Encana trying to make its mark on Calgary skyline - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

TOfan · 12-09-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

I'm working on Centrium Place right now.

so if your at gibbs gage, whats going on with the penny lane towers?

TOfan · 12-09-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

People's view are always relative - to what other cities are you comparing Calgary to?

Heck, most of the downtowns in Canada falls into that category. MTL/TOR/VAN aren't much better IMHO.

actually the architecture is each of those cities is much stronger. just take a look at 4-5 issues of canadian archtect. all three of those cities are much more urban. especially montreal.

calgary architecture-architecture firms are rarely talked about. and for a city that has as much money and as many projects on the boards its pretty sad. it could be great but it seems developers/architects/owners are more interested in just being competent.

but, I will agree that it is getting a little better. towers ussually aren't the place to look for in terms of judging a cities architectural successes/failures.

I'll agree regarding some of the new projects, M-tech, and the orange lofts are pretty good.

arriva towers also look good, except for goofy hats. went to a show suite mdb does good work.

sturgess is doing some decent work (water works)

but untill some of the bigger corporate firms start producing some consitently good work, it won't really get better

Shin Pad · 12-10-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOfan

so if your at gibbs gage, whats going on with the penny lane towers?

Well, I work as a consultant for Gibbs Gage. Penny Lane Towers are probably going for building permit soon.

Do you work in this field?

Ozy_Flame · 12-11-2005, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOfan

calgary architecture-architecture firms are rarely talked about. and for a city that has as much money and as many projects on the boards its pretty sad. it could be great but it seems developers/architects/owners are more interested in just being competent.

I wouldn't include architects in that list. My father is a well-known architect in Calgary and he often complains about the lack of focus, detail, and creativity that developers / owners want on their buildings. In Calgary, it seems everyone wants pink stucco, fake stone, and watered-down designs. Terrible. There is absolutely no artistic touch to this city, and it definetely isn't part of the architects fault. If they were given a substantial budget and creative freedom, they could be making wonderous buildings here in the city, but everyone is too conservative and timid to try something new.

This is why my dad and his firm enjoy their big-city and international work; far more creativity and focus on the actual architecture, and not on money issues and building regulation codes that seem endless in their numbers in Calgary.

Nehkara · 12-11-2005, 12:14 PM

Here is an interesting building Foster And Partners did in Southwark, London, England. It is the City Hall!

The Familia · 12-11-2005, 04:39 PM

I think Calgary has a very good skyline. While there are some old, concrete boxes from the 70's, there are also some really good ones. Bankers Hall is nice, and so is Canterra tower. I also really like the newest one TransCanada Pipelines or something to that (the light blue one beside petro). Also the Huskey towers and Petro Canada towers are nice, modern looking. Anything with lots of glass really appeals to me. Looks like there are some sweet new condo towers going up, not to mention the pictures of the Penny Lane towers are very sweet. Many projects on the go downtown, and the new courts center is starting to look good. check out www.emporis.com it has every building in Calgary listed with pics, plus construction status and pics, approved designs and proposed designs.

Zarathustra · 12-11-2005, 04:41 PM

Calgary needs a signature tower to make the skyline complete. I hope we can get a unique beauty from Encana.

rockstar · 12-11-2005, 06:25 PM

Great. A couple more blocks.

Please, EnCana. Let them be creative!

Shin Pad · 12-11-2005, 06:35 PM

I guess the only thing that really bothers me about the whole Encana thing is - why couldn't we have an all Canadian Architectural team? Did they really have to get a British Architectural firm involved. I have no problem with Sturgess and Ziedler being on the team (although the working drawings will probably be done by Ziedler in Toronto, not by their office locally.) Then again, all of the local offices are probably too busy and short staffed to do a project like this.

Ozy_Flame · 12-11-2005, 07:25 PM

Sir Norman Foster doesn't sound like the kind of architect that would accept a project with alot of restrictions placed on it. My guess is that these towers are going to be artistically outstanding, and will set a new precedent for Calgary and Canadian developers to follow.

Burninator · 12-11-2005, 09:45 PM

I am an architectural student at Sait, and I was really glad to hear a firm like Foster got the job. IMO Calgary's skyline is not unattractive, but by no means do we have attractive buildings. Most of them are cookie-cutter glass box style skyscrappers, with a few exceptions. But even those do not stand out as marvels on the Calgary skyline. I am sure these new towers will. Hopefully this will get other companies to start exploring more interesting architectural options other than rectangles of glass.
There was an artical in the Hearld a couple of weeks ago where a big architectural critic absoutely destroyed Calgary's architecture, I thought he was a little tough on us, but I wouldn't go around bragging about our skyline.

BTW how many storeys is the tallest building in Calgary?

Jayems · 12-11-2005, 10:40 PM

Bejing Airport. WICKED!

Nehkara · 12-11-2005, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

I am an architectural student at Sait, and I was really glad to hear a firm like Foster got the job. IMO Calgary's skyline is not unattractive, but by no means do we have attractive buildings. Most of them are cookie-cutter glass box style skyscrappers, with a few exceptions. But even those do not stand out as marvels on the Calgary skyline. I am sure these new towers will. Hopefully this will get other companies to start exploring more interesting architectural options other than rectangles of glass.
There was an artical in the Hearld a couple of weeks ago where a big architectural critic absoutely destroyed Calgary's architecture, I thought he was a little tough on us, but I wouldn't go around bragging about our skyline.

BTW how many storeys is the tallest building in Calgary?

The current tallest building (Petro-Canada Centre) is 53 storeys and 705 feet. There will be two EnCana towers, the tallest being 60 storeys. Both towers combined will cost $540 million, have 2 million square feet, and be completed in 2009.

Also of note:

Calgary currently has 8 buildings that have 40 or more storeys. If all of the current proposals for tall buildings are approved, we will soon have 13 buildings that have 40 or more storeys.

TOfan · 12-12-2005, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

I am an architectural student at Sait, and I was really glad to hear a firm like Foster got the job. IMO Calgary's skyline is not unattractive, but by no means do we have attractive buildings. Most of them are cookie-cutter glass box style skyscrappers, with a few exceptions. But even those do not stand out as marvels on the Calgary skyline. I am sure these new towers will. Hopefully this will get other companies to start exploring more interesting architectural options other than rectangles of glass.
There was an artical in the Hearld a couple of weeks ago where a big architectural critic absoutely destroyed Calgary's architecture, I thought he was a little tough on us, but I wouldn't go around bragging about our skyline.

BTW how many storeys is the tallest building in Calgary?

few things.

-The work of foster is typically ecological or falls under the 'green architecture' umbrella. if you want an indication of what that might mean take a look at the firms design for commerzbank in frankfurt.

-don't expect a 'dynamic' or wildly 'creative' building type (like Gehry or morphosis) foster's work is recognized a green, sophisticated, and modern building type.

-there's a difference between architectural technologists and architects. I'm not too sure if SAIT is an acredited architectural school. big difference.

Table 5 · 12-12-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nehkara

There will be two EnCana towers, the tallest being 60 storeys.

Remember, that's just market speculation. Encana themselves have said they're not sure yet if it will be a two or one tower project, and there has really be no mention of stories by them either. I know they have two plots of land, and Calgary companies simply love the twin, but considering the architect, I wouldn' be surprised if they go with one taller signature building.

Table 5 · 12-12-2005, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

I guess the only thing that really bothers me about the whole Encana thing is - why couldn't we have an all Canadian Architectural team? Did they really have to get a British Architectural firm involved.

Why is that a problem? Virtually every other building in this city is done by the same 3 or 4 Canadian architecture firms. It's time for some variety, especially when the local product isn't really that fantastic to begin with.

Hack&Lube · 12-12-2005, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browna

Maybe this?
http://www.thejarrellgroup.com/miamivice/images/atl.jpg

AHAHAHA! Who doesn't recognize that building going by as Jam Hammer's Vice theme drones on. And all those Flamingos and everything too.

Bill Bumface · 12-12-2005, 11:24 PM

EnCana has 0 proposed plans, 0 preliminary sketches and has made 0 decisions regarding building hieght or layout.

mykalberta · 12-13-2005, 07:53 AM

Here is hoping some parking stalls are added, $450/month is what I pat at 5th and 5th Hawthorn, and its a joke, they have converted the bottom 3 levels into "valet" parking.

I was hoping to buy a 2-bedroom condo downtown next year for somewhere in the neighbourhood of 250, now it appears as if that dream is over.

MYK

Barnes · 06-03-2006, 12:55 PM

With a little less than two weeks until the renderings being released, I thought I would resurrect this thread as there was some good discussion about the project.

Can't wait to see this. With the court tower nearing completion, plans for the second FCP tower at +/-60 floors (BMO building), Rumours of Imperial waiting for EnCana and maybe planning a monster building of there own, Calgary's skyline may change dramatically.

Checkout this site for all the proposed, approved, and under construction renderings planned for Calgary.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=105776