Official Fredericton, NB projects thread

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Matzel_27

In my mind it certainly is.

As with anything, there are good and bad examples of Soviet-era architecture.

Regardless of anyone's personal thoughts on the design, an architecturally significant landmark is being removed from the city and it was completely avoidable.

[Matzel_27]

Originally Posted by OliverD

As with anything, there are good and bad examples of Soviet-era architecture.

Regardless of anyone's personal thoughts on the design, an architecturally significant landmark is being removed from the city and it was completely avoidable.

The building is not being bulldozed. I'd like to think that it's being enhanced.

[Franco401]

Comparing it to the cheap architecture of the Soviet Union is disingenuous. The Centennial Building is one of the very few midcentury structures in New Brunswick with proper curtainwall, the greatest advance of that era in construction. Its current cheap appearance has to do with the lack of upkeep in the last five years, a result of several consecutive governments kicking the can down the road. The exterior is absolutely of historical and aesthetic importance. This province has relatively few significant structures from that era and one as important as the Centennial Building.

Here is a fantasic write-up from Mr. Leroux himself going into much more detail.

While I can understand cutting windows out of the sandstone at the ends of what remains of the building and can maybe tolerate balconies, I will not tolerate any slander of the cladding.

The current proceedings only make the cancellation of the courthouse more of a direct insult to the city, as that project involved preservation of the exterior. It got cancelled just after the rear wing was demolished, thereby reducing its value to the developer and ensuring it can never retain the original look. It also guarantees the surface lot on Brunswick will be there for years.

Way to go.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Matzel_27

The building is not being bulldozed. I'd like to think that it's being enhanced.

The defining elements of the original design are being compromised. It won't be the same building and it will not be representative of its original design intentions.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Franco401

Here is a fantasic write-up from Mr. Leroux himself going into much more detail.

Great link, thanks for sharing!

[Matzel_27]

Admittedly, I am not an architecture buff. I look at things from an esthetic angle for the most part. Other considerations would be user friendliness, common sense, location, etc. I read the article from Leroux linked above and appreciate the info for better understanding.

This discussion reminds me of the building that was recently demolished at the corner of Smythe and Queen. A developer was able to purchase a property that was not designated a heritage property. *After* the sale and of course money spent by the developer on designs, plans, drawings, etc., people start coming up with ideas of what should/should not be done with the property.

Centennial Heritage Properties Inc. is looking to spend $75.0 - $100.0 million dollars of private money. Should the discussions about limitations on design not have been had before the property was sold, not after? The developer claims - and I obviously have no way of knowing how valid this is - that the building's exterior cladding is beyond its lifespan. Looking at the place while walking by it seems that way. The rear exterior has already been demolished during the first phase of the provinces work on that building.

It's easy to have a strong opinion on what should be done to preserve the building - especially on someone else's dime and time. If this place had been designated a heritage property *before* the sale, I would be totally understanding. But it was not.

[Franco401]

Heritage designation exists for the express purpose of stopping property owners from reducing the historical importance of their properties and it is the responsibility of municipal government to crack the whip and step in on these matters. Owning property (which is simply a matter of having enough money to buy and not a virtue in and of itself as others will have you believe) is not a license to ruin important buildings for profit. The City (capital-C City) is composed of its people and the built environment and these decisions must always consider the public good.

My root concern here is the trend of significant buildings from the midcentury era reaching the end of their lifespans before they've been around long enough to get that heritage designation. Public consciousness will come around to the importance of keeping the history of that era just as it has for every architectural period that preceded it; However, it often takes the loss of some really important ones to galvanize public support. We can't let the vast swaths of suburban housing be the only relic of an unbelievably pivotal time in our history.

[KnoxfordGuy]

The current status of Officers Square:

by James McGrath, on Flickr

by James McGrath, on Flickr

[cl812]

The new mixed use building on queen is steel framed, structure is going up now so probably no tower crane at the site.

[Tridus]

Originally Posted by Matzel_27

Sure. In a perfect world. Where NB is a wealthy province that can shoot for the stars and get the best of everything.

Reality check

Having a functional courthouse in a central location is "shooting for the stars" and "the best of everything"?

Man, just how low are the standards here? These are basic requirements, not luxuries.

2NC is a total nonstarter. It's nowhere near the other facilities it needs to be near and it isn't accessible. Social Development there has been a colossal problem for their clients because it's so hard to get to unless you can afford a car.

Frankly, the CB courthouse project was cancelled because the government was cancelling projects elsewhere in the province and needed to be able to say "hey look, we cancelled one here too, look how fair we are!" It was political cover.

Similar to the long delayed roundabout on Brookside and RR, that's desperately needed given how dangerous that intersection is.

[MonctonRad]

I don't think anybody anywhere else in the province would have begrudged a shiny new courthouse in downtown Freddy, especially with the new courthouses recently built in Moncton and SJ.

A courthouse needs to be in a central location, and, as one of the pillars of governance, demands a substantial building. Also, with the courts of appeal, the Freddy courthouse is (should be) the most important one in the province.

[Matzel_27]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A courthouse needs to be in a central location, and, as one of the pillars of governance, demands a substantial building. Also, with the courts of appeal, the Freddy courthouse is (should be) the most important one in the province.

Originally Posted by Tridus

Having a functional courthouse in a central location is "shooting for the stars" and "the best of everything"?

Man, just how low are the standards here? These are basic requirements, not luxuries.

Not at all arguing the fact that Fredericton needs a new courthouse. And a downtown location is certainly preferable - just like multiple posts above describe.

It simply did not have to be an expansion of the CB, which added significant cost to building a new courthouse elsewhere. There are other suitable locations downtown.

Ideally, the CB would have been sold prior to spending the phase 1 money and a reno / refurb / expansion would have been entirely financed with private money.

But that's a moot point. Just like the now shelved CB courthouse expansion.

[OliverD]

A couple of smaller projects on this month's PAC agenda:

- 8 unit stacked townhouse at 146 Hughes Street
- 13 unit apartment building at 1475 Woodstock Road. This is a conversion of the existing commercial building (formerly Sansom Equipment). Unfortunately it looks like they are keeping the super ugly mansard roof but it should still be a big improvement.

https://www.fredericton.ca/sites/def...9pacagenda.pdf

[NB_ExistsToo]

Here's a new foundation I came across, looks to be a new apartment building in Southwood area along Limerick Rd. And yet another appearance by the new construction company Iron Maple.

Southwood_LimerickSt by Optimus Prime, on Flickr

[OliverD]

Yes, this is the first phase of various townhouses and apartment buildings to be built on that site.

[cl812]

Noticed some activity at the site at Wagoners Lane and Rookwood Ave this afternoon (earth moving to remove the pile there). Seems that activity wouldnt be happening if there werent plans to begin construction on the building this year, hopefully anyway.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by cl812

Noticed some activity at the site at Wagoners Lane and Rookwood Ave this afternoon (earth moving to remove the pile there). Seems that activity wouldnt be happening if there werent plans to begin construction on the building this year, hopefully anyway.

Maybe just doing site prep to get ready to pour the foundation in the spring?

[cl812]

Most likely, just one excavator and dump truck there working.

[cl812]

Interesting read on the Centennial Building:

https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/long...GOPGHsVcxZd3ds

[Taeolas]

Interesting that they're working on Mount Caris. I would have expected they would want the extra compression through the winter.

Then again, maybe they figure with less earth on site, it will thaw faster so they can start sooner in the spring.

Another factor could be the availability of the excavation crew. With the warm weather/lack of freeze at the moment, they're in "Bonus time", and there aren't many other projects taking resources (since road work is done for the season), so they could have snagged the earth moving crew easier now, than they would be able to get them in the spring.

I'll have to try and swing by on the weekend and get an updated pic or two for the Project thread.

*Edit* Drove by the site after work tonight. No pics cuz it was too dark.

They seem to be moving quite a bit of earth off. I'd say about a third of Mount Caris is gone now, so they'll probably be done within a week or so, if not by the weekend.