Imperial Oil building office in Quarry Park

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by llama64

Imperial is going to have a lot of turnover and they are going to have a hell of a time retaining younger staff.

Who the heck wants to work in a "campus"? The word just brings thoughts of working for Initech (Office Space) and depresses the hell of out me.

I'll take my (nearly) downtown office (10th ave SW) and my 15 minute walking commute over some soul destroying cube farm job at Imperial. Maybe the rest of the big Oil companies will move out and some more innovative companies can take over the core.

Transit in this city is designed to bring people in and out of the core. Trying to do anything else is atrociously painful - I feel nothing but pity for Imperial employees right now.

Speaking as someone who works in a campus that is not downtown, I disagree entirely.

There certainly will be turnover as employees in the far northwest who don't want to move assess their options. But younger employees? They're going to build houses in Seton, Mahogany, Copperfield, and even Quarry Park itself and enjoy easy commutes that don't involve Deerfoot, the ctrain or downtown.

[burn_this_city]

I'm sure all the people who don't take transit will be happy to park for free rather than shelling out $650/month. Downtown is overrated, unless you live nearby its a crappy commute.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

But younger employees? They're going to build houses in Seton, Mahogany, Copperfield, and even Quarry Park itself and enjoy easy commutes that don't involve Deerfoot, the ctrain or downtown.

Some might but there is a growing trend among younger generations of living in the inner city and delaying the move to the burbs.

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Downtown is overrated, unless you live nearby its a crappy commute.

Like I said above; it might not be everyone's cup of tea but it becoming more and more popular. If you like vibrancy and appreciate varied choices, you can't beat the core.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Barring accidents, stalls or other unusual developments, I still think a 7:15 departure would result in a commute less than one hour in the morning. Things just flow once you get past Bow Trail.

But yeah, that Hillhurst commute home in the evening would be a nightmare. NV Crowchild is practically unusable at that time of day. Did you at least take 18th north to Glenmore before getting onto Deerfoot? Because trying to get onto Deerfoot NB from 24th Douglasdale appears to be disastrous.

I would say those are pretty regular occurrances on deerfoot/crowchild/glenmore, especially in winter.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Never mind winter - it seems about a 50/50 chance every day whether someone is borken down or causes an accident on Glenmore over the reservoir. Fact is, if you're commuting across the entire city twice daily, you're going to run into incidents pretty frequently.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Never mind winter - it seems about a 50/50 chance every day whether someone is borken down or causes an accident on Glenmore over the reservoir. Fact is, if you're commuting across the entire city twice daily, you're going to run into incidents pretty frequently.

I recently moved into the "inner city" from way out in the burbs and I would routinely justify my long commute with "it's about 35 minutes without any major traffic issues". But the reality was, at least 3-4 days a week there was an accident on macleod or glenmore or crowchild that would back us up. 45 minutes to 1hr would be the norm.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I recently moved into the "inner city" from way out in the burbs and I would routinely justify my long commute with "it's about 35 minutes without any major traffic issues". But the reality was, at least 3-4 days a week there was an accident on macleod or glenmore or crowchild that would back us up. 45 minutes to 1hr would be the norm.

Thanked. (Rant incoming about people in general and not you.)

It kills me that people in general can't honestly figure out that number. It's disingenuous and delusional - what is so hard about it other than to just make yourself feel better about a situation with a scenario that isn't even real?!

How the heck can people rationally discuss/do work/calculate anything in their daily lives if you can't even get something like that right? It's brutal working with bankers, accountants and engineers who claim it's a 15 minute drive in from Airdrie (for example). You've just shown me your incompetence doing that math/reality check, how the heck am I going to trust you for something a little more complex for real work? FFS.


I need to hop into the GMG thread.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Thanked. (Rant incoming about people in general and not you.)

It kills me that people in general can't honestly figure out that number. It's disingenuous and delusional - what is so hard about it other than to just make yourself feel better about a situation with a scenario that isn't even real?!

How the heck can people rationally discuss/do work/calculate anything in their daily lives if you can't even get something like that right? It's brutal working with bankers, accountants and engineers who claim it's a 15 minute drive in from Airdrie (for example). You've just shown me your incompetence doing that math/reality check, how the heck am I going to trust you for something a little more complex for real work? FFS.


I need to hop into the GMG thread.

Well, it's not *really* disingenuous or delusional. Not all the time. I mean, just this morning - I left Royal Oak at 6:53 AM, and was at my desk in Quarry Park at 7:29. 36 minutes. I mean, it's to the point where I know what landmarks I should be at when traffic is moving like usual.

AM SB
11-12 minutes - Crowchild SB next to Brentwood LRT
21-22 minutes - Crowchild SB next to Currie Barracks
31-32 minutes - Deerfoot SB at Bow Bottom Trail

PM NB
10 minutes - Glenmore EB at 18 Street SE
20-25 minutes - Glenmore EB at Crowchild Trail N
25-35 minutes - Sarcee NB at 17 Avenue SW
35-45 minutes - Sarcee NB at Bow Trail SW
45-55 minutes - parked in my spot at my condo building

The PM commute is defiintely harsher, it averages 10-15 minutes longer. There's not a great way to go - I'm forced to choose between Glenmore or Deerfoot gridlock, between Sarcee or Crowchild gridlock. Sarcee and Bow is really bad almost every night, but not as bad as NB Crowchild over the river where traffic is squeezing through one lane.

But I've experienced big delays either way. I've also experienced almost eerily smooth sailing both ways. The thing is, there's no realy way of knowing every day what the odds are of having a smooth commute or not (at least when it's not winter). I mean, the example mentioned 3-4 times a week. Out of 10 commutes a week, that seems about right to me. And out of those 10, you can almost always count on a smooth Friday morning commute with lighter traffic (thanks to the DT oil companies!).

But given the distance being travelled, the main roads being used, and the fact that I'm driving them twice a day, I pretty much expect the worst. Again, it's just something you get used to. Believe me, I'm dreading the winter commutes. Commutes just to the core in winter can take double or triple the usual time. I'm expecting some truly dreadful days when I'm in the car for hours each way and where I lose all sense of time and self. But it's out of my hands, I just cope the best I can and deal.

And don't lump me in with the Airdrie people. The air is funny up there, or something.

[4X4]

TTC, just out of curiousity, why do you take Deerfoot past Bow Bottom instead of staying on Glenmore and going down 18th?

[Mr.Coffee]

Good friend of mine, graduated with him, recently announced he is leaving Imperial (I think he announced it last week, I found out today and thought of this thread). Since I can only assume the Quarry Park thing wasn't just broke news-wise to a guy working there, I'd have to assume it's a contributing factor (not the only reason, but sure doesn't help).

He is excellent at his job and has a sound reputation. More to follow, likely. Moving your office to the middle of nowhere won't affect people's decision to work there? Come on... of course it will.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by fotze

Some people just know when to move on, others don't.

hahha! Exactly, like when they ship your ass to a remote location. Or when the timing is right.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by 4X4

TTC, just out of curiousity, why do you take Deerfoot past Bow Bottom instead of staying on Glenmore and going down 18th?

In Google I trust. Plus my office is actually closer to Deerfoot/24th than Quarry Park.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

LOL, just heard that Imperial employees won't be getting free parking....pay lots or a shuttle bus from downtown are your options. That or move to Quarry Park. So much for that "benefit" of moving to the boonies.

That 50/50 internal survey they mentioned in the article was apparently not entirely true either...

[JD]

Originally Posted by fotze

HR departments can be pretty rotten.

If by "rotten", you mean "stupid", well, sure!

Stantec doesn't exactly have the stellar reputation amongst the people I know who have worked for or with them though. That almost seems par for the course.

As for Imperial, personally, if I worked for them, I'd be shopping myself around once I heard this news.

[chemgear]

Here is a copy of the internal memo they sent around:

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2012/...ut-their-move/

From: Eirich, Hanna W On Behalf Of IOL-Public-Affairs-Communication-Services /SM
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 11:30 AM

Imperial to build office complex in southeast Calgary
As you know, Imperial Oil is preparing for an exciting future as we continue along a decade-long path of significant growth and company expansion. To support our vision of a larger and more integrated company, we will be consolidating our Calgary offices in southeast Calgary starting in 2014 and completing by mid-2016.

. . .

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

LOL, just heard that Imperial employees won't be getting free parking....pay lots or a shuttle bus from downtown are your options.

Originally Posted by fotze

Stantec tried to charge employees when they moved out of the core. Employees parked onthe streets, Stantec then got the city to erect permit only parking to force the employees to pay.

LOL! Talk about terrible optics.

[Rathji]

I guess it depends what you pay. If it is a buck or two a day that isn't that bad, especially compared to what they pay now, but seems like a penny-pinching move for sure.

[nfotiu]

Is telecommuting not very common in Calgary yet? I work for a huge, conservative organization in the US, and we've slowly converted from 1 day WFH to now allowing full time except as needed telecommuting. Seems to be getting more and more common around here, and really is a nice perk to have that time added to your day. And companies are realizing they can save a lot in real estate by converting to hotelling for employees on an as needed basis. I would think with the high real estate market in Calgary and painful commutes, more companies would be moving towards that model.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I guess it depends what you pay. If it is a buck or two a day that isn't that bad, especially compared to what they pay now, but seems like a penny-pinching move for sure.

I guess . . . but come on, for the sake of a buck or two - why even bother? The enforcement of it wouldn't even make up the cost and would only cause resentment. Totally agree, penny-pinching for sure.

[ken0042]

By "a buck or two" they might charge as little as $50 per month. Something to encourage car pooling; or make sure that the people who need the spots have them available.

However I can see them charging more in the $100-200 range for parking.