Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Think of it as a "look competition", with professionals taking the winning look and making it practical and safe. Not a bad idea.. these college students don't turn into professionals as soon as they have a degree that can be hung from their wall.

I guess if that's how you think professionals are registered then it's not a bad idea. In reality it's a terrible idea.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by fotze

Please captain crunch, don't join in on the high school design competition argument. I really like you and you would be dead to me. Mostly good arguments on both sides of that one...tower would think is ######ed.

?????

I didn't have any intentions of doing that. I don't think an open competition is the way to go in terms of letting high school students submitting toothpick models of bridges.

I've stated my case on this bridge.

I'm outtie.

[Bunk]

Calatrava himself is a structural engineer as well as architect. I think this is why he is such a master at things like bridges and complex structures like his twisting torso building in Malmo.

I remember about 4 years ago going to see an art exhibition of Calatrava's work (scale models) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He's one of the few living architects whose work could qualify as an art exhibition. Even in scale models his stuff is breathtaking.

[mykalberta]

Who the frack is DJ Kelly and why do I care about his opinion?

What is Edmonton doing with this magical bridge only money? That is what seems strange. I assumed the money was for infrastructure projects which means roads, CTrain, etc.

Why hasnt Bronco or Farrell come out and say we cant spend this money on anything else. Its the bridge or nada is BS. Council wants this bridge rather than another C Train Stop or another interchange. I dont disagree but done lie about it.

Also the argument we arent paying for it is BS. We are, just through income tax and not property tax.

[kermitology]

Sounds like a deal hiring a structural engineer who's an architect. That way you don't end up with an architect who designs something that can't be built.. likely what a highschooler would do. Besides, kids these days are leotarded.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Why hasnt Bronco or Farrell come out and say we cant spend this money on anything else. Its the bridge or nada is BS. Council wants this bridge rather than another C Train Stop or another interchange. I dont disagree but done lie about it.

They actually did early in the process, but once the RABBLE RABBLE of the public gets started, silly things like facts aren't enough to stop it.

[Byrns]

How is it that a committee (of experts?) found it to be not a worthwhile project yet the fat-heads on council overruled them?

I'm surprised all the other bridges in town haven't fallen down yet since Calgary can only find high schoolers to work as Engineers.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by Byrns

How is it that a committee (of experts?) found it to be not a worthwhile project yet the fat-heads on council overruled them?

I'm surprised all the other bridges in town haven't fallen down yet since Calgary can only find high schoolers to work as Engineers.

This is a little different. It must span the length of the bow with no pillars and must be low because of the helipad in eau claire. Building something structurally stable that long and short while aesthetically pleasing is very difficult.

A bridge I really liked when I was in London was the Millennium bridge. Looked awesome.

From the pictures in the herald of this bridge, I don't think it looks all that nice but I understand it's a difficult bridge to build so I'll accept it.

[Thunderball]

You know, ignoring the obvious price issues and varying BS about it from both sides, its a pretty neat design, but the candy apple red just makes it seem so tacky.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

I guess if that's how you think professionals are registered then it's not a bad idea. In reality it's a terrible idea.

Did you miss the "DON'T" in my post??

For me, it's more of an idea generation type process. If nothing good comes out of it, then give it to the pros to do and chalk it up to a learning opportunity. if something good does come out of it, then it's learning AND a good result.

[Table 5]

Do you really need to go through a whole exercise to learn that giving a complicated job to someone with out the skills, will result in failure? Just give it to the guy who you know will do a good job and move on.

"Learning opportunities" are exactly what schools are for.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

So why chime in then? It's a new bridge so you're destined to think it's 'stupid' anyway.

Seems to me like this project was destined to be hated by a lot of people no matter what the design/color/etc...

I chimed in on the fact that it would help get rid of the "Calgary isn't fun" comment. Stayed away from commenting on the project for the most part because I realize that the supporters are way too sensitive about the project and it isn't worth discussing.

Also didn't realize that the thread should be just for supporters of the design.

Originally Posted by Slava

Am I the only one who laughed out loud at moon in this thread? I mean seriously your chiming in about how bad this thing looks, and writing from Lethbridge of all places! The biggest highlight there is a giant bridge!! (and I suppose a restaurant at the top of a water tower if you're into that kind of thing!)

Not sure what where I currently live has anything to do with anything, especially when I have said I don't like the city, said that architecture doesn't matter to me (so the lack of highlights wouldn't mean anything) and lived in Calgary longer than you have so criticizing me for currently living in Lethbridge seems a bit odd.

[Muta]

For everybody wondering why a local architect / high school student wasn't consulted for this job, there will be a design competition for locals in regards to the 'other' bridge being built next to the Zoo. Mark my words.

[Hack&Lube]

You know, this bridge is only a fraction of the $400 M yearly budget for roads and infrastructure.

This really is not that bad a thing if only the city would prioritize zoning restrictions and focusing on building proper transportation from the core out and stop that disgusting urban sprawl that is blowing those millions of dollars out the window with all the roads and sewers and utilities needed to keep stretching further and further out into desolate prarie.

[Bunk]

This is my favourite media story so far. The sun has headline "Wave of scorn greets bridge" and then the video of a reporter on the trails asking people what they think...


...everyone interviewed likes it and is in favour. ha ha.

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alber...-10294766.html

The online poll had a slight majority not liking the design.
Funny how people who are actually out and using the paths (the people they interviewed) understand its need and appreciate it.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by Bunk

This is my favourite media story so far. The sun has headline "Wave of scorn greets bridge" and then the video of a reporter on the trails asking people what they think...


...everyone interviewed likes it and is in favour. ha ha.

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alber...-10294766.html

The online poll had a slight majority not liking the design.
Funny how people who are actually out and using the paths (the people they interviewed) understand its need and appreciate it.

If the city decided to build a taxpayer funded golf course by my house I would be all for it, but that doesn't make it the best use of the $$$.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by nik-

They actually did early in the process, but once the RABBLE RABBLE of the public gets started, silly things like facts aren't enough to stop it.

With such an easy argument you think they would be making it over and over and over again so someone who might miss one day of reading the paper doesnt miss that fact.

Especially with Stelmach such an easy target these days you would think they would be saying nothing but that. So far there argument has been one of "well calgary needs good architecture" blah blah blah. The only thing I ever heard that it was targeted funding - nothing about this needs to be used for a pedway bridge.

Herald had an interesting article yesterday about when they interviewed Spanish Guy.

1 - brige had to be a certain height because of some magical helipad (where is this magical helipad and who uses it)
2 - brige wasnt allowed to have any pilings in the Bow (that really limits the design opportunity - honestly what other design could there have been other than a straight line between 2 points).

Also they mentioned the costs of this bridge compared to others.
The numbers arent exact but as good as I could remember...

Calgary bridge - 28K/Sq M
Edmonton bridge - 31K/Sq M
Winnipeg bridge - 36K/Sq M

These are facts that if Bronco and his buddies would have hammered out early then this bridge would be a non issue. The design specs and cost compared to other bridges you think would be obvious things to mention. Also the fact that this money cannot go to transit or roads which is what I assume most people think it should go to.

[Slava]

^ I read that article and I think that the Winnipeg and London bridges were priced at $50k sq/m and Edmontons bridge is going to be $33k sq/m.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Bunk

This is my favourite media story so far. The sun has headline "Wave of scorn greets bridge" and then the video of a reporter on the trails asking people what they think...


...everyone interviewed likes it and is in favour. ha ha.

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alber...-10294766.html

The online poll had a slight majority not liking the design.
Funny how people who are actually out and using the paths (the people they interviewed) understand its need and appreciate it.

The Sun always likes to sensationalize things like these, and then you open the paper to see its a Rick Bell editorial. Someone mentioned in this thread about getting high school / college kids to design the bridge. You could do that, but then you get the Calgary Sun calibre quality going into the project. I swear high school kids can write better than the Sun. It's like they don't even use a spell check on their articles.

[getbak]

I don't think there's been a link to this posted yet...Here's an interview with the designer from the Herald: http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...304/story.html

Among other things, he explains why he chose the bright red colour for the bridge when most of his previous work has been white.