2010 Mayors Race

[llama64]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Pretty much every member of the current city council to me is whats wrong with municipal politics.

And I stand by my opinion on that design. I'm not a fan, I think its ugly, I think it took 0 effort for the concept, and I think its a step down from the designers usual work. Not to say that I'm all that fond of any of the other designs that he's done.

Which is exactly why voting in an existing member of the council as Mayor would be one of the dumbest things Calgary could do.

I really like the bridge design. It's a refreshing change from the brown concrete/steel bridges we're used to. But having to build it across the world and ship it back just seems horribly inefficient. Would have been better to source the design/construction to at least a Canadian company - even if they cost more. Cheapest doesn't always = best.

[Bigtime]

I really don't think the steel fabrication was a case of cheapest=best. All of firms that bid had to show they had the techincal expertise to manufacture these very unique helix shapes.

On one hand we are crying out about the single sourcing of the bridge to Calatrava, but on the other hand we are critical of the decision to accept bids on the work for the bridge and choose the most cost efficient one?

I'm confused. I don't see why Calgarians are so worked up about ~$7 each, versus the new airport tunnel runway that could now cost us upwards of $1000 each if they don't build it now but later.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I still believe that the bridge is a underwhelming, goofy lazy design.

That's goofy lazy thinking Captain. While this bridge was never going to be the the crowning achievement for Calatrava considering the small scale/budget/location compared to his other projects, to think that you can just pull a bridge like this out of your ass is showing an ignorance towards the profession. The engineering complexity of this thing alone is pretty amazing.

If he truly was lazy, he would've given us something from his usual bag of tricks (you know, something white and curvy). The fact that his firm went out of his way to give us something unique that you've never seen in his portfolio is a testament to the effort going into it.

Feel free to hate the aesthetics and selection process, but calling it lazy is just goofy.

[CaptainCrunch]

[QUOTE=Bigtime;2507673]Wrong, the tender was put out for any steel companies to quote the work. Guess what? The Canadian company that bid was more expensive than the European one that was awarded the contract!

But hey, we'll just take digs at anything that isn't built right here in Canada ("they took 'er jerbs!). Even though the world has clearly moved beyond such infantile concepts (David Parker of the Herald is another terrible offender of this).[/QUOTE

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Table 5

That's goofy lazy thinking Captain. While this bridge was never going to be the the crowning achievement for Calatrava considering the small scale/budget/location compared to his other projects, to think that you can just pull a bridge like this out of your ass is showing an ignorance towards the profession. The engineering complexity of this thing alone is pretty amazing.

If he truly was lazy, he would've given us something from his usual bag of tricks (you know, something white and curvy). The fact that his firm went out of his way to give us something unique that you've never seen in his portfolio is a testament to the effort going into it.

Feel free to hate the aesthetics and selection process, but calling it lazy is just goofy.

Then why single source the design to Calatrava, because one of the Alderman read about it in a coffee table book and like a foolish woman buying a purse said it had to be him. Even if we didn't have a local firm that could design a beautiful bridge, there are surely other designers across the world that could have come up with something more inspirational then this bridge. We bought it due to name brand and nothing else. We literally bought a gucci bag.

Isn't part of great design being inspired by it, when your spending 25 million on it, shouldn't it make you happy everytime you see it, or fill you with wonder and a sense of awe or accomplishment? I look at that bridge and basically have a desire to go buy a chinese fingertrap.

In terms of beautification of the city, yes we can all point to a bridge, but realistically there's a lot of bigger priorities in terms of beautification of downtown that should take priority over a Calvastra bridge

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by llama64

Which is exactly why voting in an existing member of the council as Mayor would be one of the dumbest things Calgary could do.

I really like the bridge design. It's a refreshing change from the brown concrete/steel bridges we're used to. But having to build it across the world and ship it back just seems horribly inefficient. Would have been better to source the design/construction to at least a Canadian company - even if they cost more. Cheapest doesn't always = best.

Why do people keep pointing at me like I'm cheerleading for McIver?

And the shipping don't forget extremely environmentally unfriendly.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

In terms of beautification of the city, yes we can all point to a bridge, but realistically there's a lot of bigger priorities in terms of beautification of downtown that should take priority over a Calvastra bridge

True there are lots of things in the world that matter more than this bridge. However, this bridge was paid for with provincial dollars specifically ear marked for infrastructure. If there was ever any money that should go towards this bridge than this was it. Sure they could have put it into fancy fish pavement stamping like they did to "beautify" the glenmore/Macleod interchange, or they could have spent it on those god awful iron "tree's" that line Stephen Ave, but they didn't (BTW, anyone care to guess how much either of those cost city taxpayers?). They chose to build something that not only adds beauty but function as well. If you could see the final plans in place for Memorial drive then you would know how awesome it's going to look once all the pieces are in place.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Isn't part of great design being inspired by it, when your spending 25 million on it, shouldn't it make you happy everytime you see it, or fill you with wonder and a sense of awe or accomplishment? I look at that bridge and basically have a desire to go buy a chinese fingertrap.

I invite you to show us some bridges in the same price range or cheaper that you think are more beautiful or appropriate. I'm not saying they aren't any out there, but I'm going to guess this bridge will more than hold it's own.

Even if we didn't have a local firm that could design a beautiful bridge, there are surely other designers across the world that could have come up with something more inspirational then this bridge.

Every designer in the world had a chance to enter a design for the St. Patrick's island bridge.....and imo, none of them came close to matching the Peace Bridge.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

True there are lots of things in the world that matter more than this bridge. However, this bridge was paid for with provincial dollars specifically ear marked for infrastructure. If there was ever any money that should go towards this bridge than this was it. Sure they could have put it into fancy fish pavement stamping like they did to "beautify" the glenmore/Macleod interchange, or they could have spent it on those god awful iron "tree's" that line Stephen Ave, but they didn't (BTW, anyone care to guess how much either of those cost city taxpayers?). They chose to build something that not only adds beauty but function as well. If you could see the final plans in place for Memorial drive then you would know how awesome it's going to look once all the pieces are in place.

I'm curious. Is there anywhere that I can see those final plans?

[llama64]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Why do people keep pointing at me like I'm cheerleading for McIver?

And the shipping don't forget extremely environmentally unfriendly.

Quoting you only to provide context to my statement - not necessarily directed at you.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by _Q_

I'm curious. Is there anywhere that I can see those final plans?

Not yet, they have final approval for most of the work but I don't think they are going to announce it until they are closer to construction. Or sometimes they announce it in pieces but I can't see them doing that with this one.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Every designer in the world had a chance to enter a design for the St. Patrick's island bridge.....and imo, none of them came close to matching the Peace Bridge.

Also, St. Patrick's Island bridge had far fewer restrictions (height, didn't have to be a clear 130m span), so it was actually a much easier bridge to design, but still, none tops Peace Bridge.

I personally think the Peace bridge is a beautiful design. Not only that, it's incredibly practical and functional as well. Straight, flat, wide, lane separations. It's helix structure is actually really about it's structural rigidity - necessary for the 130 m clear span.

Also, why do people think Druh Farrell championed and initiated this bridge? It wasn't! It was John Hubbel!

[GreatWhiteEbola]

nm

[frinkprof]

Personally, I think in 10 years, people will pass by or over the Peace Bridge and and think "This was one of the biggest local news stories of 2009/2010? This thing was a huge election issue?"

Not diminishing the greater problems of procurement (which stretch far beyond this one project, unfortunately for all of us), but the amount of newspaper column space that has been spent on such a non-issue (the project in and of itself) is absurd.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Personally, I think in 10 years, people will pass by or over the Peace Bridge and and think "This was one of the biggest local news stories of 2009/2010? This thing was a huge election issue?"

More than likely. That happens with a lot of things, all over the world. Hell, most Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower when it was being built, now, it's the icon of the city.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Personally, I think in 10 years, people will pass by or over the Peace Bridge and and think "This was one of the biggest local news stories of 2009/2010? This thing was a huge election issue?"

Not diminishing the greater problems of procurement (which stretch far beyond this one project, unfortunately for all of us), but the amount of newspaper column space that has been spent on such a non-issue (the project in and of itself) is absurd.

More then likely people with walk by the bridge or over it and say meh, its just a bridge. They're going to have to repaint it for the 5 millionth time because of all the graffiti and crap on it.

But I doubt too many Calgarian's will think its all that special.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Not yet, they have final approval for most of the work but I don't think they are going to announce it until they are closer to construction. Or sometimes they announce it in pieces but I can't see them doing that with this one.

Thanks for the info. I am probably in the minority and actually quite like the bridge. I do think however it was a weird spot to put it only because there is nothing on that side of Memorial. If there are plans in place to redevelop that side of memorial, then this all fits in nicely with the master plan for the area.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

More then likely people with walk by the bridge or over it and say meh, its just a bridge. They're going to have to repaint it for the 5 millionth time because of all the graffiti and crap on it.

But I doubt too many Calgarian's will think its all that special.

That's not what I'm getting at with the hypothetical comments made while hypothetically walking by the bridge.

I'm saying that after some time, I think a lot of people will think all the attention paid to the bridge, and derision aimed at it during 2009/2010 was absurd.

[Patrick]

Cant recall the person but one spoke at an event I was jsut at. What a total noob.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

I'm saying that after some time, I think a lot of people will think all the attention paid to the bridge, and derision aimed at it during 2009/2010 was absurd.

No wonder there is so much apathy abound... "Why bother? It's not going to matter anyway"