[David A]

Came across a gallery of examples of ruinous value engineering, and we made the list!
https://trending.ebaumsworld.com/pi...s-over-promised-and-under-delivered/87641256/
Number 27.

Well at least we are not #1, although IMO it could be higher on the list. I would call it architectural vandalism, in how we took a decent looking but dated building and turned it into this monstrosity.

Those responsible for this should be named and ashamed. It is probably to much to ask for them to fix this mess, but someone should.

 

[Glenco]

I dont think it was Don’s fault. I think the person who was head of the library at the time made the decision.

Since when does a librarian control city finances?

 

[Barnaby]

I think the worst part about the library is the harassment you must face when you're walking to the front doors.

 

[HappyJazzz]

OK, creative solution time.

I think its time to just take the L on the library.
The building reno is an absolute trainwreck, and the social issues in the community do an excellent job of deterring the library's alleged target market.

So how do we get two birds stoned at once?

Move all the books to the old museum.
Boom! Instant new library.
In a classy hood too, where many people know how to read!

Then put one way doors on the milner, and over a few years that other problem should just solve itself...

*dusts hands*

I'm heading out for the night, someone DM me when my Nobel shows up

 

[IanO]

Since when does a librarian control city finances?

A series of unfortunate events. Our 'city' architect should have intervened.

 

[Out of Towner]

Well at least we are not #1, although IMO it could be higher on the list. I would call it architectural vandalism, in how we took a decent looking but dated building and turned it into this monstrosity.

Those responsible for this should be named and ashamed. It is probably to much to ask for them to fix this mess, but someone should.

Every time an architect screws up, they deflect by saying that it's an example of European post modern architecture and detractors of their masterpiece are nothing more than troglodytes.

 

[Coprolite]

Don Iveson’s legacy

Yeah. Everyone knows the mayor is the city god with unlimited power to micromanage every municipal project and can even set the budgets himself. SimCity taught me this.

Bibiotank is definitely growing on me, in any case, and it's much improved over what was previously there.

 

[fromyeg]

Just wondering if people actually visit the library?

I go all the time with my two young kids and it’s great. Very nice space. Always lots of families there.

 

[JuliallThat]

Just wondering if people actually visit the library?

I go all the time with my two young kids and it’s great. Very nice space. Always lots of families there.

I went only once since I don't honestly have much need of a library, but wanted to check it out, got a coffee and looked around. It's really cool imo, I like it both outside and inside.
Embrace the Bibliotank.

 

[supplanter]

Ours is one of the worse ones on that list too lol.

True. Not saying a whole lot though cause half of the examples are just poor lighting and less flattering angles

 

[Coprolite]

Just wondering if people actually visit the library?

I go all the time with my two young kids and it’s great. Very nice space. Always lots of families there.

I mean the old library had the aesthetics of a jailhouse and you had to struggle to glimpse natural light, and yeah, it's ALWAYS busy. It is no small contributor to the life of downtown on a day to day basis. I had coffee with a friend from out of town today who had taken the bus downtown hours earlier just to visit it and she just gushed about it.

 

[thommyjo]

Library is 9/10 inside. Amazing design. More money and starting from scratch could make it a 10 (Calgary’s really felt more grand than ours. Like a Uni building).

Outside is 3/10 at best. And such a premier spot. A huge mistake. Any claims that it’s “not that bad” is honestly part of the problem. Tolerate crap. Get crap. It’s an embarrassing piece of architecture.

Social issues are significant. I can’t trust to lock my bike up there as I’ve seen 4 different cuttings off the western racks. 0 police presence ever. Bathrooms are unsafe for kids too. I’ve had to report blood and drug use multiple times and one time it was closed because a guy OD a few hours prior. It’s success despite these issues shows the potential. It’s an amazing institution.

 

[TAS]

I mean the old library had the aesthetics of a jailhouse and you had to struggle to glimpse natural light, and yeah, it's ALWAYS busy. It is no small contributor to the life of downtown on a day to day basis. I had coffee with a friend from out of town today who had taken the bus downtown hours earlier just to visit it and she just gushed about it.

I was there yesterday for about an hour getting a couple of books, and then ordered one from Audrey's that the library didn't have called Inclusive Transportation. Lots of kids there yesterday and the makers section was packed.

It's always busy when I go. Security is always kept pretty busy, too, it seems.

 

[TAS]

 

[Kosy123]

The lack of a day space just means that the library becomes the substitute for that. The King Thunderbird Centre should divert some of that traffic in the future.

And yeah I'm slowly starting to like the bibliotank too lol