CF Pacific Centre Developments

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Originally, there never were escalators at that location - it was retail space, and the only way to get to the mall on the south side of Georgia was through Eaton's. I think the escalators were installed in the 1980s, together with the entrance facing the plaza.
...and you could walk from TD Tower lobby through the TD bank to the breezeway and into Eaton's without going outside. That would get you to Robson St. indoors at grade without escalators.

EDIT:

Found a pic - there was an alcove there - with plaza stairs down to the building!
Sure looked like an interesting space back then...


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/p...anville-street

I think this is probably the only pic I've seen where you can see the entrance to Eaton's rotunda when it had no doors - just jets or air from above.


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/d...-progress-5326

and a plan of the plaza:


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/u...449-A74121.jpg

The overall design was brilliant, consistent, modernist. The diagonal design was everywhere and can still be seen today on the sidewalks alongs the Robson side, those will likely be torn-up soon.

Over the years the plaza has gradually been destroyed, first in the 80's with the removal of the elongated water-feature along Granville, then the removal of the diagonal paving in favour of the 80's circular motif and the removal of the metal sculpture, then the TD Tower expanded mall entrance with the mis-matched glass entrance we have today, completely breaking up the black monolithic shape of the tower.

What a mess!

At least now there appears to be some elements of modernism returning, especially with the boxy entrance to the TD Tower.

Obviously the original design for Pacific Centre was ahead of it's time and very under-appreciated. The me it was bold and beautiful and very Mies van der Rohe influenced.

[LeftCoaster]

It was Caesar Pelli, but yes channeling the TD Centre in Toronto (at TDs request).

[Klazu]

Happened to walk by today. It's a lively corner on Saturday afternoon.

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Obviously the original design for Pacific Centre was ahead of it's time and very under-appreciated. The me it was bold and beautiful and very Mies van der Rohe influenced.

[officedweller]

Pics by me today:


With slots for vertical blade sign supports:

[s211]

At the risk of inflaming the spandrel police, I am surprised at how much the spandrel clashes with the tan-conoloured marble(?) panels.

[nickbeaulieu]

Originally Posted by s211

At the risk of inflaming the spandrel police, I am surprised at how much the spandrel clashes with the tan-conoloured marble(?) panels.

Ya, It looks like crap. The tan marble was a mistake. Going with grey would've made it look a lot better. I thought I'd like the building, based on renders but I'm starting to dislike it more and more as it's finished. I'm not a fan of big huge boxes, but the disjointed crap on this place is nuts.

[TheGenuineArticle]

While I was hoping that they would keep maybe curved portion at the top as it was a very unique looking piece.. Attractive building for sure but nothing special as most buildings in Downtown seem to be done in the similar glass sheet style

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by s211

At the risk of inflaming the spandrel police, I am surprised at how much the spandrel clashes with the tan-coloured marble(?) panels.

Those panels aren't marble, are they? I can't imagine they'd spend that much money for marble when everything else on the building is so cheap.

Bring back Pelli's original, clean, white box (sans the gaudy additions). Anything is better than this Frankenbuilding.

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by nickbeaulieu

Ya, It looks like crap. The tan marble was a mistake. Going with grey would've made it look a lot better. I thought I'd like the building, based on renders but I'm starting to dislike it more and more as it's finished. I'm not a fan of big huge boxes, but the disjointed crap on this place is nuts.

Just imagine how much worse it will look when the signage is added, blinds are installed, and merchandise appears in the windows. I wonder if Nordstrom had any idea how different building would turn out. It's definitely not befitting a classy department store like that.

[Klazu]

I think the building will look decent while it's still brand new, but I don't think it will age very well and be regarded very highly 10 years from now.

[spm2013]

...

[officedweller]

The panels look like a thin stone veneer:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Pic by me today - back of one of the stone panels:

[SFUVancouver]

I agree that grey stone would have likely worked better when viewed adjacent to the spandrel panels, however I expect that Nordstrom chose the stone colour as part of their tenant inducement package.

While Nordstrom is the anchor tenant for the foreseeable future, ultimately this is an investment by Cadillac Fairview on behalf of its owner the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, to whom a fiduciary responsibility exists to maximize returns. CF got this approved, they got their marquee tenant, they're adding a new tower's worth of office space and new retail space, so in aggregate this is a major win for the Teachers and for the city, and I'll wait until it's complete to form an opinion on its aesthetics.

[officedweller]

Pics by me today:

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

It was Caesar Pelli, but yes channeling the TD Centre in Toronto (at TDs request).

I stated it was Mies van der Rohe 'influenced', I'm aware that Cesar Pelli deigned the two black Pacific Centre towers.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by nickbeaulieu

Ya, It looks like crap. The tan marble was a mistake. Going with grey would've made it look a lot better. I thought I'd like the building, based on renders but I'm starting to dislike it more and more as it's finished. I'm not a fan of big huge boxes, but the disjointed crap on this place is nuts.

the tan is nordstroms signature colour

[connect2source]

I tend to agree that is building is looking rather messy and ad-hoc as it nears completion. Besides what's been discussed, it doesn't blend, in any way with the TD Tower or Cesar Pelli's original vision or design. As much as the Sears version was hated, in it's original, 5 storey Eaton's form, it was rather striking, monolithic and beautiful. The TD Tower was a vertical black slab and Eaton's, a horizontal white slab. They complimented each other beautifully and it was a bold and powerful design in it's day.

The Nordstom rendition is trendy and poor executed. In some ways similar to Telus Gardens but far less successful. It now clashes terribly with the TD Tower mostly due to the blue glazing. It screams James Cheng mediocre Vancouverism.

They should have kept the monolithic concept and simply glazed it making a a transparent version of the original 5 storey box. It would have been rather timeless and striking as opposed to the current, rather messy rendition.

This photo shows the beginning of the destruction of the original boxy design as the 6th and 7th floor 'curvy' addition was being constructed.

Photo : The Vancouver Sun

[NewWester]

I get what you are saying about the iconic nature of the more monolithic form. But I feel like the current design, while messier, makes for a more pleasant street experience. It feels less imposing, which from a design perspective is less interesting sure, but also much more pleasant to be around and experience as a pedestrian. Or at least I think so.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

the original Eatons building was much nicer then the Sears version. the original entrances were a lot nicer plus Eatons also kept the building clean and didn't let it go green like Sears did.