[hackunion]

I couldn't find a Museum of Nature thread so I assumed there hasn't been one yet... Anyways, will anyone else be attending the:



Information Session
Renewal of the Victoria Memorial Museum Building

Wednesday, April 23: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
(Presentation at 7:00 p.m. followed by question-and-answer session).

Join us for another information session on progress to the rehabilitation and renovations of the historic Victoria Memorial Museum Building. Come learn from the architects about the upcoming construction of the lantern, which will start in the spring and continue for about six months. There will be displays and experts on hand to answer your questions. Information: 613.566.4781 or questions@mus-nature.ca.

----------------------

The last info session was exactly two years ago and many interesting things have happened since!

[O-Town Hockey]

Here's a few renderings of the renovation from the museum's web site. Definately one of the best museums in Ottawa. With this renovation it will be put on par with gems like Civilization, War, and the National Gallery.

(http://nature.ca/)

http://nature.ca/reno/images/popups/frnt_nght_lg.jpg http://nature.ca/reno/images/popups/bk_nght_lg.jpg
http://nature.ca/reno/images/popups/frnt_dy_lg.jpg http://nature.ca/reno/images/popups/bkwtrfll_nght_lg.jpg
http://nature.ca/reno/images/popups/strs_nsght_lg.jpg http://nature.ca/reno/images/popups/atrm_nsde_lg.jpg

[ajldub]

I know I'm in the wrong forum here but I still can't believe that we're getting screwed out of a portrait gallery....


Anyways this museum will be really nice when it's done. I was hoping they would figure out a way to keep the floor mosaics exposed like put them on the wall or something, but I'm sure it will still look great. That diplodocus or whatever it is in the lantern will look brilliant when lit up at night.

[harls]

That crane has been there for what, 4 years now?

[ajldub]

Yeah they sure took their time with this one. They cut down some really old trees on the lawn, too. But it will be worth it.

[Kitchissippi]

That diplodocus or whatever it is in the lantern will look brilliant when lit up at night.

That rendering shows a blue whale skeleton, which is too heavy to be hung, unless an expensive fibreglass model is made. They may leave it empty for now but I think one of the concepts is to project images onto the ceiling, so that when you are walking on the sidewalk at night and look up, you'd see a changing canvas.

While I don't mind the "lantern", I wish they would have considered putting back a replica of the original tower. With the leda clay issued addressed, a lighter version of the original stone tower is possible. It's not like a significant event caused the demise of the tower, it was simply dismantled when it leaned too far. Imagine if the Peace Tower was damaged, do you think they'd put a glass top instead?

http://nature.ca/reno/images/bld_ppf_e.jpg nature.ca

[m0nkyman]

Imagine if the Peace Tower was damaged, do you think they'd put a glass top instead?


Depends on the government. It wouldn't shock me though. :shrug:

[hackunion]

On site about a week ago

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/canadawater/musee1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/canadawater/musee2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/canadawater/musee4.jpg


Cellphone:
http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v343/24/69/1281178478/n1281178478_30138045_8274.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v343/24/69/1281178478/n1281178478_30138046_8603.jpg

[Ottawade]

Am I the only one that things the Opus is butt ugly?

[Glazier Man]

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Older Existing structure The Museum of Nature...and like we need another museum in Ottawa, but the money that has been spent on that building over the life time of the structure thus far far outways the value it has contributed back into the community. If anything, it would have been more cost effective to design a brand new building and errect a new structure at a new location, kinda like what they did with the War Museum, hell, they could even get someone like David Suzuki to Endorse the building because it was made using Green Environmental Practices during construction, and CBC can advertise David Suzuki promoting the New Museum....

Anyway, keep on wasting my money.

[1ajs]

why so sinical sometimes its nice to rusue an old building

[adam-machiavelli]

Glazier man = troll.

Aaaanyway....

[hackunion]

Am I the only one that things the Opus is butt ugly?

I happen to agree with you.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I happen to agree with you.

Me three.

[Mille Sabords]

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Older Existing structure The Museum of Nature...and like we need another museum in Ottawa, but the money that has been spent on that building over the life time of the structure thus far far outways the value it has contributed back into the community. If anything, it would have been more cost effective to design a brand new building and errect a new structure at a new location, kinda like what they did with the War Museum, hell, they could even get someone like David Suzuki to Endorse the building because it was made using Green Environmental Practices during construction, and CBC can advertise David Suzuki promoting the New Museum....

Anyway, keep on wasting my money.

Yup, we'll keep right on it. You don't destroy a stunning piece of historic architecture like that museum, you spend whatever you need to spend to keep it splendorous for the city and the nation. You'll just have to be unhappy about it.

[citizen j]

Anyway, keep on wasting my money.

Who is it that you think you're speaking to? I feel quite confident that none of us here in the skyscraperpage forum is the Federal Minsister of Finance or oversees some other cabinet portfolio (although with the use of pseudonyms, you can never be sure). I have this conversation every time I'm in Alberta visiting family. They seem to think that the residents of Ottawa are somehow collectively responsible for their tax rate and have more of a say in how federal taxes are spent than they do. The counterpoint argument would be for me to blame them and other Calgarians (and Edmontonians) for the price of gas. While Ottawans have considerably greater access to the fruits of those expenses in the form of national institutions, that shouldn't be a huge surprise -- a national institution in a national capital? How novel. Neverthelss, an Ottawan doesn't have any more of a say in where your taxes get spent than you do. Witness the impending move of the National Pork Gallery to Harperland. One person, one vote.

[Acajack]

Yup, we'll keep right on it. You don't destroy a stunning piece of historic architecture like that museum, you spend whatever you need to spend to keep it splendorous for the city and the nation.

:cheers: and :tup:

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Who is it that you think you're speaking to? I feel quite confident that none of us here in the skyscraperpage forum is the Federal Minsister of Finance or oversees some other cabinet portfolio (although with the use of pseudonyms, you can never be sure). I have this conversation every time I'm in Alberta visiting family. They seem to think that the residents of Ottawa are somehow collectively responsible for their tax rate and have more of a say in how federal taxes are spent than they do. The counterpoint argument would be for me to blame them and other Calgarians (and Edmontonians) for the price of gas. While Ottawans have considerably greater access to the fruits of those expenses in the form of national institutions, that shouldn't be a huge surprise -- a national institution in a national capital? How novel. Neverthelss, an Ottawan doesn't have any more of a say in where your taxes get spent than you do. Witness the impending move of the National Pork Gallery to Harperland. One person, one vote.

:tup: :banana:

[c_speed3108]

Who is it that you think you're speaking to? I feel quite confident that none of us here in the skyscraperpage forum is the Federal Minsister of Finance or oversees some other cabinet portfolio (although with the use of pseudonyms, you can never be sure). I have this conversation every time I'm in Alberta visiting family. They seem to think that the residents of Ottawa are somehow collectively responsible for their tax rate and have more of a say in how federal taxes are spent than they do. The counterpoint argument would be for me to blame them and other Calgarians (and Edmontonians) for the price of gas. While Ottawans have considerably greater access to the fruits of those expenses in the form of national institutions, that shouldn't be a huge surprise -- a national institution in a national capital? How novel. Neverthelss, an Ottawan doesn't have any more of a say in where your taxes get spent than you do. Witness the impending move of the National Pork Gallery to Harperland. One person, one vote.

Can someone please send this to every one of the media outlets that use the word "Ottawa" as a synonym for "Federal Government".

[Mille Sabords]

Can someone please send this to every one of the media outlets that use the word "Ottawa" as a synonym for "Federal Government".

Aye aye. :tup: :tup: :tup:

[O-Town Hockey]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/2929375109_13d2ae5171_b.jpg

From "southfacing" on flickr

[jeremy_haak]

It will be a nice improvement. I have always liked the Museum of Nature.

[Deez]

Always a negative Neddy:

The roof is absolutely atrocious. The grey against the brown brick looks SO cheap and ugly. Go see it in person if your don't believe me.


I'm very happy with the rest of the reno.

[deva]

I agree, the roof is nasty.

Funny how it isn't visible in any of the renderings that show the museum from a street level perspective.

[Kitchissippi]

It looks especially nasty from the Queensway, since you're viewing it from a higher level. I wish they had used a darker grey cladding, maybe a titanium-like tint that reflects the quality of sunlight hitting it. I especially hate the two boxes beside the tower, as it robs the structure of any impression of height.

[waterloowarrior]

more by southfacing (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/sets/72157604109835610/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/3071110284_5f2ae03761_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/3070271501_5bef531bde_o.jpg

[jeremy_haak]

Wow, I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those few situations where the finished product actually measures up to the rendering.

[harls]

Does anyone know why this renovation is taking forever to complete? Is there just one construction guy or something?

[Kitchissippi]

It's a pretty complicated project, a new building within an old building. The old structure is relatively fragile -- despite the massive stonework, the floors are actually made of terracotta. They've had to place steel trusses inside for seismic-proofing and cast concrete around the terracotta. Technically, they could have gutted this building to the stone walls and rebuild completely new floors and it would have been quicker and cheaper, and nobody would have noticed but the heritage value dictated that some of the structure be kept. Ironically, it's all covered over in the end because the new inner walls are actually built three feet from the original walls to provide a climate-controlled buffer zone. The galleries are about 10% smaller than they were originally.

[Kitchissippi]

Here's a plan that shows the inner walls (you can see this in every fire safety station in the building)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/3102253887_9853a44eff_b.jpg

[waterloowarrior]

southfacing at it again
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/3281665063_b8f9552b78_o.jpg

[hackunion]

I guess in the renderings they chose not show the impact that the new roof structures will have - unless they are temporary?

[Kitchissippi]

No they are not temporary. They house the building's new mechanicals. I don't think they realized the extent of air conditioning needed when they did the renderings.

[Deez]

close-up of completed tower

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2/Reersmeer/IMG_1794.jpg

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I like how you can still see the original structure through the glass tower. It adds a nice touch.