Imperial Oil building office in Quarry Park

[burn_this_city]

Depends if we're talking underground or surface parking, I could see surface parking being free with heated underground either being a monthly fee or a taxable benefit.

[Bigtime]

Another article in the Herald about the move:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...tml?id=7329308

Big emphasis on them wanting to own their space, however the article seems to completely miss the fact that IOL owns land in the CBD, and could have built down there if they wanted. No different than Encana/Cenovus, which bought the land but decided to sell the site to H&R REIT to develop and lease the entire Bow building to them. Given IOL's size they probably could have done it all on their own.

They should just come out and say "We are the odd duck company in the core and want to play by ourselves over in that corner".

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by 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.

I can't see any parking that far away from the core to be worth anything in the $5-$10 range a day. People would be parking in the residential area in a heartbeat and Imperial would be in a seriously bad PR situation.

[Resolute 14]

FWIW, our campus is $15 a month for surface parking or $100 for underground.

[polak]

Pay surface parking? Ew.

It'll be miniscule but still.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Another article in the Herald about the move:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...tml?id=7329308

Big emphasis on them wanting to own their space, however the article seems to completely miss the fact that IOL owns land in the CBD, and could have built down there if they wanted. No different than Encana/Cenovus, which bought the land but decided to sell the site to H&R REIT to develop and lease the entire Bow building to them. Given IOL's size they probably could have done it all on their own.

They should just come out and say "We are the odd duck company in the core and want to play by ourselves over in that corner".

Or maybe they ran the numbers and found quarry park to be a much cheaper and effective option. Just because they aren't participating in the new urbanist dream where anything and everything must happen downtown, doesn't mean it was an incorrect decision for their business.

I also hope you don't throw up the Bow as a prime example of wonderful building management for companies, as it's no secret that now both companies require much more space than the Bow. At the end of the day neither company will achieve their goal of having everyone in one space. Also recall that for a building concieved in 2005-2006, it's only the fall of 2012 where anyone is actually moving in and working there. But hey, at least you have a nice pretty building to photograph and look at as opposed to a suburban office park.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Or maybe they ran the numbers and found quarry park to be a much cheaper and effective option. Just because they aren't participating in the new urbanist dream where anything and everything must happen downtown, doesn't mean it was an incorrect decision for their business.

I also hope you don't throw up the Bow as a prime example of wonderful building management for companies, as it's no secret that now both companies require much more space than the Bow. At the end of the day neither company will achieve their goal of having everyone in one space. Also recall that for a building conceived in 2005-2006, it's only the fall of 2012 where anyone is actually moving in and working there. But hey, at least you have a nice pretty building to photograph and look at as opposed to a suburban office park.

Encana decided to play the starchitect card with the Bow, so issues like the cost overruns and construction delays almost always come with that decision. Over the years we always assumed if IOL did build on their lots downtown we'd probably just get a big fat box, definitely nothing like the complexity of the Bow to build.

I don't see where them choosing to build downtown is a "new urbanist dream", it's just how it is done in Calgary. The insight from those in O&G here as to how they are different from most gives me explanation enough for their move. My only request is they sell off their land holdings in the CBD to someone that actually wants to do something with it, it is incredibly prime land and could be the home of a really remarkable skyscraper.

But yes, I am very happy that there is a nice new pretty building to take photographs of, and the amazing public art they are giving us on the site (not the generic western motif either). It's also worth noting that seeing a big skyline like ours sets a mental image for visitors to this city (or potential visitors, conventions, etc.), we punch above our weight in almost everything. We bring the energy.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by fotze

That is the most likely reason for this. Its like moving to cubicles, the rhetoric will be anything but for the cost savings reasons, but that is why it is being done.

Not sure why the companies need to tell their employees its for reasons other than cost cutting.

Also not sure why anyone holds the pursuit of profit against companies either. They're an oil company, not a 'make Calgary's downtown look more impressive or dynamic' company.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Also not sure why anyone holds the pursuit of profit against companies either. They're an oil company, not a 'make Calgary's downtown look more impressive or dynamic' company.

I'm sure potential out-of-town business partners and employees will be thrilled when they get "woo-ed" by the sights and sounds of the SE. Couple that with being shacked up at the MacLeod Travelodge, and its pretty much a done deal.


Imperial is just lucky they're big enough that they can not give a rat's-a$$ about stuff like that.
This will still hurt their ability to recruit, I know a few people who have gone to work for them, but I can't see anyone choosing to work there anymore after this. Oil & Gas in Calgary is such a social business, being stuck down there all alone is going to hurt a lot of careers I'd imagine.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Or maybe they ran the numbers and found quarry park to be a much cheaper and effective option. Just because they aren't participating in the new urbanist dream where anything and everything must happen downtown, doesn't mean it was an incorrect decision for their business.

I also hope you don't throw up the Bow as a prime example of wonderful building management for companies, as it's no secret that now both companies require much more space than the Bow. At the end of the day neither company will achieve their goal of having everyone in one space. Also recall that for a building concieved in 2005-2006, it's only the fall of 2012 where anyone is actually moving in and working there. But hey, at least you have a nice pretty building to photograph and look at as opposed to a suburban office park.

I have a feeling it isn't about cost, and is more about control. Being able to keep all their employees in one location, and keeping an eye on what they are doing is easier from a campus than it is from a tower.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by fotze

Also, I thought mini-downtowns was one of the tenets of the city's Go-Plan? Isn't this move a good thing for reducing the sprawl and everyone works in the core thing.

They have to be delicate when creating them. These areas need to be TODs (e.g. The Bridges) rather than TADs (e.g. London at Heritage).

Originally Posted by Knalus

I have a feeling it isn't about cost, and is more about control. Being able to keep all their employees in one location, and keeping an eye on what they are doing is easier from a campus than it is from a tower.

I'd have thought you'd be able to see much more atop a tower than a lowrise...

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by fotze

Maybe, that does seem far fetched. I think it is IOLl where every day you MUST clear off all your desk and lock papers in the desk, you must also lock your door. Bosses check.

Actually Internal Audit, sometimes from Houston, gets that awesome job. Got to love clean desk policies.

[1stLand]

There is nothing wrong with working in the Quarry Park Business Campus.
Before the development, that land was lafarge's and I would be cutting grass, setting up water pumps and patrolling dump trucks in the former gravel pit.

I need my career journey to come full circle by selling a home there one of these days lol.

Throw a couple of swanky Roof Top Patio establishments in Quarry Park filled with money hungry shooter girls and we have a downtown Calgary replica!

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

There is nothing wrong with working in the Quarry Park Business Campus.
Before the development, that land was lafarge's and I would be cutting grass, setting up water pumps and patrolling dump trucks in the former gravel pit.

I need my career journey to come full circle by selling a home there one of these days lol.

Throw a couple of swanky Roof Top Patio establishments in Quarry Park filled with money hungry shooter girls and we have a downtown Calgary replica!

Yes, I can't wait to go for a walk in the endless sea of surface parking and take in its beauty. Perhaps I'll bring a blanket and have myself a picnic:

[J pold]

Had a meeting at Remington’s offices yesterday. Got as much information as possible without breaching confidentially agreements. There is actually very little surface parking for the Imperial offices, nearly all of it will be underground. There is a lot of green space, tennis and basketball courts.

The major focus of the meeting is where QP goes from here. A lot of people said that there isn’t much more development potential for the area. Not true, Remington still has a capacity to develop 2 million more square feet in the area, so if another major downtown tenant wants to move out there, QP still can accommodate them. We all thought that the deal might be conditional upon the city committing to developing the SE leg of the LRT, also not true, from their perspective best case scenario is 7 years, with 10 being the more realistic number. They also went over all the long term traffic plans for the area, ie lane expansion on 24th and 18th street, exciting stuff.

If you just a bought a house in QP you should be smiling. Cardel (who has the rights for residential development on Remington’s land) hasn’t hung up the phone since the news was released Friday. The order to build new homes are piling up, right now they just need to find people to build them.

If you have any more questions or want any more information on QP feel free to PM.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Yes, I can't wait to go for a walk in the endless sea of surface parking and take in its beauty. Perhaps I'll bring a blanket and have myself a picnic:

[Northendzone]

There was an accident on nb deer foot today on the ivor strong bridge. Traffic was backed up just a little bit.......what a mess, they had better do something about 24th to nb deer foot before before these imperial folks get there, otherwise, you won't be able to get out of app until k7.30 pm......

[Rathji]

Just leave from the north end of 24th in the evening.

In fact, coming into QP from the southern end at any time is usually a poor choice, unless you are heading south on Deerfoot.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Just leave from the north end of 24th in the evening.

In fact, coming into QP from the southern end at any time is usually a poor choice, unless you are heading south on Deerfoot.

The north end of 24th dead ends at Glenmore. I found that out the hard way, on my first day home from the area.

[ken0042]

Ok, north on 24th, east after the trailer park, and north on Sheppard road.