nightstreak
Active Member
oh gosh you’re right. The sides facing St Lawrence Market south are now drywall when they were supposed to be a glass view towards the old market.
You can see the wall in @Natika33 ’s photo. Why isn’t the cafe open into the market? A counter there would make sense, particularly on market days. These decisions neither make the market better, nor are they cheaper. No wall would’ve been cheaper than a wall.
Why is the city like this? This isn’t value engineering, just incompetence or dontgiveashitness.
CityRider
New Member
I think it's worth noting this was a "soft opening" so it's entirely possible they haven't finished decorating, unless you count those balloons and streamers in the office window a few weeks back. Maybe shake a fist at the city, digitally speaking, see what they say?
everydayhim
Active Member
i was disappointed on so many fronts when i visited on Saturday.
- the building is mediocre, at best. it's a bland open space with a tall atrium in the middle. great
- the key to making simple planning like this work is in the architectural detailing, which were all value engineered to death. and it shows...
- i overhead a few people asking why the building is unfinished with all the exposed steel. exposed structure is cool when it's detailed well and complimented with materials and purpose, not when it's just literally exposed
- the huge blank walls of hopefully temporary drywall are so awful to open such a public building to
- to open such a significant building that's been waited on for years and years, to no celebrational support: no music, no band, no coffee shop, no volunteers, no fun signage. i've seen kids birthday parties that were planned with more enthusiasm
- the street crossing between the two buildings is an obvious miss, enough has been said about that now
the saving grace of all the great vendors who were excited just to have a forum and a stage for their hard work was the best part of this whole thing. and maybe, in the end, that's the point
- the building is mediocre, at best. it's a bland open space with a tall atrium in the middle. great
- the key to making simple planning like this work is in the architectural detailing, which were all value engineered to death. and it shows...
- i overhead a few people asking why the building is unfinished with all the exposed steel. exposed structure is cool when it's detailed well and complimented with materials and purpose, not when it's just literally exposed
- the huge blank walls of hopefully temporary drywall are so awful to open such a public building to
- to open such a significant building that's been waited on for years and years, to no celebrational support: no music, no band, no coffee shop, no volunteers, no fun signage. i've seen kids birthday parties that were planned with more enthusiasm
- the street crossing between the two buildings is an obvious miss, enough has been said about that now
the saving grace of all the great vendors who were excited just to have a forum and a stage for their hard work was the best part of this whole thing. and maybe, in the end, that's the point
DSCToronto
Superstar
The mezzanine drywall IS temporary
The official opening is in May and there will be music, speeches etc. This was a 'soft opening' - be thankful it actually opened.
The street crossing of Front is, apparently, being fixed up at same time as the Park
nightstreak
Active Member
That's a relief. But only the mezzanine drywall? What about the north wall and the coffee shop? The north wall was supposed to be stone tile finishing but I had given up on that being applied later because they've installed things like speakers and signage on the drywall and left little room for any finishings behind the stairs.
@rdaner mentioned this as well. However, when visiting the city website page for Market Lane Park, the scope of the project excludes the street.
In fact, it appears that the way they're addressing the street crossing between north and south markets is by placing a bike share station (see legend) and trees where people are crossing. So they're blocking the desire path instead of following it.
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everydayhim
Active Member
yes, thanks for this reply.
i'm aware of all of this, that's not the point. the point is to voice concern over how it's happening.
i know the wall is temporary; it shouldn't be when this building is open to the public
i know there's an official opening in May. it doesn't mean we have to hold out any form of minor celebration until then. put some music on some speakers, if anything
i know that crossing is 'in the works' but it should have already been dealt with in advance of this building opening
we can't always be defending or providing reasoning to the sub standard delivery of public works. if we do, how do we ever elevate the standard of what we deserve and pay for?
DSCToronto
Superstar
The work on Front is being planned and paid for by the BIA. It is being done (I am told) by the same contractor who will be working on the Park but it is NOT part of the Park contract.That's a relief. But only the mezzanine drywall? What about the north wall and the coffee shop? The north wall was supposed to be stone tile finishing but I had given up on that being applied later because they've installed things like speakers and signage on the drywall and left little room for any finishings behind the stairs.
@rdaner mentioned this as well. However, when visiting the city website page for Market Lane Park, the scope of the project excludes the street.
In fact, it appears that the way they're addressing the street crossing between north and south markets is by placing a bike share station (see legend) and trees where people are crossing. So they're blocking the desire path instead of following it.
View attachment 642354
Tyrang
Active Member
Connection would be cool, but feel like the return is much lower than the effort needed for this to happen. It takes 1 mins to go from one to the other.
There should be so many different options to make the drywall less drywall-esque. Wallpaper? Some artworks? the fixes could be rather cheap as well.
Towered
Superstar
Hell, I'll be happy to tag those horrible walls at VERY LOW COST (see, I can even value engineer myself because they just LOVE to hear that shit). You all know I'd do something very interesting
thaivic
Senior Member
Aboriginal art works would look great and give the building some vibe.
nightstreak
Active Member
What do you mean, the exposed spray fire retardant ceilings isn't industrial chique enough for you? Some people pay big bucks for converted industrial spaces.
ProjectEnd
Superstar
Oof, just realized they replaced the glass louvres and bridges with corrugate slate they purchased at RONA.
Planned:
Built:
Yikes this place is the poster child for value engineering. I see that RSHP is sufficiently embarrassed to hide it deep in their projects list. I only found it after searching from Google, not on their site where no results come up.
View attachment 642296
I know the glazing wouldn't have had to be completely transparent, but glass bridges are actually quite difficult, given the potential for people to look up and under others' garments. I ran into this issue in a past project and we had to just abandon glass, unfortunately.
Northern Light
Superstar
While he can and has spoken for himself, I think it's important to say @DSCToronto spends more of his 'free' time holding public officials to account, not just here on UT but via emails, phone calls, in person, through the media and by by attending many, many meetings.......than the vast majority of people in this City, including UT'ers.
I would not read him as defending anything here...........merely explaining.
ward10
New Member
Can they un-value engineer the back wall plz? This rendering shows what a difference the cladding the architects planned would've had vs the plain drywall we gotOof, just realized they replaced the glass louvres and bridges with corrugate slate they purchased at RONA.
Planned: