OT: Ice District construction: updates

[ThePhoenixx]

We all enjoyed the pictures and conversations posted in the arena thread so perhaps it would be nice to have a similar thread for the ice district construction. It will after all be going on for years and looks very interesting.

Then people who rarely frequent the area can see up to date pictures such as those we viewed during the Arena construction. It would be much appreciated.

A "little" addition:

https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/ice-level--essential-tree/t-280635588/c-52454003

Click to read more...

 

[Diamondillium]

Makes sense to split it up at this point. I keep getting excited when the old thread has a post hoping it's a construction update when most of the time it's somebody asking about the view of seat whatever or the bathroom status from section whatever.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

Makes sense to split it up at this point. I keep getting excited when the old thread has a post hoping it's a construction update when most of the time it's somebody asking about the view of seat whatever or the bathroom status from section whatever.

It's been nice getting the updates recently but when fall comes the arena thread will be about the arena again. It would be a shame to lose those updates.

 

[McHilman]

https://twitter.com/thebinster/status/896026646855073792

http://www.rogersplace.com/time-lapse/

Stantec Tower starting to rise, should be the city's tallest very soon. They are currently doing the mechanical floor (the large metal beams going in right now) for the office portion of the tower and then they can pour the slab for the transition to the residential portion.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

https://twitter.com/thebinster/status/896026646855073792

http://www.rogersplace.com/time-lapse/

Stantec Tower starting to rise, should be the city's tallest very soon. They are currently doing the mechanical floor (the large metal beams going in right now) for the office portion of the tower and then they can pour the slab for the transition to the residential portion.

Thanks very much. I was hoping you would see this thread.

 

[McHilman]

It's my favorite topic on here, even more so in the summer

 

[s7ark]

Thanks for the updates McHilman

 

[oilers'72]

https://twitter.com/thebinster/status/896026646855073792

http://www.rogersplace.com/time-lapse/

Stantec Tower starting to rise, should be the city's tallest very soon. They are currently doing the mechanical floor (the large metal beams going in right now) for the office portion of the tower and then they can pour the slab for the transition to the residential portion.

I hope those videos get uploaded on to YouTube one day or be made available for downloading directly. I know watching these from the beginning may be mundane right now as it's very recent and still ongoing. However, stuff like this becomes a valuable historical artefact years down the road and one can how several major projects went from bare ground to completion, plus how it transformed the look of downtown over several years.

 

[Stoneman89]

Great idea OP, long overdue! I look forward to see the many updates.

 

[aqib]

I have been wanting to get to Edmonton being a life-long Oilers fan. So today I finally got my chance. Unfortunately its because the Victoria to Vancouver leg of my trip home to Toronto was cancelled so Air Canada sent me from Victoria to Vancouver to Edmonton to Toronto, so my first visit to Edmonton is only a 3 hour layover but your airport is really nice.

 

[KingKhron]

I have been wanting to get to Edmonton being a life-long Oilers fan. So today I finally got my chance. Unfortunately its because the Victoria to Vancouver leg of my trip home to Toronto was cancelled so Air Canada sent me from Victoria to Vancouver to Edmonton to Toronto, so my first visit to Edmonton is only a 3 hour layover but your airport is really nice.

Cheers! You're just saving the real visit for next year's cup final, I figure.

 

[aqib]

Cheers! You're just saving the real visit for next year's cup final, I figure.

It looks like a great place from the air. I have applied for a few jobs there so who knows I may wind up there.

 

[McHilman]

Introducing Steven Walton

Steven Walton has worked in hospitality for over 20 years and has worked across many aspects of the industry. Beginning in free standing restaurants and bars and everywhere in hotels from banquets to his current role as a member of the executive team as a director of sales and marketing, Steven has seen it all. As an employee of Delta, Fairmont and now Marriott, he has worked across key brands and will head up the Sales and marketing division of the new JW Marriott in Edmonton's ICE District, slated to open in January of 2019.

Interview

Thanks for sitting down with me Steven. Let's jump right into it, I can you tell me what we can expect from the new JW Marriott in Edmonton?

Absolutely! As I had mentioned in our earlier chat, we're not putting a spaceship in downtown Edmonton that's going to feel out of place. A whole lot of the design elements come from Alberta. So, the contrast of the seasons, the contrast from prairies to mountains to the badlands to Elk Island, those are things we are going to see throughout. We really want to zero in on the idea that it's okay to be proud of Edmonton. Proud Edmontonian, proud Albertan and proud Canadian the JW will really exude that all while being approachable and bring a level of modern hotel sophistication that has never been seen in Edmonton and frankly, Alberta. Approachable luxury is what JW is all about.

In the lobby, we see 20+ foot ceilings, hundreds of pot lights and ice marble. Our owner has called it the living room of Ice District. The lobby of a JW is very similar to a lobby of a Marriott with more upscale feel and finishings. It's alive. There's a large sitting area, it feels welcoming, all day dining, a lobby bar, upscale restaurant and lounge and a number of other key design features.

We'll have 346 rooms. 211 of them will be king bedded. Another 111 will have 2 queens, which really just speaks to conference/business travel while still being able to accommodate leisure. If we have a concert going at Rogers Place or if there's a hockey game going one, we need to be able to have that leisure component overlayed with the business travel and group convention side of things. There's also a casino attached to Rogers Place and ICE district plaza will have constant year round programming so the leisure aspect is significant.

The King Rooms will have a 50" TV, a great working desk and plenty of surface space and areas to relax, so it's a large room. They will all have stand up showers.

There's a 4th floor Patio that services our spa. The entire 4th and 5th floor are completely dedicated to the spa and health club. As you can imagine, it's going to be quite breathtaking when it's done and likely be THE place to be fitness and spa wise in Edmonton.

We are 22 floors of hotel, the top level housing the executive club lounge and there are another 32 floors of residence, which are almost all sold out.

http://www.pointsnerd.ca/interview-with-marriott/

 

[McHilman]

Some cool shots on C2E from brenGT2:

Edmonton Skyline: August 12, 2017 by Brendan Eirich, on Flickr

ICE District Construction: August 12, 2017 by Brendan Eirich, on Flickr

Downtown Edmonton: August 12, 2017 by Brendan Eirich, on Flickr

Downtown Edmonton: August 12, 2017 by Brendan Eirich, on Flickr




Some nice density in a few of them with the JW and ST buildings being oh so close to surpassing our current tallest....

 

[McHilman]

Not directly ICE District but an awesome picture none the less.

https://twitter.com/Wherezjeff/status/897855288291676161

 

[McHilman]

https://twitter.com/photodarren/status/898617707095969792

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

Not directly ICE District but an awesome picture none the less.

https://twitter.com/Wherezjeff/status/897855288291676161

Maybe the best picture of Downtown Edmonton I've ever seen. Beautiful.

Once Stantec and JW top out, those beasts are going to do a lot to make the skyline look pretty amazing. The city will definitely punch above its weight in that regard and put some 2-3 million cities down here to shame.

It'd be sweet if the swapped plot of land near the Hotel McDonald or Shaw Conference Center (which has a 800+ foot "proposal" IIRC) and some more development in the Quarters District took place too.

 

[CanmoreMike]

Maybe the best picture of Downtown Edmonton I've ever seen. Beautiful.

Once Stantec and JW top out, those beasts are going to do a lot to make the skyline look pretty amazing. The city will definitely punch above its weight in that regard and put some 2-3 million cities down here to shame.

It'd be sweet if the swapped plot of land near the Hotel McDonald or Shaw Conference Center (which has a 800+ foot "proposal" IIRC) and some more development in the Quarters District took place too.

I am pretty sure I've seen some work being done to prep the Shaw development you are talking about.

Might be wrong but I thought I saw parts being barricaded off.

 

[CanmoreMike]

Maybe the best picture of Downtown Edmonton I've ever seen. Beautiful.

Once Stantec and JW top out, those beasts are going to do a lot to make the skyline look pretty amazing. The city will definitely punch above its weight in that regard and put some 2-3 million cities down here to shame.

It'd be sweet if the swapped plot of land near the Hotel McDonald or Shaw Conference Center (which has a 800+ foot "proposal" IIRC) and some more development in the Quarters District took place too.

What would be really nice is if something started happening with that Quarters blocks they've already prepped quite nicely.

 

[guymez]

Maybe the best picture of Downtown Edmonton I've ever seen. Beautiful.

Once Stantec and JW top out, those beasts are going to do a lot to make the skyline look pretty amazing. The city will definitely punch above its weight in that regard and put some 2-3 million cities down here to shame.

It'd be sweet if the swapped plot of land near the Hotel McDonald or Shaw Conference Center (which has a 800+ foot "proposal" IIRC) and some more development in the Quarters District took place too.

I agree. Beautiful shot.
Nice to see a bridge in the city that's actually photograph worthy.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

Thanks, MH

 

[rboomercat90]

Maybe the best picture of Downtown Edmonton I've ever seen. Beautiful.

Once Stantec and JW top out, those beasts are going to do a lot to make the skyline look pretty amazing. The city will definitely punch above its weight in that regard and put some 2-3 million cities down here to shame.

It'd be sweet if the swapped plot of land near the Hotel McDonald or Shaw Conference Center (which has a 800+ foot "proposal" IIRC) and some more development in the Quarters District took place too.

I didn't realize that new bridge had opened already. When did that happen? What's that small bridge next to it? I assume it was just to service the construction?


Edit: never mind. Took a closer look and realized those were construction vehicles. Lol, should have known better.

 

[NeverForget06]

I didn't realize that new bridge had opened already. When did that happen? What's that small bridge next to it? I assume it was just to service the construction?


Edit: never mind. Took a closer look and realized those were construction vehicles. Lol, should have known better.

I had the exact same thought . I looked it up and its supposed to open in September, although I know its been delayed numerous times.

Also want to say love this as a separate thread. Glad I don't have to sift through arena whining any more to get to the good stuff.

I was looking at the downtown skyline from a plant in refinery row this week and its quite staggering how tall those cranes are. From my viewpoint there were some at the very top of the skyline, which really gives you an idea of how massive these new buildings will be.

Exciting time to be an Edmontonian.

 

[CanmoreMike]

Not quite Ice District news but news from a big proponent of Ice District and the arena, David Staples.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/loc...town-beach-can-be-a-game-changer-for-edmonton

This sounds like a really cool idea. Hope to check it out one of these days, even just in passing, as it sounds like a winner for here. Watch the video they have posted. Guy does an amazing job selling the vision.

 

[rboomercat90]

Not quite Ice District news but news from a big proponent of Ice District and the arena, David Staples.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/loc...town-beach-can-be-a-game-changer-for-edmonton

This sounds like a really cool idea. Hope to check it out one of these days, even just in passing, as it sounds like a winner for here. Watch the video they have posted. Guy does an amazing job selling the vision.

Couple things I find odd about this. First off, I've lived in this city for almost fifty years. During that time I've been under the impression there was a problem with pollution. Not sure if it's true or not but as a kid we were always warned that the fish weren't safe to eat due to their mercury content. If this is the case not sure I'd want to be swimming in the water. I don't think I've ever heard of people swimming in it although I do know people fish in it.

Secondly, it's a fast moving river. Spring run off can last until the end of July so some years it may not be safe for the public until then. Most of the use for this would probably be from the May long weekend until the end of July while the weather is hot. Not sure something like this makes a lot of sense for such a short window for use. Curious to hear what others think.