CONCEPT
Foil
The principal parti is to CELEBRATE the existing City Hall.
The competition documents call for the successful design to assure.... 'A strong and positive identity for the 1907 City Hall'.
To this end the new municipal building reconciles strongly conflicting problems of imagery: the new building must, on one hand, be a FOIL, a neutral backdrop for a historic symbol, on the other hand, a old emblem - a fresh, unique civic image.... quite capable of standing proudly on its own merit. The solution to this dilemma and the heart of the design concept resides in its 'front' facade - a variegated mirrored wall - set at 45° to the City's orthogonal grid pattern, This plane steps up from a four storey height adjacent to McLeod Trail in a series of reflective terrace; to 13 floors at the north-east corner of the site; Its shape, material and location were carefully chosen to literally reflect the existing City Hall and the activity within its Ceremonial Plaza. Its reticent low-key' form was designed to minimize the building's apparent volume relative to both the City Hall and the Plaza.
Particular attention was given to the buildings fenestration. The upper part of the adminis¬trative triangle is a sleek, sophisticated; intricately machined curtain wall - in contrast to the deeply molded, limestone-clad lower levels - designed to relate in spirit and material to its historic neighbour.
Pedestrian Mall
The new Municipal Building has been designed as a fitting response to the 8th Avenue Pedestrian Mall - existing and proposed - both east and west of the site. Compositionally the buildings, plaza, and major sculpture are an appropriate formal resolution of the Mall (west). The angled Foil allows a dual purpose effect... it contains and deflects (and to some extent partially terminates) the western vista while, at the same time, permitting -even encouraging- pedestrian penetration in an east-west direction through the building in an enclosed weather protected, 24 hour retail banked 'Main Street'.
The new building will become both a funct¬ional catalyst and a formal centrepiece.
Ceremonial Plaza
The Ceremonial Plaza is designed with careful attention to the program's request that the major public open space 'be of a size and configuration suitable to permit and encourage its daily use as an active downtown space (and) also permit its use for ceremonial functions that occasionally take place at City Hall'. The plaza must then be more than a positive aesthetic device - it must allow a high evel of warmth, gentleness and 'human scale'... while offering a level of monumentality appropriate to the City's most notable landmark.
(From competition's documentation)
Stage 1:
This is an exciting scheme accomplished without expensive and exotic technology. The distinctive design and good discipline of masses respects the City Hall and the site context.
The public open space is informal, friendly and casual reflecting the lifestyle of the citizens of Calgary.
We noted the comments in the Technical report that the Administration components had been well resolved and the forecast energy consumption of 160 Kwh/m2/yr was attainable. Occupancy of the Administration Building can be maintained during construction.
In the Final Stage of the competition we would like to see this design more clearly resolved in the following areas:
- Provision of a clearer view of the entire south elevation of City Hall without compromising the internal open space in the new building.
- More visible access to the Council Chamber in the new building.
- A more identifiable east-west pedestrian access through the project to link the public open space with future developments east of the site.
Stage 2:
A strong bold design that expresses the qualities of the Calgary community and its citizens, this submission is also sensitive to and respectful of the sandstone City Hall.
The structure presents an excellent relationship to the 8th Avenue mall, the present and future L.R.T., and the plus 15 networks. It has proper regard for the residential neighbourhood to the east and for the future hotel to the south. At the same time it does not compromise its distinctive presence in an urban setting.
The mirrored triangular mass of the building, and its intermediary connection with the City Hall clearly define the administrative and legislative roles, each respecting the other to present a well-integrated composition. The use of a mirrored facade is purposeful and particularly appropriate in this context to reflect the City Hall as the distinctive seat of local government and lighten the mass of the new building.
The building presents an inviting human scale exterior approach. The exterior plaza offers a firm sense of welcome. A full view of the south eleva-tion of City Hall is provided from the plaza, which is well sized and proportioned in relation to the building.
Workspaces within the building are skillfully designed to relate closely to daylight despite the low rise mass. This sensitivity to the needs and comforts of those who will work in the building has produced a wide variety of interesting, efficient work areas that take unique advantage of the triangular form.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1- The competitor was commended in the first stage jury report for respecting the continued need for use and occupancy of the existing adminis¬tration building during construction. This could be achieved by curtailing the north-east corner of the new building and reconsidering the top floor and roof design of the administration building.
2 - An even more satisfactory consolidation of legislative functions could be achieved by locating legislative offices and the reception lounge in the City Hall, and locating both the Council Chamber and Committee Rooms in the new building.
3- A change in the level and location of the Council Chamber would be desirable in order to make it more accessible from the +15 system and atrium and plaza; and avoid encroachment in the administration building.
4- The overall mass of the new building may be able to be reduced with further refinement of the ceiling to floor heights, and elimination of one clerestory step on each floor.
5- Reconsideration of the roof design is warranted in order to simplify the complex clerestory glazing within the gable ends. Simplification of the roof design is considered appropriate to Calgary's climate, which also calls for special attention to insulation and cladding.
6 - Careful attention is required in the selection of the colour and texture of the stone cladding and the colour of the metal and glass curtain wall in order to ensure a harmonious and complementary relationship with the refurbished sandstone exterior of City Hall. The location of the north entrance to the L.R.T. station and the design of the south entrance to City Hall should be reconsidered to allow direct access to the City Hall from the plaza. The building must be fully accessible to handi¬capped persons as required by the Sponsor and the Alberta Building Code.
(From competition brief)
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