David A
Senior Member
Sort of. The library had to be scaled back due to money too, but I agree the concept was weak to begin with. Doing it on the cheap just made it very obvious and even worse.
- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
TAS
Senior Member
Yes, this image most accurately reflects the design of this beautiful building and although no signs of it yet, hopefully the outdoor space, which can add significantly to the vibrancy of a street, will also be an 8 out of 10 for what's depicted in the render.
While we can't afford to replace most of our smaller parking lots with a $118 million building of mostly public money, it's certainly a win when we get a few like this and the downtown park for $45 million.
David A
Senior Member
TAS
Senior Member
As usual, in person is much better. But from a block south on 97st looking back, this building looks great.
Out of Towner
Active Member
an_edmontonian
New Member
Obviously a massive improvement for this intersection. Does need some landscaping however.
Out of Towner
Active Member
Downtown Edmonton traffic lights and signage hanging from a wire and violating the appearance of Winspear. Even the street lights are junky. Criminal if that stuff isn't upgraded to something from the 21 century.
archited
Senior Member
It would be great to see an upscale eatery on the ground floor
EdmTrekker
Senior Member
Locally owned coffee house would actually turn a profit. Upscale resto never.
bodsbods9090
Senior Member
Yeah, it doesn't make sense that these traffic lights look like that at this intersection unless it's a high load corridor.
Friendmonton
Active Member
It continually frustrates me that this city's designers are so afraid of colour. A richer brown would have looked much better, not just another shade of grey from the district energy system.
archited
Senior Member
This designer -- Architect is from Hong Kong.
kcantor
Senior Member
Don't forget that what we got - and which I have given an 8 out of 10 - isn't actually what Andrew designed for us. This is:
The Winspear Project | Andrew Bromberg Architects
Winspear Completion Project is the final phase of The Francis Winspear Centre for Music, which was opened in 1997. The current facility is home to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. It is located at the heart of the Arts district in downtown Edmonton.
www.andrewbromberg.com
For Edmonton (or anywhere else for that matter), this would have been a 12 out of 10. The location of the architect had little or nothing to do with the value engineering his design was subjected to after being selected (something Edmonton is way too experienced at and suffers greatly from). It's a credit to him that we got what we did get.
It's also worth noting that while the practice is based in Hong Kong, the firm has done some extremely high quality - and some outstanding precedent work for Winspear - all over the world.
Bromberg is from the US and received his Master’s degree in architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and University of Washington after completing his Bachler’s degree in Environmental Design from University of Colorado and Arizona State University a few years earlier (all of which are pretty close to your neck of the woods no?).
Out of Towner
Active Member
"Value engineering" is code for rug pull. The value engineered finished product is still better than most and a testament to the strength of the initial design.
Last edited:
ChazYEG
Senior Member
The original project would've been absolutely glorious, but what we got is still one of the best looking buildings in the city.