Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Canadians could have built/welded the bridge here in Canada (and I'm confident the extensive weld problems wouldn't have been an issue) but the Spanish fabrication company undercut everyone fairly heavily. They were picked because they were cheapest.

Can you back that up. If I remember the reporting on that, it was stated that Canada didn't have the expertise in iron works or whatever to fabricate and weld this design.

I don't recall ever reading anything about the Spanish undercutting anyone on any bid, and I would have to know, does that undercutting cover the cost of shipping it over the ocean and driving it across the country? Cause I have a hard time believing that.

[Bunk]

People incorrectly assume the project (including choice of architect) was the brainchild of Bronconnier or Farrell. In fact, it was now retired, former General Manager of Transportation John Hubbell.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by SebC

Hehe, you mean the ones who hated the Eiffel tower?

Yep.. the amount of hate the tower got during and after it's construction was astounding. I'm not saying the Peace Bridge is equal by any means, but it just goes to show that sometimes it doesn't hurt to take a chance on something new.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'll be honest, Captain. When it comes to sales, army stuff, and general views on childhood discipline, you're the man with the plan. But when it comes to a architecture, I gotta say you have no idea what the hell you're taking about.

Probably, but last I checked this isn't Calgaryarchitech.com, so I didn't know that I needed a degree in architecture and urban planning to participate.

I do have a huge problem with the sole source, you can say that Calavatra is the man and that this design was the only possible one, but we don't know do we.

When you sole source something like that you're not going to get the best thing ever, you're going to get something like what we got.

I have a gut feeling that some people like this design because of the name not the design.

I'm not an architect, however I did take the trip to look at the bridge to change my mind on it, and I still find it to be uninsipring.

I'm willing to open a betting pool on the first gang tag that hits it though.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm not an architect, however I did take the trip to look at the bridge to change my mind on it, and I still find it to be uninsipring.

...and some would argue that you subconsiously had your mind made up on the drive over.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Probably, but last I checked this isn't Calgaryarchitech.com, so I didn't know that I needed a degree in architecture and urban planning to participate.

No but when you start making grand declarations about it's design worth, your credentials do have some sway on how your comments are viewed. Nobody said you have to love the bridge (I have no issues with you hating it), but you're making some pretty sweeping generalizations about Calatrava and his thought-process.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by flameswin

...and some would argue that you subconsiously had your mind made up on the drive over.

Nope, I was singing the golden grahams song.

in my head.

[Joborule]

My opinion on the bridge was that it was gonna get built anyway at it's location. Alright, we'll if we're gonna make a new pedestrian bridge in a popular urban corridor area, why not pretty it up a bit to make it a pleasant sight to see rather than a dull concrete bridge? In the long term it will keep the area a desirable place to walk around, unlike a number of the CPR underpasses that lack any flavor except foul.

Calgary is a great city. Let's put a bow on each of our own personal gifts, and keep adding attractions, even if that means paying a bit more than perhaps necessary. It's worth it and doesn't really hurt any other developments in the city.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Joborule

My opinion on the bridge was that it was gonna get built anyway at it's location. Alright, we'll if we're gonna make a new pedestrian bridge in a popular urban corridor area, why not pretty it up a bit to make it a pleasant sight to see rather than a dull concrete bridge? In the long term it will keep the area a desirable place to walk around, unlike a number of the CPR underpasses that lack any flavor except foul.

Calgary is a great city. Let's put a bow on each of our own personal gifts, and keep adding attractions, even if that means paying a bit more than perhaps necessary. It's worth it and doesn't really hurt any other developments in the city.

Whoa whoa whoa; hold your horses. This thread isn't for thoughtful insights; its for ragging on euro contracted designers, shoddy european sole source welding, and people stealing money from better projects like more flyovers in the deep SE. $25M DUAL BRIDGES silly hall latte sippers, what were they thinking.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Joborule

My opinion on the bridge was that it was gonna get built anyway at it's location.

I doubt that. To me the location (combined with the failure to put a pedestrian crossing at the right place on Memorial) is the worst thing about this project. IIRC, the city also had a report saying there was a better location for a bridge down south somewhere, but proceeded with this one anyways.

Second worst thing is the shoddy spanish welds.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Which things by them don't you like?

My knowledge is pretty limited here, but a couple things I've heard about them I like. The Banff Centre, 8th Avenue Place, that crazy Sait building.

8th Avenue Place was designed by Pickard Chilton Architects.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

8th Avenue Place was designed by Pickard Chilton Architects.

I like 8th Avenue Place (especially compared to the Bow).

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Can you back that up. If I remember the reporting on that, it was stated that Canada didn't have the expertise in iron works or whatever to fabricate and weld this design.

I don't recall ever reading anything about the Spanish undercutting anyone on any bid, and I would have to know, does that undercutting cover the cost of shipping it over the ocean and driving it across the country? Cause I have a hard time believing that.

There were domestic bids. They were more expensive. People were crying about not using a competitive bid process for everything, this is what happens when you go with the lowest bid:

The lengthy delay announced in April came because inspectors flagged deficient welds that traced back to Graham’s steel subcontractor in Spain, which had underbid domestic competitors.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/delayed...#ixzz1etUvW4ju

[Muta]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

8th Avenue Place

8th Avenue Place was designed by a European architect; Gibbs Gage was just the local rep.

EDIT: Whoops, already mentioned!

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Muta

8th Avenue Place was designed by a European architect; Gibbs Gage was just the local rep.

EDIT: Whoops, already mentioned!

Pickard Chilton is American.

[shermanator]

For those complaining about how the design was sole source, here is the results of the local design competition for the St. Patrick's Island bridge. Hardly inspiring...

[Madman]

Originally Posted by shermanator

For those complaining about how the design was sole source, here is the results of the local design competition for the St. Patrick's Island bridge. Hardly inspiring...

What is this?!

A bridge for ants?!

How can people be expected to use the bridge if they can't even fit on it?

The bridge has to be at least....3 times bigger than this.

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by shermanator

For those complaining about how the design was sole source, here is the results of the local design competition for the St. Patrick's Island bridge. Hardly inspiring...

Put up a McDonalds beside it and let them pay for the whole thing.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by shermanator

For those complaining about how the design was sole source, here is the results of the local design competition for the St. Patrick's Island bridge. Hardly inspiring...

No where near as good as the one I designed way back.

[Regulator75]

I swung by the bridge today and took a few pics, here's one looking North.


The Peace Bridge by Witty nickname, on Flickr