Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961
So what is planned for this site now that this building is down?
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Last I heard PWGSC and AgCan want to return the site to a more agricultural environment, something that an 11 storey building doesn't convey (unless it's a grain elevator).
See pic 2 on this website:
http://www.pfs.bc.ca/html_proj/proj_academy.shtml?05 for one of the early ideas, which isn't much different than what was already there, save for the tower going away.
The old cafeteria portion of the building to the northwest was saved despite being mere feet from the demolition. The general idea is to turn this "annex" into some sort of visitors centre for the farm, and perhaps a library in the basement area, as a tribute to the architect who designed the building. Personally I don't think there is anything remarkable about the annex, but I think it was a compromise with the heritage folks. The annex will need all new services and heating plant as the majority of them were fed from the demolished portion of the building and the CEF heating plant has been shut down.
I also read somewhere, maybe elsewhere on this site, that the concrete rubble will be ground up and used to eliminate the cliff to the northeast of the building, making a more gentle slope with landscaping on top. This will open up the farm to the northeast and make it more inviting. At present there is a steep walkway cutting up the cliff from Sherwood Dr/Carling intersection which was always a security concern for AgCan employees coming or going by the 85 bus as that was the shortest route to get to the building.
There was a substantial basement and parking garage under the building. Originally there was talk of saving that, but the implosion has surely obliterated any hope of that. I'm not sure what will need to be done to fill in the hole or how the site will be ultimately regraded.
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