LINCOLN ALEXANDER CONFERENCE CENTRE/?/?/Renovation

the dude · #1 Posted **Nov 1, 2007, 8:26 PM**

here's a picture of the renovations currently underway:

30,000+ square feet of banquet and meeting space including a 400 seat lecture theatre and state-of-the-art technology. will serve the soon-to-be-named crowne plaza hotel next door.

matt602 · #2 Posted **Nov 1, 2007, 8:31 PM**

Huge improvements they're doing to that incredibly boring, featureless building. Gotta give em credit for that.

block43 · #3 Posted **Nov 1, 2007, 8:37 PM**

Hopefully the exterior of the hotel next door gets facade improvements.

raisethehammer · #4 Posted **Nov 1, 2007, 8:53 PM**

they've been working on the hotel facade all week.

DC83 · #5 Posted **Nov 1, 2007, 8:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by block43

Hopefully the exterior of the hotel next door gets facade improvements.

I think they only thing that could improve the Ramada is a wrecking ball! It's such a shame they tore down the old Terminal Bldg.

This convention ctr will definately add some much needed streetlife to this particular stretch of King... let's just hope Hamilton becomes a "convention" city much like London (Ontario) is right now. With all the hotel plans on the table, it just may be!

Now if we can only sell off HECFI!!!

SteelTown · #6 Posted **Nov 1, 2007, 10:48 PM**

Great to see progress being made with the conference centre. Funny thing is if you stick around you might actually see Lincoln Alexander whipping down King St to check up on the building on his scooter. Him and his scooter jeez he's everywhere!

DC83 · #7 Posted **Nov 1, 2007, 11:08 PM**

^^ hahaha He's awesome! Such a great ambassador for the city.
He's actually housed in the old Cathedral Girl's school @ Main / Wentworth'ish.
That's why he's always scootin' around downtown!

Is this centre going to look like the original renderings? Or have they changed much? I can't seem to find anything on any of their sites.

the dude · #8 Posted **Nov 2, 2007, 2:05 AM**

there's a lot of prep work going on at the plaza hotel. my guess is they're getting ready for a fresh coat of paint.

DC83 · #9 Posted **Nov 2, 2007, 2:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dude

there's a lot of prep work going on at the plaza hotel. my guess is they're getting ready for a fresh coat of paint.

Not likely with Vranich. I'm guessing he'll be slapping on a fresh coat of stucco... just like the rest of his developments. Is anyone else starting to worry about these guys (Vranich's)???

SteelTown · #10 Posted **Nov 2, 2007, 2:45 AM**

Oscar Kichi owns the hotel.

I'll be satisfied once the grey old cement look is gone.

DC83 · #11 Posted **Nov 2, 2007, 2:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Oscar Kichi owns the hotel.

I'll be satisfied once the grey old cement look is gone.

Oh phewph... thanks for clearing that up for me, Steeltown.

matt602 · #12 Posted **Jan 4, 2008, 10:45 PM**

Windows going in today. Basically big sheets of glass. Looks nice. Should be awesome for a dining or conversation area.

raisethehammer · #13 Posted **Jan 4, 2008, 10:55 PM**

yea, I saw that....nice to have windows on that wall now.
what the heck are they doing with the outside of the hotel though?? man, it looks really weird now. light coloured stucco next to the old grey concrete.

matt602 · #14 Posted **Jan 4, 2008, 10:59 PM**

Yep. I thought it was going to end up that brown stucco looking stuff that was on there... then that cream coloured stuff came out of nowhere. Seems like that's the way it's gonna stay.

Alas, I don't think you can really make a building like that look any better. It's just dated. As long as it's full of people and making a profit, I'm happy.

raisethehammer · #15 Posted **Jan 4, 2008, 11:01 PM**

they could completely re-clad it in steel or glass with french balconies etc.... but yea, it'd be tough to do anything simple that changes the look of the place.
The lobby is gorgeous now. if they do that type of reno throughout the building, they should do good business.

chris k · #16 Posted **Jan 5, 2008, 1:03 AM**

I really hope so as the main problem with staying downtown is perceptions and looking at it now does not give the greatest first impression. I know the interior is more important so lets hope that they sell it nicelywith great interior shots.

matt602 · #17 Posted **Jan 7, 2008, 5:18 PM**

Windows! yay!

raisethehammer · #18 Posted **Jan 7, 2008, 9:09 PM**

lookin good. windows always make such a huge difference.

chris k · #19 Posted **Jan 7, 2008, 9:10 PM**

Looks pretty good just hope they do something nice with the entrance and cover up the black utility box and make it nice to stroll by.

Aslong as it looks good on the inside, that seems to be priority with this renovation to me.

raisethehammer · #20 Posted **Jan 7, 2008, 9:53 PM**

I honestly expected them to do nothing with the exterior, so I'm happy they at least did windows.
we'll see how the whole thing shapes up. It's gotta be decent enough to become a Crowne Plaza.