Most Disappointing High Profile Buildings in Your City

[ue]

Originally Posted by logan5

If you are going to shit all over a building, at least post a picture so we know which building you're talking about.

For me, Vancouver's 2 tallest towers, which are suppose to be our signature towers, are huge disappointments. That's Shangri-La and the former Trump tower. Looking at them in skyline shots, they just blend in with the rest of the green glob of towers. That's the problem with tower architecture these days. It's been whittled down to one basic formula, whether it's office or condo. Imagine how great the bow would look if they used copper glass or gold. It's the dark ages for architecture.

I agree. Especially about Living Shangri-La. I even remember when it was being built, the renderings seem to be elusive in terms of what it would actually look like, and it turns out what you're looking at is nothing. It's the same shade and shape as every other tower built on that peninsula during that time, just a bit taller. Wasted opportunity. At least Vancouver is finally breaking free of that mold with Vancouver House and the Butterfly.

[Hali87]

Still the tallest building in Halifax! You'd think that there's some kind of 80s themed casino or mega-club in there but nope, just apartments. The original proposal had been to revamp the originally grey, tombstone-looking tower into something "light and airy" but the developer inexplicably did a 180 at some point and ended up with this.


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[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

Good call. There are enough nice things about the CHUM that I don't mind it, even if it's massive and overbearing in its location. But the MUHC is just abysmal. Hard to believe they were designed at the same time.

To make matters worse, the MUHC has a direct correction to the metro... that requires you to walk through an underground parking garage, with dim lighting and poor signage.

Given that the project was led by the notoriously corrupt Arthur Porter, however, it shouldn't be a surprise that it turned out so badly. Imagine what the $22.5 million he stole could have paid for.

A guy stealing $22.5 million is just the icing on the cake. These hospital P3 deals are absolutely terrible for the public partner over the longer term.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Hali87

Still the tallest building in Halifax! You'd think that there's some kind of 80s themed casino or mega-club in there but nope, just apartments. The original proposal had been to revamp the originally grey, tombstone-looking tower into something "light and airy" but the developer inexplicably did a 180 at some point and ended up with this.


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Don't mind the update, the Fenwick was looking pretty drab and sad in recent days. The name VUZE and the signage is pretty terrible tho.

[wg_flamip]

This monstrosity on the northeast corner of Yonge and Bloor would rank up there, both inside and out.

[Rico Rommheim]

I've made my peace with the MUHC and though I don't think it's a particularly beautiful ensemble of buildings, on a purely aesthetic and functional level I don't mind it. I'm fine with the shape, I'm fine with the interior spaces and I'm fine with the colours.

But as Kilgore pointed out, the botched access from the metro to the actual hospital is a joke. It's one of the most embarrassing things I've ever seen.
I'd love to know what the people involved with this fiasco have to say to defend themselves in front of their wives and families.

3 years ago I had to get treated at the MUHC, and when I left to go back home I decided to take the metro. I had to zigzag my way through a dark parking lot (directions to the metro were clumsily written with a felt pen on a legal size paper only made obvious to me by a standing security guard who's job I presume was to guide people to the correct door), and then a series of stairs led me back to Vendome.

So if you're on a wheelchair or on crutches or climbing stairs is difficult for you because you just left a hospital then you're fucked.

1.3B$. I couldn't get over it. I still can't. And I can't believe I'm even defending this fucking building.

I hate it.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by TheGreatestX

https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digi...3286845951.jpg

What is the Jawa Sandcrawler doing in Edmonton? I thought all outdoor Tatooine scenes were filmed in Tunisia.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

My Montreal candidate would be the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). It costed more than 1.3 billion and it's just atrocious. The fact that it is so huge makes it even worst. It's Université de Montréal equivalent (the CHUM) is also a disappointment on many levels, but it has some nice design touches, especially the gorgeous auditorium.

The MUHC:


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A marginally talented 10-year old's lego contest entry.

[esquire]

That Halifax Tower Hotel is something else. Not even close to the rendering. It's like the wish.com version of the concept. Is that hotel actually open yet?

I think the Milner Library in Edmonton may be the winner here, though.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by wg_flamip

This monstrosity on the northeast corner of Yonge and Bloor would rank up there, both inside and out.

Was the final product significantly different from the expectations? It was built so long ago that I don't remember anything that was rendered or promised.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by wg_flamip

This monstrosity on the northeast corner of Yonge and Bloor would rank up there, both inside and out.

Not exactly high profile, is it? There's been talk about renovation and/or demolition of the building in the past year but i'm not sure if much has been made of that so far. TTC is looking at upgrading and expanding Yonge-Bloor station underneath which will only complicate future plans.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

What is the Jawa Sandcrawler doing in Edmonton? I thought all outdoor Tatooine scenes were filmed in Tunisia.

I see a crashed yacht.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Hali87

Still the tallest building in Halifax! You'd think that there's some kind of 80s themed casino or mega-club in there but nope, just apartments. The original proposal had been to revamp the originally grey, tombstone-looking tower into something "light and airy" but the developer inexplicably did a 180 at some point and ended up with this.

I was trying to think of a new building in Halifax that was high profile and much worse than expected and I was drawing a blank. This one is a reno so a bit different but I think it fits the bill.

This is a pattern in Halifax, where developers buy buildings and then they go through years of strange renovations, although sometimes the result is good in the end.

There are definitely examples of the end product looking much worse than the renderings but they tend to be medium sized or small. The Keep is one example.


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[coastalkid]

Originally Posted by someone123

I was trying to think of a new building in Halifax that was high profile and much worse than expected and I was drawing a blank.

Here is another good example - sitting on a prominent corner facing Peace and Friendship (formerly Cornwallis) Park.

Rendering:


What we got:


What we lost (I believe these burnt down about 10 years ago sadly):

[Nouvellecosse]

I actually like the final building more than the rendering in that case. I enjoy how the black window framing kind of pops and gives more visual weight.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by coastalkid

Here is another good example - sitting on a prominent corner facing Peace and Friendship (formerly Cornwallis) Park.

It's not always as obvious in the photos (though you can tell somewhat in these ones) but often what is shown as "brick" in the renderings turns out as ugly concrete paneling, with little texturing, big seams, and strange colours. It seriously degrades the look of a streetscape to replace real brick buildings with the faux brick. I'd call it Disneyland-style but I don't think they'd tolerate such ugly faux brick in Disneyland.

I'm skeptical that those brick buildings were completely reduced to rubble and unsalvageable. I think in a lot of cities they would have been considered important heritage structures and at least the facade would have been kept. But it was probably more profitable just to tear everything down. The "Thai Chin" building actually was spared by the fire but got torn down anyway.


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[Harley613]

I think the MUHC is fantastic. For once a hospital looks like a friendly upbeat place. It's whimsical and I love it.

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

A marginally talented 10-year old's lego contest entry.

[Harley613]

How has Clockzilla in Laval escaped mention?

[LFC]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

I actually like the final building more than the rendering in that case. I enjoy how the black window framing kind of pops and gives more visual weight.

The pink hue of the brick throws it off a bit, a deeper red brick would have worked better, but overall I agree the black CW frame and spandrel give it a attractive visual.

[ssiguy]

In Vancouver, it's definitely Harbour Centre. It's a ugly concrete bunker and then they decided to put a revolving mushroom on top.