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

[northlands]

The idea that the province is going to pitch in for the demolition of the Coliseum is a fantasy. The old unspoken tit for tat treatment of Edmonton and Calgary by the province is over. Calgary will get money and we won't, it's not right but it's reality. The Coliseum needs to go, its been a dead blight on our neighborhood for nearly a decade now. It's an ugly concrete pile that is not worth saving as any potential reuse would be much cheaper to build from scratch. Better to use that money to save truly significant structures like the powerplant or filling in the 118 ave LRT hole and building the two new LRT stations. Its an embarrassment that the City has yet to deal with the Coliseum.

This is distracting from the real issue, a DOUBLING of the Winspear project cost since the funding was awarded. It's not even primarily inflation! They kept adding bells and whistles until the project ballooned way out of budget. I am a regular patron of the ESO and most years buy a subscription. Love the Winspear but this this project has gotten way out of hand. The City should think very carefully about rescuing the Winspear foundation from this, we have our own financial problems to deal with. This chart from the report is very informative.

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Thanks for posting this. Despite force majeur on initial project timing, there is so much wrong with this it's hard to even know where to start. Hair under $40m (75% increase over original cost) in changes before accounting for inflation, delay and interim capital costs. Shameful.

Also of note: what's the implications of the Winspear Foundation carrying a $12.9m loan? Even from the City on basically gifted money terms

 

[Whattagame]

I can only speculate, but I could imagine that there are some powerful donors/administrators who considered it a priority to be able to zip in and out without interacting with the various characters downtown, and who would certainly never deign to take public transit.

Probably Thomas and Martha Wayne's idea. They should walk down alley to their car after a night at the theatre like the rest of us.

 

[IanO]

Thanks for posting this. Despite force majeur on initial project timing, there is so much wrong with this it's hard to even know where to start. Hair under $40m (75% increase over original cost) in changes before accounting for inflation, delay and interim capital costs. Shameful.

Also of note: what's the implications of the Winspear Foundation carrying a $12.9m loan? Even from the City on basically gifted money terms

Marmot is on it.

Keep in mind that the current design has been value engineered already... this could have easily much more.

The car elevator, significant parkade component, north facade art infrastructure, cantilevered grand terrace etc.

Regardless, it is a small price to pay to add another landmark element to the core.

 

[archited]

Regardless, it is a small price to pay to add another landmark element to the core.

And that is it in a nutshell. Mandated redesigns especially after a contractor is onboard never lead to a good place, especially when the design is atypical to begin with. This can be analyzed day and night and nothing will change. This building is an incredible addition to Edmonton's cultural and architectural scene. As George Harrison noted so many years ago, "All things must pass."

 

[David A]

And that is it in a nutshell. Mandated redesigns especially after a contractor is onboard never lead to a good place, especially when the design is atypical to begin with. This can be analyzed day and night and nothing will change. This building is an incredible addition to Edmonton's cultural and architectural scene. As George Harrison noted so many years ago, "All things must pass."

Yes, I remember many years ago when our current city hall was built and the big concerns about the cost, likewise about the convention centre.

Now those concerns are mostly forgotten, but the buildings remain for our benefit. I do feel this building will be a great asset in the future too.

 

[northlands]

You guys are missing the entire point. I celebrate the expansion and improvement of the Winspear, and I don't even necessarily take issue with the cost, per-se, but rather the entire project delivery to where we are now.

Is it too much to ask that those requesting tens of millions of public dollars understand their requirements and be realistic in defining the project scope prior to procurement? I guess why care when you know the City will bail you out regardless, because it's the freakin' Winspear.

 

[kcantor]

Yes, I remember many years ago when our current city hall was built and the big concerns about the cost, likewise about the convention centre.

Now those concerns are mostly forgotten, but the buildings remain for our benefit. I do feel this building will be a great asset in the future too.

In a similar vein, I'm not sure we'll ever fondly look at buildings like the downtown library "because they were originally delivered on or under budget" vs those that were completed as initially contemplated.

Having said that, there's also no reason that more accountability shouldn't be part of the initial designs and project delivery as those three things aren't mutually exclusive of each other. They all simply need to be at the table together from conception though to completion.

 

[David A]

You guys are missing the entire point. I celebrate the expansion and improvement of the Winspear, and I don't even necessarily take issue with the cost, per-se, but rather the entire project delivery to where we are now.

Is it too much to ask that those requesting tens of millions of public dollars understand their requirements and be realistic in defining the project scope prior to procurement? I guess why care when you know the City will bail you out regardless, because it's the freakin' Winspear.

I agree it should not be a bail out, which is why I still feel it is not unreasonable to both have the city auditor go over this and have any loan from the city secured. I really hope this is something the city considers.

 

[archited]

Some new renderings (accurate to what is being built)...

 

[IanO]

97 street has never looked so good.

 

[erudyk_29]

As a member of MacEwen Conservatory, we are supposed to be moving into a new space in the new Winspear, which will be fantastic.

The Conservatory has been in the former Alberta College / current Centre High building for as long as I've taken lessons with there but when EPSB bought the building we weren't sure what would end up happening. Fortunately they been able to hold onto studio space in the upper floors and I've continued to have my lessons there while waiting for the Winspear space to open up.

Muttart Hall in the Alberta College building is a great performance venue, but if those renderings are any indication the Winspear will be even better.

Looking forward to this one.

 

[Greenspace]

^Great to hear, I was worried where the Conservatory might end up.

 

[Airboy]

I recall the conservatory was mentioned that it was moving to Winspear some time back.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Well here's hoping this will bring more activity to 97st which could encourage more retail and/or food options to move to the area.

 

[Rebourn]

Finally starting to resemble what we’ve been waiting for…