Quote:
Originally Posted by rwspencer38
There is a budget though. Those centres that are featured on google are some the most expensive centres in the world. I think we have to be realistic in what this city can actually obtain. Perhaps the design could be nicer but it certainly cannot be world class leading. I say that because in order to be such a building, you would need a VERY VERY large budget which is just not fesible for such a small city.
The vancouver convention centre which was first on that list cost almost $1 trillion
Ottawa convention centre $170 million
Winnipeg centre was $180 million (and not overly amazing!)
All i'm trying to say is that at $52 million, people are complaining and perhaps rightfully so. This is a public building whereby the expectations need to be tamed. We really cannot afford a $150 million + centre, hell its unlikely we could afford $75 million (which it will likely cost haha), so at what point do we match our wants and expectations with reality?
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I agree with Copes. Great post - made me stop and think.
That said... there has to be a solution. Jeddy has changed my way of thinking with his optimism.
As others here have suggested, maybe the city could partner with private investors (say, the Delta) interested in building a new downtown tower and use the convention centre as its base.
And I don't believe things have to be expensive to look amazing. I shop at thrift stores for sport and I look fine.
We can have an affordable centre that looks great. Glass is not that much more expensive than metal cladding; an interesting shape doesn't cost that much more than a glorified Big Box strip mall.