EnCana Building Released - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Hack&Lube · 10-12-2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vernie_30

Calgary's skyline is going to looks awesome after all these high rise office buildings and condos get completed.

But Calgary's downtown will still be dead quiet and dead boring after 5PM every day

Shin Pad · 10-12-2006, 12:16 PM

Wow - I can't believe how easily impressed people on these boards are with a building that isn't that spectacular. Sure, it's better than anything that has been done here before, but then, how many $500 million projects are there in Calgary. Given Forster's reputation, I am truely disappointed in this building. It's nothing original at all - look at Toronto's city hall - this building is just a bigger version of it.

I was anticipating something really special. Instead, we get something very conservative, that has been done before (not in Calgary - but elsewhere). Sad really - I hope the project is canned. It probably won't go ahead anyway - from what I've heard, the numbers don't look that good for making it feasible.

I-Hate-Hulse · 10-12-2006, 12:18 PM

Glad to finally get something different than the usual bland crap dished out to Calgarians. I had expected something a little more exotic like perhaps the HSBC building in Hong Kong but at least it's got some elements of uniqueness to it.

For some reason I think contemporary Toronto City Hall when I see that.

octothorp · 10-12-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vernie_30

6 stories more and 32 meters taller than petro canada building. I"m pretty sure there was supposed to be a little brother of the big building. I'm wondering if it will sort of look like the city hall towers in Toronto. But the second tower is estimated to be around 40 stories.

I don't think that two-tower concept was ever officially announced; just speculation based on the fact that Encana had bought up two blocks. Seems to me like they would have included the second tower in the renderings if there was going to be one; looks like it'll be just one big tower and a plaza. I was going to go over to skyscraperpage and confirm that, but their forum is about as effective right now as CP at the trade deadline.

Interesting that all the renders are taken from such an angle as to crop out or block out the Calgary Tower. I'd like to pretend that it doesn't exist, too.

Bill Bumface · 10-12-2006, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vernie_30

But the second tower is estimated to be around 40 stories.

There is no second tower, hence no second tower in the picutres. It does have a lot of resemblance to Toronto's city hall though.

FurnaceFace · 10-12-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

whine whine whine, complain complain

So are you Statler or Waldorf?

Bill Bumface · 10-12-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

It probably won't go ahead anyway - from what I've heard, the numbers don't look that good for making it feasible.

This was why there was a several month delay in divulging their design. They are putting in for approval today and construction will start next summer.

Bill Bumface · 10-12-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Hmmmm....I hope they did some wind tests with a model as I'm curious what that bow will do with the NW and W winds we get...I have visions of swirling snow...perhaps they'll put up fossil sculptures like the TCPL building.

You don't build something that big without wind tests

They said that was one of the factors that lead to the shape and orientation that they've selected for the building.

Bobblehead · 10-12-2006, 12:35 PM

1400 parking spots. Sounds like a lot, but how does that equate with the number of people working in a building that size?

Does anyone have the rough guidlines for # parking spots / sq foot?

Resolute 14 · 10-12-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

But Calgary's downtown will still be dead quiet and dead boring after 5PM every day

Dunno about the downtown proper, but given the number of highrise condos going up on the east side of downtown, that area is going to change radically in a couple years.

$2.2 million condos in Victoria Park? Insane.

Shin Pad · 10-12-2006, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

So are you Statler or Waldorf?

lol - neither. But, if you look at some of the stuff Foster has done, this project comes off as being very ordinary by his standards. I guess I wasn't expecting a clone of the Toronto City Hall.

Burninator · 10-12-2006, 12:51 PM

The only thing it seems to share with the Toronto City Hall is the shape. Every other feature is different.

Barnes · 10-12-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

Wow - I can't believe how easily impressed people on these boards are with a building that isn't that spectacular. Sure, it's better than anything that has been done here before, but then, how many $500 million projects are there in Calgary. Given Forster's reputation, I am truely disappointed in this building. It's nothing original at all - look at Toronto's city hall - this building is just a bigger version of it.

I was anticipating something really special. Instead, we get something very conservative, that has been done before (not in Calgary - but elsewhere). Sad really - I hope the project is canned. It probably won't go ahead anyway - from what I've heard, the numbers don't look that good for making it feasible.

You've heard wrong.

octothorp · 10-12-2006, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

The only thing it seems to share with the Toronto City Hall is the shape. Every other feature is different.

Yeah, I was going to post a similar picture. I really don't get the TCH comparisons. The hallmark of a Foster building is in the details, the construction, the ecology, the interior spaces. They've produced a lot of box towers that are really gorgeous on subtle levels; I would have been happy even with that: a really nice and well-made box building. Based on what little we know, it's a pretty good design, and I love that it has that diagrid that Foster has used on the Gherkin and the Hearst. While it's not overly ornate, it's both organic and utilitarian.

STeeLy · 10-12-2006, 01:13 PM

It does look pretty cool... although I have no clue where in Calgary downtown it will be.

Reaper · 10-12-2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STeeLy

It does look pretty cool... although I have no clue where in Calgary downtown it will be.

On Centre Street between 5th and 7th avenues.

Lanny_MacDonald · 10-12-2006, 01:28 PM

I wonder how its going to do when the first good series of Chinook Winds blow directly into that big collection dish? I think the design is interesting, but I don't think its a very smart one for Calgary's environment.

@theCBE · 10-12-2006, 01:29 PM

I think it looks really cool. I'm sure there will be many changes by the time its actually built.

Table 5 · 10-12-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

I wonder how its going to do when the first good series of Chinook Winds blow directly into that big collection dish? I think the design is interesting, but I don't think its a very smart one for Calgary's environment.

Well considering they said the shape and orientation are directly because of local wind and sun conditions, I dont think your assumption is right, Lanny.

Table 5 · 10-12-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by @theCBE

I think it looks really cool. I'm sure there will be many changes by the time its actually built.

I doubt it. Most of the delays that have happened so far where already because of changes (apart from the in-company changes, the city has had people specially working on this project to make sure it coalesces with calgary guidelines from the get-go), so one would have to assume that most of those have already been taken care of.