Stage 1:
The visibility and prominence given to the City Hall, generosity of public open space, and consideration of context are the major positive qualities of this submission.
We were particularly impressed with the attempt to step down the mass of the building at 3rd Street SE and thereby help make a transition to the proposed residential community to the east.
The jury also noted the comment of the Energy con-sultant that the energy saving design was "well thought out and explained" with an estimated energy consumption of 145 Kwh/m2/year.
In the Final Stage of the competition we would like to see this design more clearly resolved in the following areas:
- Clearer visual identity and organization of the Council Chamber and its public gallery.
- More attention to the public entrances and better organization of the Public Service and Retail areas which currently are confusing and poorly located.
- A more sympathetic junction of the glass wall of the Municipal Building with the City Hall.
Finally, we believe the mirrored west facade requires special consideration by the designer to express the civic nature of the project and avoid looking like a conventional commercial development.
Stage 2:
The Municipal Building has a clean and strong expression providing a fine backdrop to the City Hall. The overall composition clearly defines the legislative and administrative functions. The location of the Council chamber in the City Hall is well resolved, and reinforces the legislative image of the building.
A very generous public open space is provided with very human qualities expressed in the landscape design. The interior public spaces are also generous and most attractive.
East west pedestrian connection through the building is well expressed, and the stepped down mass of the east elevation is an appropriate response to the proposed residential community east of the site.
This design is also a very good example of architecture, which considers the winter environment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1- The west facade, while a strong and powerful idea, is compromised by an awkward connection to City Hall, a tilted angle the justification for which is weak, and arbitrary embellishment with a number of fashionable cliches. Reconsideration of these elements is required and possible while retaining the basic idea and image.
2- The need for and function of the long stretch of balustrade on the +15 level should be reconsidered.
3- While the 3rd Street elevation is good, the pedestrian environment must be improved with relocation and/or design of the parking and service entrances.
4- The building is lacking a consistency of design expression on its different sides. Reconside¬ration of the west facade could also result in a more unified overall expression.
5- The massing and design of the hotel/residential development south of the site is critical to the success of the public open space and should be carefully controlled.
(From jury report)
11 scanned / 11 viewable
- Perspective
- Photograph of Model
- Perspective
- Presentation Panel Excerpt
- Site Plan
- Plan
- Plan
- Construction detail
- Construction detail
- Conceptual Sketch
- Photograph of Model
