everything open up, be more accessable and noticeable. You see hundreds of people walking by along Robson at any given time, then almost nobody in the law courts area or down below. It was a nice idea at the time, but it needs to change.

[ckkelley]

Too bad about the roof. Oh well, life goes on.

As for the upcoming discussions I think I'm gonna propose a landmark marble fountain, lavish in design and tricked out with lighting for night viewing. Something to the tune of $50 Mil. or so.

[jlousa]

The plans for Robson Square look really good, at least in my opinion, I've sent a copy of what's being proposed to SFUVancouver so that he could look over it and post what he thinks. I'll post a link to the document at that time. I can confirm the roof is off the table, which is unfortunate because it looked terrific, but the rest of the plans are pretty great.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by jlousa

The plans for Robson Square look really good, at least in my opinion, I've sent a copy of what's being proposed to SFUVancouver so that he could look over it and post what he thinks. I'll post a link to the document at that time. I can confirm the roof is off the table, which is unfortunate because it looked terrific, but the rest of the plans are pretty great.

That's great news... don't disappoint us jlousa... jkjk

[jlousa]

Sorry SFUVancouver, was hoping to see what you thought before I let the wild dogs at the bones.

Anyways heres a link to where I'm hosting it, my bandwidth there is going to get killed so maybe someone can host it elsewhere. It's over 5mb so don't even think of opening it directly, just save it onto your computers first. Enjoy.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/...3/Robsonsq.pdf

[mr.x]

it's alright, it's just not the same without the roof.

I like the location and the design of the Asia Pacific Centre, it matches with Erickson's courthouse, and the new water jet plaza for the Art Gallery.

[flight_from_kamakura]

hmm, yeah, no mention of the arch, that's really really disappointing. well, maybe it's a timetable thing and gordo will pull the trigger on it after the olympics. one can hope.

all in all, however, i see this as a big improvement. better integration of the sunken area with the street will do a lot to improve the square, and the asia pacific building is a great addition (and i especially like how the design has steps up and off the street AND street-level windows etc - clearly erickson had nothing to do with it *wink).

on the less positive side, i have mixed feelings about the granite/led plan on the georgia street side. my immediate question is why not expand the grassed area and plant a bunch of trees and things instead? oy. that said, it'll be useful for the olympics, and it does fill a sort of need for festival use. it could be a great spot for another farmer's market too.

hey and thanks for the document jlousa

[mr.x]

I wouldn't be surprised if the APC and the UBC Knollers moved in and started complaining about the grass being removed.