COVID's impact on the future of work - Downtown 2030?

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Airboy

I heard Williams is moving to a new space.

Into the tower I believe to free up that pretty amazing podium space for tech/AI?

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Into the tower I believe to free up that pretty amazing podium space for tech/AI?

I think AMII is expanding in there so that would make sense.

[DKaz]

Originally Posted by Airboy

I heard Williams is moving to a new space.

Yes, up to the 17th floor. I heard our sign gets to stay though.

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Into the tower I believe to free up that pretty amazing podium space for tech/AI?

I don't know who the new tenant is but they were very eager to take over that space as is. It is pretty nice. I liked the patio overlooking Jasper and 101st except when the street poacher was standing there spewing nonsense.

[Airboy]

Did you guys downsize that much. Almost a Stantec reduction.

[DKaz]

Originally Posted by Airboy

Did you guys downsize that much. Almost a Stantec reduction.

From 18,000 to 11,000 sq ft I think. We didn't downsize during the pandemic at all, just facing a reality that less than a fifth of the staff are planning to come back to the office full time and another fifth may not go back to the office at all, so some people need mere touch down spaces and a little bit of storage. The rest of us will be here part time and there may be some opporunities to share desks there too or go with smaller desks. Most of us just don't need large L or U shaped desks anymore now that we're used to using Bluebeam and viewing drawings on screen.

[Airboy]

We haven't made a final decision over here. We did a study of all our properties and other than masking there is not much we could do. Landlords are not going to spend the money necessary. As for the drawings. I don't have the band with at home to do anything with BIM or Revit. So I have been in the office the whole time. about 1/3 of our group is back full time. Talking with some other offices, most are back because they are small offices and have lots of room. Also I travel constantly so I have probably been infected numerous times.

[DKaz]

Revit on BIM360 is very fast, way faster than accessing Revit or CAD on a server. I wish AutoCAD had BIM360 compatibility.

[Coldrsx]

Alberta takes steps to safely return to normal

February 08, 2022 Media inquiries
Provincewide public health measures will be gradually lifted as the fifth wave of COVID-19 subsides and pressure on the health-care system eases.

Alberta will begin a careful and prudent plan to phase out public health measures, starting Feb. 8. The three-step approach will begin with lower-risk activities while maintaining protections for the health-care system, including continuing care facilities.

Beginning Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m., Alberta will move to step one, which includes the removal of the Restrictions Exemption Program and capacity limits on venues under 500 capacity, including libraries and places of worship, and allows for food and beverage consumption in seated audience settings for large events and entertainment venues. Mandatory masking for children and youth in schools, and for youth aged 12 and under in any setting will end Feb. 13 at 11:59 p.m.

“The last two years have taken a significant toll on Albertans’ overall health, social and economic well-being. Now that we are through the worst of the fifth wave and have achieved high vaccination rates, it is time to shift to a balanced approach where we are able to live with COVID-19 and return to normal.”

Jason Kenney, Premier
“The vast majority of Albertans are now fully vaccinated. It’s a major factor that now allows us to ease restrictions, but we will do so only as conditions show that our health system’s capacity is recovering. Albertans can help make that possible by getting every vaccine dose they are eligible for.”

Jason Copping, Health Minister
Subsequent steps will see changes to working from home, masking requirements, large venue capacity limits and indoor social gathering limits, with a final step removing isolation requirements and COVID-specific measures in continuing care settings. The lifting of restrictions will progress once pressures on the health-care system have sufficiently eased.

Step one

Effective Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m.:

Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) ends, along with most associated restrictions.
Entertainment venues will continue to have some specific rules in place:
Restrictions on sale of food and beverages and consumption while seated in audience settings will be removed.
Restrictions on closing times, alcohol service, table capacity in restaurants and interactive activities will remain in force.
For all businesses, venues and facilities – whether they were previously eligible for the REP or not – capacity limits are removed, except for:
Facilities with capacity of 500 to 1,000, which will be limited to 500.
Facilities with capacity of 1,000-plus, which will be limited to 50 per cent.
Effective at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 13:

Masks will no longer be required for all children and youth in schools.
Masks will no longer be required in any setting for children aged 12 and under.
Step two

Effective March 1:

Any remaining provincial school requirements (including cohorting) will be removed.
Screening prior to youth activities will no longer be required.
Capacity limits will be lifted for all venues.
Limits on social gatherings will be removed.
Provincial mask mandate will be removed.
Mandatory work from home removed.
Step three

To be determined based on hospitalization rates continuing to trend downwards

COVID-specific measures in continuing care will be removed.
Mandatory isolation becomes a recommendation only.
Additional details on all restrictions and measures in place will be released prior to each step at alberta.ca/CovidMeasures.

Related information

COVID-19 public health actions
COVID-19 info for Albertans
Multimedia

Watch the news conference


Media inquiries

Justin Brattinga
780-203-0177
Press Secretary, Office of the Premier
Steve Buick
780-288-1735
Senior Press Secretary, Ministry of Health

[Coldrsx]

Downtown Edmonton hopes to be back in business with an anticipated end to working from home

Mandatory work-from-home order among measures expected to lift on March 1

Travis McEwan · CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...home-1.6347475

[Airboy]

Heard Stantec is starting back March 1, our company will be fully back the end of March. A friend with another consulting firm in the core is going to a hibrid version.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Airboy

Heard Stantec is starting back March 1, our company will be fully back the end of March. A friend with another consulting firm in the core is going to a hibrid version.

I heard the City is aiming to start going back around April, so if all is true then Downtown should be back to near-normal come May-June.

[Coldrsx]

Just in time for summer break

[Coldrsx]

Revitalizing metro Edmonton for economic growth

A new working group will engage with local leaders and residents about revitalizing and attracting investment to the Edmonton metropolitan region.

https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?x...17E4EEDA8C75A5

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Revitalizing metro Edmonton for economic growth

A new working group will engage with local leaders and residents about revitalizing and attracting investment to the Edmonton metropolitan region.

https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?x...17E4EEDA8C75A5

No involvement from a single Edmonton MLA or Cabinet Minister. The Calgary committee did have the responsible Minister and an MLA.

Edmonton Metro Working Group Members
Searle Turton, MLA for Spruce Grove-Stony Plain (chair)
Lisa Baroldi, president and CEO, BOMA Edmonton (co-vice chair)
Malcolm Bruce, CEO, Edmonton Global (co-vice chair)
Grand Chief George Arcand Jr., Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
Ashlyn Bernier, COO, SamDesk
Joseph Doucet, interim dean, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Alberta
Shalene Jobin, associate professor, faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta
Hubert Lau, CEO, Trustbix
Andrew MacIsaac, CEO, Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation
Puneeta McBryan, executive director, Downtown Business Association
Tina Naqvi-Rota, CEO, Cameron Developments
Scott Nye, head of game studio operations, Improbable Canada
Marlea Sleeman, associate, Creative Destruction Lab
Heather Stewart, CEO, BBE Logistics
Dave Young, executive vice-president, CBRE

Calgary Working Group Members
Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation (co-chair) said: “A thriving downtown core sends a strong signal to Calgarians, industry and outside investors that Alberta is where you want to do business,” said Schweitzer. I look forward to seeing this working group’s recommendations on how we can take advantage of the many opportunities that exist for Calgary’s downtown core.”
Nicholas Milliken, MLA for Calgary-Currie (co-chair)
Desiree Bombenon, vice-chair, Calgary Chamber Board of Directors
John Brown, dean, University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
Greg Guatto, president & CEO, Aspen Properties
Abed Itani, CEO, Cidex Developments
Martina Jileckova, CEO, Horizon Housing
Patricia Jones, president & CEO, Calgary Homeless Foundation
Adam Legge, president, Business Council of Alberta
Andrew Mosker, president & CEO, National Music Centre
Bobbie Racette, founder & CEO, Virtual Gurus
Terry Rock, president & CEO, Platform Calgary

https://livewirecalgary.com/2021/05/...ntown-calgary/

[s211]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

No involvement from a single Edmonton MLA or Cabinet Minister. The Calgary committee did have the responsible Minister and an MLA.

Edmonton Metro Working Group Members
Searle Turton, MLA for Spruce Grove-Stony Plain (chair)
Lisa Baroldi, president and CEO, BOMA Edmonton (co-vice chair)
Malcolm Bruce, CEO, Edmonton Global (co-vice chair)
Grand Chief George Arcand Jr., Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
Ashlyn Bernier, COO, SamDesk
Joseph Doucet, interim dean, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Alberta
Shalene Jobin, associate professor, faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta
Hubert Lau, CEO, Trustbix
Andrew MacIsaac, CEO, Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation
Puneeta McBryan, executive director, Downtown Business Association
Tina Naqvi-Rota, CEO, Cameron Developments
Scott Nye, head of game studio operations, Improbable Canada
Marlea Sleeman, associate, Creative Destruction Lab
Heather Stewart, CEO, BBE Logistics
Dave Young, executive vice-president, CBRE

Calgary Working Group Members
Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation (co-chair) said: “A thriving downtown core sends a strong signal to Calgarians, industry and outside investors that Alberta is where you want to do business,” said Schweitzer. I look forward to seeing this working group’s recommendations on how we can take advantage of the many opportunities that exist for Calgary’s downtown core.”
Nicholas Milliken, MLA for Calgary-Currie (co-chair)
Desiree Bombenon, vice-chair, Calgary Chamber Board of Directors
John Brown, dean, University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
Greg Guatto, president & CEO, Aspen Properties
Abed Itani, CEO, Cidex Developments
Martina Jileckova, CEO, Horizon Housing
Patricia Jones, president & CEO, Calgary Homeless Foundation
Adam Legge, president, Business Council of Alberta
Andrew Mosker, president & CEO, National Music Centre
Bobbie Racette, founder & CEO, Virtual Gurus
Terry Rock, president & CEO, Platform Calgary

https://livewirecalgary.com/2021/05/...ntown-calgary/

WOW. Edmonton's punching featherweight there. And Calgary's not exactly knocking it out of the park either, but c'mon.

A bit telling that that the Edmonton "METRO" is called out, and no need for that for Calgary. It's the METRO that's half of Edmonton's problem, all those fiefdoms.

[Coldrsx]

Creating ecosystems crucial to boost recovery of Canadian downtowns

DAVID ISRAELSON
SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 15, 2022

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/busi...downtowns/#_=_

[Coldrsx]

Downtown is in a new state of 'revitalization'...

https://globalnews.ca/news/8651478/e...evitalization/

[Coldrsx]

Puneeta McBryan
(She/Her) • 1st
Executive Director at the Edmonton Downtown Business Association
3m

The results are in! Just in time for the Province's lifting of the mandatory work from home order.

We surveyed 611 Edmonton Downtown office workers, and here's what we found:

- 70% are either already in the office or will be back full or part-time

- Only 4% expect that their job will become 'fully remote'

- Of those who are sure they're coming back, 58% anticipate being back by July, 6% are already back, and 17% anticipate being back by December

- 60% of respondents say they're most looking forward to 'seeing/socializing/collaborating with co-workers'

- The Downtown features that workers say are are MOST important in their decision to come into the office are outdoor gathering spaces (63%), restaurant lunch specials (50%), and late afternoon or early evening social gatherings (43%)

- The workplace features/offerings that workers say would be most impactful in their decision to come into the office are availability of discounted parking (60%), improved air quality and circulation (56%), and proximity to parks & greenspace (50%)

https://www.edmontondowntown.com/new...office-survey/

[Airboy]

Alberta Gov Employees are going Back to the office starting April 1st.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Airboy

Alberta Gov Employees are going Back to the office starting April 1st.

The COE is April 4th I believe.