**New copies of the pictures have been uploaded, with the exception of the first four, since they’re not critical to the post, IMO. (Plus it’s Christmas Eve…)
The first slide is an overview of the plaza, with the points of entry…
Another overview, with the proposed new stage at the foot of McDougall.
A scale overview of the new stage along with the new access from McDougall to the plaza.
A cut away view of the same view, as you can see there will be space for dressing rooms, loading docks, etc… a far cry from “The Onion” which is half of the old entrance to the temporary Casino, that was located where the Art Gallery is today.
A bird’s eye view of the ramp from McDougall to the plaza, along with the new sound stage.
A street level view. Looks like the materials may be concrete with a bit of colour added in on the back of the stage with some wood cladding.
A 3D model looking east from the back of the stage, you can see the ramp to street level, as well as the loading docks.
A 3D view looking west from the front of the stage.
An artist’s conception of the stage
An artist’s view looking towards the west near street level.
While I’m not generally a giant fan of modern architecture, this is actually a very nice concept. Whereas some times, buildings look idiotic because they don’t fit in with their neighbours, in this case there are no other buildings for it clash with.
There has been some federal stimulus money given towards the project, and it will get rid of the joke of a stage that’s currently there, and it will also remove the blue buildings along the waterfront that are left over from the days of the Northern Belle Casino.
All in all I think it’s a decent design, and I really like how they’ll tie McDougall Street into the waterfront, and create a better pedestrian access point. Those wooden stairs that are there now are a disgrace, as is the onion.
This will be a great addition to the waterfront, and might just be the piece of the puzzle that transforms the Festival Plaza space into to something that Windsor can actually be proud of.
I just hope that the design doesn’t get scaled back and the project gets the typical Windsor cheapening.
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Also, this will be the last post this week, Check back here Monday the 28th following the holiday weekend, for a new post. I hope everyone out there has a safe a happy holiday weekend, whatever you happen to celebrate or believe in.
See you Monday.
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this is a HUGE improvement over the onion...
although this is big for windsor... and i agree could very easly be cheapened up.. it could have possibly been better... maybe something cantilevering over the water? something with more transparency? i dont know... were there a series of proposals? i wonder if it would be possible to see alternative designs.
The old Northern Belle building is fascinating--though I won't miss it once it's gone. For those who've never poked around--it is essentially intact (what remains of it) -- including even the tile flooring that 'graced' the interior of the old "landside" building.
This is one civic project that makes sense. The only issue with it is concrete. Too much concrete. It appears as if everything this city does these days is with concrete. Ouellette avenue, the Burt Weeks Fountain, the new Peace Fountain at Pillette, the Bistro at the foot of Dieppe... All of these structures look like bunkers. It would be nice too see some of these things softened up a bit with different colours and textures. This feature is a nice and useful addition to the riverfront. Hopefully it will not look like tired and dirty concrete forty years down the road.
The Windsor Star has a copy of the presentation in PDF format here:
http://www.windsorstar.com/pdf/Festivalplazastage.pdf
Thanks for the link Shawn. I guess the "real" media doesn't get their requests ignored ;)
I like the new design as well but I have to agree with M.O.M. Why so much concrete?
Why not inter-locking bricks?
Speaking of which, I wish we would have used brick on major intersections downtown in patterns of the maple leaf such as above. I mean are we not supposed to be the gateway of Canada?
Getting back on topic. The only other design issue is that it should be closer to downtown so that crowds would have an impact on local business. But in all, much better than what is there now.
I hope there is still some consideration for the Marina opportunity from the CIP in that area.. i think at the foot of glengary or marentette. This concrpt would be an excellent compliment to an adjacent transient Marina.
Well done for keeping these projects and the like in the public eye. I concur with your sentiments and hope that they don't skimp on the project.
This could become another great venue for the arts. Following the recent report in the Windsor Star on the Art Scene in Windsor, this is one more thing to give some impetus to organizing what Windsor has to offer.
My Christmas wish is that somehow the City will figure out how to promote Windsor PROPERLY as a destination. We really have so much to offer. It's just so fragmented in its promotion. If Elliot Lake can promote themselves in McLeans magazine.... I rest my case.
Merry Christmas.
And I hope there is still room for the Bike Rental and Snack bar.
I find the design somewhat retro, reminds me of what was new and exciting . . . in the fifties! Moreover I rather resent the whole project when the Capital, which absorbed so much tax money a few years back, sits underused and ignored.