CBE Education Centre | 61M | 12F | Under Construction

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Zilla

- I still wish they had re-furbished the deco-inspired gym rather than knocking it down, but at least they might preserve the monumental entryway.

They could have totally turned that gym into "The Municipal Fortress of Justice".

I still remember when I'd pick up my younger sister from there when Rundle College was the school. Or looking down on it from the apartement building to the south when I had an ex that lived there. It is a great 'character' green space, I really hope that it stays that way.

[RWin]

Originally Posted by josh white

Anyway, here it is. What do you think?

I wonder how many schools they need to close to build it?

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by RWin

I wonder how many schools they need to close to build it?

The sale of their downtown block, and the money from the sale of the park to the City will cover it. Bentall is building the actual office tower, the school board is simply leasing it.

[Arriviste]

Originally Posted by Zilla

- Regarding the old CBE building downtown, it's on the 'top 100' Alberta buildings by the Alberta Association of Architects http://www.aaa.ab.ca/pages/public/csaa/csaa-60.aspx-

- Any images to be posted that better show the relationship of the new building to Carl Safran? I saw some at the open house.

- I still wish they had re-furbished the deco-inspired gym rather than knocking it down, but at least they might preserve the monumental entryway.

It makes me very sad to see this one go. Here are a couple photos I have posted before that I took of the Gym few months ago:





A shame.

[Distill3d]

suffice to say that this building is better in design then what is currently in use.

[Calgarian]

I don't know how you guys like the gym, I think it is an absolute eyesore, good riddance!!

[Arriviste]

Originally Posted by Distill3d

suffice to say that this building is better in design then what is currently in use.

I don't know how you guys like the gym, I think it is an absolute eyesore, good riddance!!

You guys are loco! The current CBE building is a classic. As is this gym. Both are so pretty.

[Wooster]

There is serious talk about preserving the monumental door feature of the gym and incorporating it into the project.

The old CBE headquarters, I agree are an architectural gem. A fine example from the era, regardless of whether people think it is pretty. It is an important building. Personally, I have liked it ever since I started getting into architecture.

It will be very interesting to see what happens with it. Since the site is being sold, it will depend on the owner. There will certainly be people fighting for its preservation. The site is quite large, and if Family of Man moves, the west side of the block could easily be developed, leaving most if not all of the existing building on the eastern edge of the block intact.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Arriviste

You guys are loco! The current CBE building is a classic. As is this gym. Both are so pretty.

The school is fantastic, the gym looks like a bunker.

[Me&You]

Edit - shitty slow server...

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by josh white

The sale of their downtown block, and the money from the sale of the park to the City will cover it. Bentall is building the actual office tower, the school board is simply leasing it.

So if the CBE is selling their DT block (which you said yourself is rediculously valuable), why do they need to do a P3 AND Lease a new building? Shouldn't the sale of the DT location been more than enough to build and own a notable (NICE!) building here?

[RWin]

Originally Posted by josh white

The sale of their downtown block, and the money from the sale of the park to the City will cover it. Bentall is building the actual office tower, the school board is simply leasing it.

Well, that makes it easier to take then.

It still pisses me off though that they get something new to administer from while the schools are falling down around our kids (the ones that aren't closing that is).

And schools are closing and not being repaired because there isn't enough kids to fill them.

And there isn't enough kids to fill them because everyone wants a new house on the edge of town - can't build new schools there until they close schools nearer to downtown.

[unibrain]

I would have liked it more if they went with a more interesting shape.. or perhaps a glass cube, like an apple store New York on that corner. As much as I find the 999 building shocking, I think it would have served much better at this corner, not so much for it's design, but the colors and context the building serves for.

I would agree that having an arched feature cut into building (ala the bow) to create a public amenity entrance complete with three flag poles at that intersection would have been a better idea. I mean, when you look at that building, you're not really sure where the main entrance is, other than assuming it's off the corner. For public, institutional, or government offices, these are usually of the norm.

I'd like to see the statues moved to the greenspace on the opposite side of the block, just behind the building facing the other intersection. It's got that large atrium-like curtainwall.. having those statues out there for people on the inside to look at would be somewhat neat... very campus-like.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by RWin

I wonder how many schools they need to close to build it?

They only close the schools that are sitting half empty and are underutilized.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by RWin

Well, that makes it easier to take then.

It still pisses me off though that they get something new to administer from while the schools are falling down around our kids (the ones that aren't closing that is).

And schools are closing and not being repaired because there isn't enough kids to fill them.

And there isn't enough kids to fill them because everyone wants a new house on the edge of town - can't build new schools there until they close schools nearer to downtown.

I am quite sure that not everyone WANTS a house on the edge of town. The simple fact is that is where the vast majority of family housing is being built so you don't have much choice. Moving to Calgary and have kids??? Where else can you find an availiable home that is reasonably priced (and I use reasonably priced in a very loose term). Given the choice I doubt people would choose to live way the hell and gone in the burbs. I certainly didn't plan on it when we moved here but it was the only place we could find a house that fit our budget and our needs.

[RWin]

We we make a choice to move into a neighbourhood relatively close - in part because I don't want to spend half my day communting and in part because there is a school in the community. The reward for doing my little part to slow the sprawl is to have the school closed.

[Arch26]

Originally Posted by lubicon

I am quite sure that not everyone WANTS a house on the edge of town. The simple fact is that is where the vast majority of family housing is being built so you don't have much choice. Moving to Calgary and have kids??? Where else can you find an availiable home that is reasonably priced (and I use reasonably priced in a very loose term). Given the choice I doubt people would choose to live way the hell and gone in the burbs. I certainly didn't plan on it when we moved here but it was the only place we could find a house that fit our budget and our needs.

Once Calgary's inner city desity is high enough, they should start taking some of the risks that places like Vancouver have taken. Vancouver has made huge efforts to generate a greater sense of community in neighborhoods like Yaletown. They understood that no families would move there if there were no schools, parks, and community centres. So their solution was to wait for the right time, and then go ahead and build those things anyway, with the hope that it would draw more families to the core. And it worked. Can you imagine? Building brand new schools in the inner city!!!

[RWin]

Originally Posted by Arch26

Can you imagine? Building brand new schools in the inner city!!!

Yeah, who would have ever guessed that if you build it, they will come.