Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project | Completed - Page 65

mr.x · #**1281** Posted **Sep 18, 2009, 10:32 PM**

^ These convention centre renovation plans were planned years ago, it's not like it's something recent....i should also mention that the budget increased somewhat, i believe the original budget was $30-million.

BigWilly · #**1282** Posted **Sep 19, 2009, 12:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

'That's a lot of money' for new concourse
Weatherproof walk cost $38m
Ian Austin

Province

Tuesday, September, 15, 2009

So The Province went to see what you get for the equivalent of 100 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertibles -- or 2,750 Hyundai Accents.

What Ian doesn't mention is that there is a business case for every dollar spent on the Convention Centre (east & west). The money spent will be made back from Conventions and Conferences where the old east Convention Centre was too small.

He's wrong when he tries to compare a depreciating asset like Hyundai's to an investment which will pay for itself and more over time.

Canadian Mind · #**1283** Posted **Sep 19, 2009, 12:17 AM**

Maybe not the Hyundai's, but what about the Rolls-Royce?

BigWilly · #**1284** Posted **Sep 19, 2009, 12:39 AM**

I'm not too familiar with the Corniche Convertible, maybe its an asset that appreciates, but unlike buying the cars, the out of town traffic Conventions bring in mean big money to local restaurants, coffee shops, clothing stores and hotels in around downtown ...without the expected influx of many more people year round due to larger Conventions, we probably wouldn't be talking about many of the newer hotel skyscrapers recently built because they may not have ever been built unless there was a catalyst like the an expanded Convention Centre.

Mind you the building of these skyscrapers have also created jobs in the local economy something that buying a rolls royce or a hundred of them won't do.

SFUVancouver · #**1285** Posted **Sep 21, 2009, 2:27 AM**

Here's a brief update of the pile driving operation for the new marine aerodrome and marina.

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 20th, 2009.

(Sorry about the quality, my camera was on the wrong setting)

johnjimbc · #**1286** Posted **Sep 21, 2009, 4:42 AM**

So how complete - or incomplete - will this be when the "world is watching" in February?

Just wondering how visible this will be as an "incomplete" project. Is there any chance they will finish it by then? Does anyone have any insight as to the schedule?

I actually fall in the group of people who like the idea of the marina, but I'm not pleased at the idea of it being only half-done during the Olympics. Going to be a lot of media looking down wondering why there are a bunch of pylons poking up at them.

mr.x · #**1287** Posted **Sep 21, 2009, 4:43 AM**

Ugh....they couldn't have waited until April?

Smooth · #**1288** Posted **Sep 21, 2009, 8:40 AM**

Stumbled across a video of the convention centre on opening night...

http://kaizenvisuals.com/?p=295

raggedy13 · #**1289** Posted **Sep 21, 2009, 8:43 AM**

^Amazing video, thanks for the link! Wish I could've been there...

Looks like I took a similar stroll to SFUVancouver today. Here are some of my pics:

alps · #**1290** Posted **Sep 23, 2009, 3:56 AM**

$38 million for the connector? Sheesh, my 1500-student high school opened in 2007 for $32 million.

I have mixed feelings on the marina. I think it might enhance the walkway in terms of attracting activity, and it doesn't look as obtrusive as I thought it would ("seaplane terminal" evoked images of some sort of hangar in front of the exhibition building).

NetMapel · #**1291** Posted **Sep 23, 2009, 5:11 AM**

Just to also let you guys know, SIGGRAPH, the biggest computer graphic convention in the world, is bringing their big convention to this very Vancouver Convention Centre in 2011. This is the first time ever that SIGGRAPH will host their convention outside of the US, so I think this speaks very well about this expanded convention centre. I'm sure this wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for the expansion

Vonny · #**1292** Posted **Sep 23, 2009, 6:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian Mind

Good post. Same can be said for float planes. For a tourist who's never been to Vancouver before, or any major city in the pacific northwest, seeing float planes beside downtown will make them feel that much closer to the border of human civilization and nature. I know my favorite memories from growing up on the west coast was flying around in an amphibious twin-otter. Had 48 inch tyres mounted on retractable landing gear in addition to the pontoons.

also, the convention center will act as a screen noise, bring the seaplanes more away off the seawalk...making the overall thing more enjoyable...

PS: it is good to see the Siggraph is Vancouver

Waders · #**1293** Posted **Sep 28, 2009, 3:27 AM**

Pictures I took today while strolling along the Convention Centre walkway.
I wasn't too impressed with the structure. Currently the top of the pile steel is more than 2 storeys high and it blocked the view at the ground and 2nd level walkway. I think it can be seen even from inside the Convention Centre Ball Room.
I hope the pile structure will be below the ground storey when the construction is done.

johnjimbc · #**1294** Posted **Sep 28, 2009, 1:46 PM**

I'm sure the pilings will be below the first level when construction is done, otherwise it's going to be a really high dock

. . . did you mean when the Olympics start? (that's what I'm wondering)

mrjauk · #**1295** Posted **Sep 28, 2009, 2:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjimbc

I'm sure the pilings will be below the first level when construction is done, otherwise it's going to be a really high dock

. . . did you mean when the Olympics start? (that's what I'm wondering)

I agree. You'll still have to look down from the public walkway to see the boats/buildings.

SpongeG · #**1296** Posted **Sep 28, 2009, 7:41 PM**

but isn't there a walkway from the upper level to the terminal? in the renderings it shows a big structure of a walkway

there goes the neice expansive view you get now when walking from teh street

SpongeG · #**1297** Posted **Sep 28, 2009, 7:46 PM**

a pdf on the whole things

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/bylaws/bulletin/V001.pdf

rendering shows its gonna have walkways from all levels - including the main plaza

Delirium · #**1298** Posted **Sep 28, 2009, 8:23 PM**

here's an excellent video about the living roof. really well done.
the views you get from up are amazing!

• Video Link

metroXpress · #**1299** Posted **Sep 28, 2009, 9:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

a pdf on the whole things

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/bylaws/bulletin/V001.pdf

rendering shows its gonna have walkways from all levels - including the main plaza

thanks for the document. It explains it clearly in ther

Waders · #**1300** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 4:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

a pdf on the whole things

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/bylaws/bulletin/V001.pdf

rendering shows its gonna have walkways from all levels - including the main plaza

Thanks for the link to the document. It explains most of the questions I had.
The tall white pile structures in my photos looks like the support structure for the public elevator. Based on the picture in page 7 of the document, the public elevator is a big structure that will block quite a bit of view from the street level walkway. Luckily the photo shows that the walkway will extend outside the elevator so one can still have a good view of the harbour.

How can all this construction be done before Feb. 2010? I thought all construction has to be stopped when the Convention Centre is locked down around November for all the preparation work.