cpnfantstk
Active Member
I don't mind the new render at all. The previous render I found the roof/shell to be odd looking. The original "cube' render was probably the best looking one though.
Winspear Centre Completion Project | 29.87m | 4s | Winspear Centre | Andrew Bromberg
- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
Different angle than the one avenuer posted, no?The project seems to be shrinking in scale and aesthetic in real time. 18946-109330.jpg
EdmTrekker
Senior Member
It's the one on the project page 1. Now we have what ever this last rendition is - a totally different building. The only similarity is the curve on the roof.
itom987
Active Member
This bait and switch is not what we agreed to.
itom987
Active Member
Value engineering should never be done behind closed doors. Everybody affected deserves to know before they go ahead with changes.
JNO1
Active Member
A side by side comparison of old and new from approximately the same view/angle.
It's hard to tell from just this one angle but it looks as though the south portion of the project (the single story entranceway and the second floor indoor/outdoor garden) in the foreground of the first/old render has bee eliminated and replaced by an at grade outdoor plaza/garden. The north portion of the project (the Music box and lobby) looks pretty similar. I would have to see more renderings from other angles to form an opinion on that portion of the project (i.e. better or worse than the original design).
It's hard to tell from just this one angle but it looks as though the south portion of the project (the single story entranceway and the second floor indoor/outdoor garden) in the foreground of the first/old render has bee eliminated and replaced by an at grade outdoor plaza/garden. The north portion of the project (the Music box and lobby) looks pretty similar. I would have to see more renderings from other angles to form an opinion on that portion of the project (i.e. better or worse than the original design).
archited
Senior Member
Renderings are difficult things from which to pronounce design changes, BUT, if you look at key reference points -- the proscenium box of the existing theatre or the relationship of the southwest corner of the roof to that and the office tower behind, it actually seems like the new structure has enclosed quite a bit more interior space. The roof looks longer in the later version and the building is slightly more squat. I wouldn't be surprised if all of that is true, thereby making the forecourt smaller and programmatically less significant. I miss the tiered landscape of the newer version, but I like the more pronounced curvilinear aspect of the structure itself. I actually prefer the later version taken in the over all.
buildings
Active Member
I like the proportions of the new design over the old and was never a fan of the odd roof. I also think the outdoor plaza, while not great in the winter, will be a great sitting spot in good weather and actually will activate that corner even more.
EdmTrekker
Senior Member
I wonder what programmable areas were chopped or reduced in size or purpose. The building size has been reduced.
Maybe the amphitheater based on these old floor plans? Hard to tell, but it looks like that was the part that extended previously. More pictures here.
EdmTrekker
Senior Member
It does look like the amphitheatre is gone as well as the entire upper floor plate and possibly some of connections into the Winspear.
Avenuer
Senior Member
It's hardly a bait and switch; if you want a real example of that, see the new Milner Library.
buildings
Active Member
sorry Itom, what agreement did you sign off on with the Winspear, its Board and the architects? High dudgeon me thinks.
itom987
Active Member
^
They showed renderings to the public of what they planned to build. Then out of the blue during mid-construction they post something different, no news or consulting with the public about it was ever done. We were all baited into thinking the original building was going to get built.
On the bottom of the Winspear Project webpage there are logos from 3 levels of government which means they received funding from all three.
https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-winspear/winspearproject/
This means that Edmonton taxpayers are directly affected by this project and deserve to know about proposed changes before they occur.
They showed renderings to the public of what they planned to build. Then out of the blue during mid-construction they post something different, no news or consulting with the public about it was ever done. We were all baited into thinking the original building was going to get built.
On the bottom of the Winspear Project webpage there are logos from 3 levels of government which means they received funding from all three.
https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-winspear/winspearproject/
This means that Edmonton taxpayers are directly affected by this project and deserve to know about proposed changes before they occur.
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$13M from the City, $13M from the province, and $18M from the feds IIRC. I'm sure they would take a large donation from you at this point to spruce up the design if you felt so compelled. They did announce that in addition to the three levels of funding, they would need to fundraise to get the rest. My guess is they didn't hit their targets and had to value engineer it down a bit. If anyone here is truly out of sorts about this, did you donate to the cause? If so, I guess you should have gotten your neighbours to donate too. My guess is that donations fell short. No surprise given the pandemic.