IanO
Superstar
6 storeys is a 'high-rise' in Edmonton.
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Lotus Park | 20.2m | 6s | Westrich Pacific | J+S Architect
- Thread starter Avenuer
- Start date
Gus Haynes
Active Member
When they go high, we go low!
Barnaby
Senior Member
Please just hire Gene if you guys are going the mid-rise route. There is nothing wrong with this scale of development at all, but creating local icons should be a goal.
I know Encore may not have been the best financial outcome, but it's the best example of what Westrich can produce.
I know Encore may not have been the best financial outcome, but it's the best example of what Westrich can produce.
IanO
Superstar
I'd currently argue that 6 storeys, per DC, Paris, Barcelona et al. might be THE height and density Edmonton is demanding and needs, given its vastness, surface lots and lack of complete streets.
archited
Senior Member
It is also demanding and -- more than demanding -- needing quality architecture and sadly, this one ain't it! DC, Paris and Barcelona, to use your examples, are exciting cities from a design perspective. Time to up your game Westrich -- are you competing with Regency in a race to the bottom or with Autograph, Beaverbrook and Beljan who are always focused on upping their game..
thommyjo
Senior Member
Good enough for Edmonton…
thommyjo
Senior Member
I love what Boston did with their seaport district. Dense, walkable, but also short.
At the same time, night and day quality due to the economics vs what we see here. Our midrises still leave so much to be desired…
At the same time, night and day quality due to the economics vs what we see here. Our midrises still leave so much to be desired…
Barnaby
Senior Member
These are the mid-rises that belong DT and in Warehouse district.
Offworld
Active Member
It's quite possible that there's a hard height limit in that area because Logan is right across the water.
I wouldn't automatically assume that mid-rise in that area was a conscious decision versus going higher.
David A
Senior Member
Yes, exactly old commercial or warehouse like buildings in the Warehouse District, what a concept!
Sadly in Edmonton, we don't have as many big older warehouse or commercial buildings as other cities and we have been too keen to tear down the few we have. First of all, lets stop that
Secondly, it would be nice if we actually fill in some of the empty lots with buildings that fit in with the remaining historic ones nearby and the theme of the area.
thommyjo
Senior Member
Yeah, the limit is 275ft. Not saying they chose it to be shorter, just saying that it is short, yet still a wonderful, modern, beautiful, urban, walkable, downtown feeling community.
Our midrises can skew to suburban lameness (sync 111), so people will argue against them in our core in favour of high rises. But I'd be happy to see 20 midrises over 8 highrises, IF, and critically only IF, they can maintain a more urban feel like we see in the seaport, or all over cities like vancouver, montreal, etc. Hat @ 122 tops, with Mercury block podiums, all over 105st to 109st, is great to me. One more sync 111? Please no.
Barnaby
Senior Member
That building is new construction. Edmonton can have this.
IanO
Superstar
It's an interesting area for sure. I got to explore some of it WAY back in 2008 at Greenbuild Boston, as their main convention hall is bottom right in that one shot above.
It took a very, very long time to build out, is a bit over planned and oddly connected being bisected and all, but is certainly a product of its time.
It should also be noted that the avg. Boston rent is $3500 and commercial rate of $40-60/sqft+ .... USD.... so about 3x ours.
You can do A LOT with 3x.
crisp
Active Member
Apparently bricklaying in Alberta is so astronomically expensive, no developer dares bricking a building from top to bottom. Why give so much of your profits away?!?!....
constance_chlore
Active Member
Why is masonry so expensive here? Is it the cost of labor/scarcity of skilled personnel? If so, I'm surprised companies don't recruit more from out east with the promise of better wages...