Winspear Centre Completion Project | 29.87m | 4s | Winspear Centre | Andrew Bromberg

What do you think of this project?

  • Total voters
    53
Avenuer said:
Sounds like a good case for Westrich to build one of their classic 6-storey wood frame apartments there!
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Westrich needs to stop building these 6-storey nothing buildings (future slums akin to the walk-up apartment craze of the 60s/70s) unless they want to up their game to CLT/Timber/GluLam structures with more architectural oomph. They are in danger of gaining the reputation of slumlords.
 
archited said:
Westrich needs to stop building these 6-storey nothing buildings (future slums akin to the walk-up apartment craze of the 60s/70s) unless they want to up their game to CLT/Timber/GluLam structures with more architectural oomph. They are in danger of gaining the reputation of slumlords.
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I mean, Westrich certainly isn't the only developer building these "future slums"...
By this logic, Leston Holdings, Regency, Edgar/Autograph, Rohit are all future slumlords too...
 
@_urbanite I would differentiate the list that you have put forward. Leston is working to develop housing for those with sub-par incomes so I would give them a pass; Regency I would put in the same category as Westrich (maybe a peg or two lower); Autograph at least looks at development more holistically and tries to marry residential with life experience, supporting a "community environment"; and same comment for Rohit plus they try to encourage exceptional architecture. It is sad to see Westrich slide down to the level of a present-day Regency -- they should try harder.
 
IanO said:
Curious to see how all of the 'public spaces' work given the current issues facing society/Downtown.
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Yes, it is always a concern that it will turn out into another homeless hangout, because our provincial government is too damn cheap (and heartless) to provide places for these people to stay during the day, so they have continue to roam all over downtown aimlessly and then tries to blame the city when the province continues to shirk its responsibilities.
 
It seems like a slow move at times, but Edmonton (key residents within) work hard to make incremental improvements to the urban fabric -- this is a very good site for the Winspear addition -- I expect that 97th street will blossom within the foreseeable future. We already have Winspear, Citadel, Library and Art Gallery all within a block of each other -- things are shaping up quite nicely.
 
archited said:
It seems like a slow move at times, but Edmonton (key residents within) work hard to make incremental improvements to the urban fabric -- this is a very good site for the Winspear addition -- I expect that 97th street will blossom within the foreseeable future. We already have Winspear, Citadel, Library and Art Gallery all within a block of each other -- things are shaping up quite nicely.
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The counter point one might make is that arts facilities are typically only measurable traffic generators in the evenings. I've seen concentrated arts districts in many cities and they're largely pedestrian voids during the daytime. Having disbursed arts facilities distributed across the urban core and integrated into built-up surroundings usually is what I personally feel is the better path.

I'm waiting for the yabbut responses. Yabbut what about Lincoln Center, for example. It's concentrated and it works. The only response I can make at this point would be you might as well be comparing apples to forklifts, if you're comparing NYC and Edmonton.
 
archited said:
It seems like a slow move at times, but Edmonton (key residents within) work hard to make incremental improvements to the urban fabric -- this is a very good site for the Winspear addition -- I expect that 97th street will blossom within the foreseeable future. We already have Winspear, Citadel, Library and Art Gallery all within a block of each other -- things are shaping up quite nicely.
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I agree. Some of the best cities I've travelled to in the world have had clusters of facilities like this. There are certainly issues in the short term but the underlying structure is very good. I think there will be a strong case for a hotel on 97th St in the future. maybe the next 10 or so years after further revitalization occurs.
 
Calgary has been very strategic in location of new facilities including the Library and National Music Centre which compliments what's happening in the East Village.

The facilities around the Arts District have been trying hard to get people to think about the area as an arts district recently updating their branding. I think there's smaller street interventions that could happen as well so when you go to the area there's something happening like live art or performances or buskers or something, as well as exhibitions in the lobbies of the facilities to draw you in. Coordinate so that when you get there there's 4-5 things to do even if you're not taking in a show.
 
If you really want to have an Arts District then move the Law Courts building to a newer facility where the Remand Centre currently sits, and transform the current Law Courts building into a live music venue plus an expansion of the Art Gallery of Alberta. Then expand the Arts District to include the Royal Alberta Museum.
 
Offworld said:
The counter point one might make is that arts facilities are typically only measurable traffic generators in the evenings. I've seen concentrated arts districts in many cities and they're largely pedestrian voids during the daytime. Having disbursed arts facilities distributed across the urban core and integrated into built-up surroundings usually is what I personally feel is the better path.

I'm waiting for the yabbut responses. Yabbut what about Lincoln Center, for example. It's concentrated and it works. The only response I can make at this point would be you might as well be comparing apples to forklifts, if you're comparing NYC and Edmonton.
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I would generally agree. However, I think having our arts district next to city hall is actually pretty smart. City hall is a good daytime generator but a dead space in the evenings, so compliments the arts amenities pretty well. Would be a great complete urban core if the retail/restaurant options were better. And more importantly, if the folks stuck on the street had supports other than the Library/public spaces.
 
Gronk! said:
If you really want to have an Arts District then move the Law Courts building to a newer facility where the Remand Centre currently sits, and transform the current Law Courts building into a live music venue plus an expansion of the Art Gallery of Alberta. Then expand the Arts District to include the Royal Alberta Museum.
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I agree that this idea has potential, as we need a new Law Courts building and the Remand Centre site is available nearby. And it solves another problem, as we need to start building more east of 97st to start filling up all that empty space.
 
David A said:
Yes, it is always a concern that it will turn out into another homeless hangout, because our provincial government is too damn cheap (and heartless) to provide places for these people to stay during the day, so they have continue to roam all over downtown aimlessly and then tries to blame the city when the province continues to shirk its responsibilities.
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Say it louder for the people in the back:

FUND👏 DAY👏 SERVICES👏
 
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