-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
July 2010
Abugov Kaspar would like to wish everybody a safe and fun Stampede week!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A Walkway to rival the Swankiest of catwalks.
May 2010
Article from The Calgary Herald written by David Parker.
Application has been made for a building permit that, upon approval, will allow construction to begin on what will be this city's most dramatic and colourful Plus-15 walkway.
There has been criticism of late about our elevated walkway system -- thank goodness we have it for office workers who can stay warm in the extended winter -- but the path that will take pedestrians across from the Penn West Building all the way over to Gulf Canada Square can hardly be called a "hamster tube” by those who complain about some others that are rather drab looking.
Designed by ABUGOV KASPAR ARCHITECTURE it will not be erected over a public right of way but parallel with 9th Avenue S.W. within CPR air space curving into the east facade of Gulf Canada Square hiding the curved ramp into its parking area.
Architect FRANK KASPAR says the design concept for the bridge was driven by two major factors. It is located at the end of 2nd Street, so it needed to be an attractive, visual stop. And due to the length of the bridge -- the longest Plus-15 in the city -- it incorporates a number of transitional spaces. The design resulted in what he calls a "Kinetic Art" form, a pedestrian and visual experience unique to Calgary.
The horizontal footprint was devised to accommodate multiple restictions imposed on the location of the bridge and the supports resulting from legal obligations on the property below, location of existing structures on the site as well as the location of the original Plus-15 connection at Gulf Canada Square.
The entire span sits on one column and is suspended by cables from a single, 27.9-metre tilted mast engineered by consulting structural engineers TRL & Associates.
The primary exterior finish of the avenue side will be aluminum and glass curtain wall with separate free spaced glass panels in front of it fitted with colour-changing LED lights to further enliven the street realm, especially at night.
The high-punched windows on the opposite side of the bridge will provide for additional light penetration from the south while screening the parade access ramp and limiting high solar heat gain.
The solid wall under these windows around the curve of the pathway will provide an ideal area for public art or interpretive panel displays; a good spot for the city to hang some of its fine collection of paintings.
ABUGOV KASPAR was also responsible for the design of the two towers that make up the Penn West complex that houses RUSH and SUKIYAKI HOUSE at street level. Another one of its fine designs currently under construction, by CLARK BUILDERS, is the Atlantic Avenue Art Block along Inglewood’s 9th Avenue S.E.
Being built by Jim Hill, president and CEO of PASON SYSTEMS, it is a testament to his passion and support of local art. The top floor will be a gallery of contemporary art, but the building's centerpiece will be a 15.6-metre high sculpture rising from floor to almost ceiling that will stand beside a dramatic glass staircase.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Fashion Central Makes its debut.
February 2010
Article from The Calgary Herald written by Lisa Schmidt.
Retail cluster emerges in historic block.
Haute couture and old-time architecture finally came together in Calgary with the long-awaited launch of Fashion Central on Thursday.
With a few spots still to be filled, the retail cluster of high-end boutiques and local up-and-comers has officially opened its doors, bringing business to a historic corner block of the downtown core more than two years after the project was launched.
With workers still laying carpet and cleaning up construction work hours before the opening gala Thursday night, developer David Neill reflected on the hurdles of overhauling 100-year-old sandstone and brick buildings to create a space for modern fashion.
Plans evolved as construction revealed far more structural problems than expected, but he said he was pleased with the result of the $10-million project.
“It did cost way more than we thought is would- it would have been much cheaper to build a new building”, said Neill, president of Encorp Management.
“They’re historic structures – that’s what we deal with and there’s a cost – and I think it’s worth it.”
Originally slated to open in October, Fashion Central has 28,000 square feet of retail space in three historic buildings at the corner of Stephen Avenue and 1st Street S.W.
In addition to street-front stores, the interior of the complex is similar to the Art Central building, another Encorp development, with an atrium and a skylight.
Stores started to open last fall, including Murale, Shopper’s Drug Mart’s beauty store banner, which opened in October.
In December, New York designer label Betsey Johnson opened a boutique in the complex.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
|
