I'm curious how it deals with the tower directly north of it (which is "midrise-tall") but I guess since they're both offices at that height it probably doesn't have to worry about spacing too much. Guess I'll see it tomorrow!
I'm curious how it deals with the tower directly north of it (which is "midrise-tall") but I guess since they're both offices at that height it probably doesn't have to worry about spacing too much. Guess I'll see it tomorrow!
It is fairly close, yes, but the interface is office-office.
Interesting. The link from You Need a Thneed above indicates a 748,000 square foot mixed use tower. My understanding of the current zoning for downtown is that CM-2 only allows for a maximum floor area ratio of 20. (Based on page 187 of this document http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/DBA/Docume..._of_1p2007.pdf) Since the new downtown bylaw hasn't passed yet, this should still apply. That would imply the piece of land their building it on needs to be 37,400 square feet. Since the existing building is 3 storeys with 27,000 square feet of leasable area, I very much doubt the lot is that big.
I can think of a few possibilities:
1) I'm misunderstanding the bylaw, and more than 20 FAR is allowed
2) They're using the adjacent land to Art's Central, the building to the west.
3) Council made an exception, and is letting a higher FAR go through.
Interesting. The link from You Need a Thneed above indicates a 748,000 square foot mixed use tower. My understanding of the current zoning for downtown is that CM-2 only allows for a maximum floor area ratio of 20. (Based on page 187 of this document http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/DBA/Docume..._of_1p2007.pdf) Since the new downtown bylaw hasn't passed yet, this should still apply. That would imply the piece of land their building it on needs to be 37,400 square feet. Since the existing building is 3 storeys with 27,000 square feet of leasable area, I very much doubt the lot is that big.
I can think of a few possibilities:
1) I'm misunderstanding the bylaw, and more than 20 FAR is allowed
2) They're using the adjacent land to Art's Central, the building to the west.
3) Council made an exception, and is letting a higher FAR go through.
Any ideas on which it is?
A combination of 1 & 2. From what I've heard they are using some additional adjacent land. The 20 FAR is likely correct, but density bonuses can be achieved by a variety of factors (ie. public art). Maybe Bunk can clarify what counts towards bonus density.
A combination of 1 & 2. From what I've heard they are using some additional adjacent land. The 20 FAR is likely correct, but density bonuses can be achieved by a variety of factors (ie. public art). Maybe Bunk can clarify what counts towards bonus density.
20 FAR is with all group A/B/C density bonuses maxed out already, according to the bylaw I linked above.
A combination of 1 & 2. From what I've heard they are using some additional adjacent land. The 20 FAR is likely correct, but density bonuses can be achieved by a variety of factors (ie. public art). Maybe Bunk can clarify what counts towards bonus density.
If they're allowed to use the new density bonus formula, which is being transitioned in soon, the residential portion of this project (if I'm not mistaken) is 'free' density in the downtown commercial core (as to encourage more residential in this area).
But 20 FAR isn't limiting buildings to 20 stories. As you can see, there are plenty of buildings downtown that are more than that.
Block sized floor plates aren't that desirable.
As mentioned, it's an average. If the idea is to restrict floor plate size, then I think we should restrict floor plate size directly. A 20 story building with a block-sized floor plate would meet the FAR restrictions. As I understand it, it's demand for windows that restricts floor plate size, not FAR.
So is art central being demolished for this tower? What about the downtown school?
Arts Central will be demolished for this. When I first heard the news I was kind of upset about it, but in light of what I know I am totally ok with it now.
Not sure what school you are talking about though.
