National Arts Centre Redevelopment | Completed

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

from: http://www.dsai.ca/projects/national-arts-centre-rejuvenation

Anyone notice the return of the Lorne and the absence of Performance Court?

[Urbanarchit]

Originally Posted by teej1984

I think this is a horrible waste of an amazing opportunity. The design is ugly, uninspired and totally unimaginative. If we're supposed to be creating an inviting and interesting space, well can we at least make it interesting? Windows are great but there is no style. Also looks like terrace access is being eliminated.

Care to extrapolate on what you envision?

The addition is not the most exciting, and I'd like to see more hexagons or trapezoids. But I don't think this addition needs to be amazing because the NAC is already a phenomenal example of (geometric) Brutalism. Though I'm sure most hate it, it is a special building.

I disagree that there is no style. I think the additions are good. They mimic the hexagonal shape of the original building, but contrast with the use of transparent glass with the austere opacity of the concrete. You could argue that the almost exclusive use of glass is paying homage to the original philosophy behind Brutalism to an extent. It makes a simple statement, but does not compromise the integrity of the original building.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I wonder if the non-glass portions of the exterior will match the pre-cast of the original structure. I hope so.

From the renderings, it looks like they are going to use bronze as the main material other than glass. There are a lot of bronze details inside the old building, it will be a nice extrapolation of that.

[J.OT13]

I assumed it was wood, but bronze (or copper) would make sense.

[Mikeed]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

It would be nice if a new café or restaurant on the top level would somehow open up to the terrace. We always squander these opportunities in Ottawa. just look at the Convention Centre, Nordstrom's restaurant and the Rideau Centre expansion; none open up to the terrace.

Yes, this! Also- the terrace has always been one of my more enjoyable little detours/short cuts when walking around the city. It appears to me that the addition will largely cut into the north side terrace facing Parliament (where there is also a ramp to the parking/loading area around the back). And will completely eliminate sightlines to Parliament/Chateau/War Memorial. I watched the last remembrance day ceremony (and first one I attended in person) from the north side terrace and the view isn't great but we have a chance to actually make it better if the opportunity is seized.

[Arcologist]

Originally Posted by movebyleap

I hate to be a Negative Nellie here, but once again it looks like another very average building for our city. Where the OOMPH factor? The panache? This is an ARTS centre in the very heart of the capital. Nothing too inspiring about that glass block. I suppose that in true Ottawa fashion we could just say that it's better than what's presently there. But why do we keep putting up with this mediocrity? (I hope nobody decides to say that this is "world class" )

I completely agree! This is a really nice addition, but it's not world-class -- it's just mediocre. Again.

[Arcologist]

There have been a few mentions here of tying in with the LRT station, but if you look at the location of the planned LRT at Rideau, it'd be one helluva distance to get a connection done. The connecting tunnel would be so long, you'd feel like you're in the Diefenbunker!

And even if it was feasible, there are too many parties involved to ever get something coordinated: the City, NCC, feds, prov govt, NAC, Rideau Centre owners, etc.

[Radster]

Originally Posted by Arcologist

There have been a few mentions here of tying in with the LRT station, but if you look at the location of the planned LRT at Rideau, it'd be one helluva distance to get a connection done. The connecting tunnel would be so long, you'd feel like you're in the Diefenbunker!

And even if it was feasible, there are too many parties involved to ever get something coordinated: the City, NCC, feds, prov govt, NAC, Rideau Centre owners, etc.

Not that long actually, I think it would be shorter than what I saw last summer in Paris, or even Barcelona, some of the walking transfers between metro lines (which were in fact considered the same station!) felt like over 500m walk! Surely a straight line from the NAC to Rideau station is less than that.

[agl]

Originally Posted by Radster

Not that long actually, I think it would be shorter than what I saw last summer in Paris, or even Barcelona, some of the walking transfers between metro lines (which were in fact considered the same station!) felt like over 500m walk! Surely a straight line from the NAC to Rideau station is less than that.

Parliament station is closer. Awhile back there was a proposal from the owner (?) of the Lord Elgin hotel to make a connection to the NAC, this after the news broke that the station under the govt conference centre was moving eastward to Rideau and William. I believe in the end all that resulted from that was to nudge Parliament station eastwards by a smidge.

[Mikeed]

Originally Posted by agl

Parliament station is closer. Awhile back there was a proposal from the owner (?) of the Lord Elgin hotel to make a connection to the NAC, this after the news broke that the station under the govt conference centre was moving eastward to Rideau and William. I believe in the end all that resulted from that was to nudge Parliament station eastwards by a smidge.

This is actually a good point. To much of the dialogue has been focused on connecting it to Rideau. If we are going to look at connecting the NAC, it makes much more sense to connect it to Parliament Station. Other major possible connections along the way, if we are striding over to, if not the NAC proper, but at least to a more grandiose portal entrance in Confederation Square (all this talk of geometrics w/ the NAC we could mirror the sappers bridge steps) could be the Chambers Building (NAC/Senate Offices/Global News), the UK High Commission, the D'Arcy McGee building (two floors of shopping in the basement, via wikipedia I wouldn't know) and could possibly better connect the Station toward Sparks St. and Parliament Hill proper.

[Arcologist]

Originally Posted by agl

Parliament station is closer. Awhile back there was a proposal from the owner (?) of the Lord Elgin hotel to make a connection to the NAC, this after the news broke that the station under the govt conference centre was moving eastward to Rideau and William. I believe in the end all that resulted from that was to nudge Parliament station eastwards by a smidge.

I'd be curious to know the distance between the NAC and both the Parliament station and Rideau Station. Looking at a map, they both look about the same distance.

I wonder, too, if adding a station in the future is a possible and cost-effective option?

[JM1]

Rideau station and Parliament are both pretty short walks from the NAC already. Why bother with the expense (and slowing down trains) for a venue that largely attracts car drivers? Let's face it, most of those attending performances at the NAC drive or cab it to ge tthere.

Originally Posted by Arcologist

I'd be curious to know the distance between the NAC and both the Parliament station and Rideau Station. Looking at a map, they both look about the same distance.

I wonder, too, if adding a station in the future is a possible and cost-effective option?

[1overcosc]

I would add that infill station only if the downtown train station is ever returned to service.

[Boxster]

The NAC building is one of a kind.

I worked at the NAC close to ten years. I was head usher, security guard and a maintenance worker in my college and university days.

I know every nook and crannie in the building. The most amazing areas are not visible to most people...neat to see how everything connects together behind the scene. For example, one cannot imagine the size of the stage area of the main concert hall....it is HUGE! or the lighting rooms, wardrobe areas and kitchen facilities. One could actually get lost inside.

It is a beautiful building that deserves a face lift. I am looking forward to seeing the results.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Arcologist

I'd be curious to know the distance between the NAC and both the Parliament station and Rideau Station. Looking at a map, they both look about the same distance.

I wonder, too, if adding a station in the future is a possible and cost-effective option?

No way possible. If we would have done it wright off the bat, we could have spaced the stations to accommodate 4 stations (between Bay and Lyon, centred under Bank, between Metcalfe and Elgin and Rideau's current location) but the distance between Parliament and Rideau (around 750 meters) would make another 120 meter station slow down the system to a crawl though downtown.

As I've said before, the best option to connect the NAC to the O-Train system would be by building a pedestrian tunnel between it and the OCC. This would also allow for a partnership opportunity to promote one another; many convention centres have performance spaces built in, which was obviously not possible in Ottawa.

[osirisboy]

I hope the renovation doesn't butcher up the original design. I can't stand when new additions are added to older buildings, especially brutalistic type ones such Nac. It will look riciculous to tack on glass aluminum and spandrel on the nac!

Must be nice to have the Feds pay for the whole cost of the Reno. Wtf? I know it's a national arts centre but A lot of locals also use it. Why aren't the city/province/private sector paying for any of it??

[phil235]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Must be nice to have the Feds pay for the whole cost of the Reno. Wtf? I know it's a national arts centre but A lot of locals also use it. Why aren't the city/province/private sector paying for any of it??

The federal government should pay for national institutions. Period.

Likewise, provincial governments should pay for provincial institutions in their capital cities.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by phil235

The federal government should pay for national institutions. Period.

Likewise, provincial governments should pay for provincial institutions in their capital cities.

I agree with things like museums that are showcasing national artifacts/exhibits that federal government owns. But what makes the nac national? And let's be honest the city is hugely benefitting from it.

[ElieB]

Originally Posted by teej1984

I think this is a horrible waste of an amazing opportunity. The design is ugly, uninspired and totally unimaginative. If we're supposed to be creating an inviting and interesting space, well can we at least make it interesting? Windows are great but there is no style. Also looks like terrace access is being eliminated.

Originally Posted by defishel

Care to extrapolate on what you envision?

The addition is not the most exciting, and I'd like to see more hexagons or trapezoids. But I don't think this addition needs to be amazing because the NAC is already a phenomenal example of (geometric) Brutalism. Though I'm sure most hate it, it is a special building.

I disagree that there is no style. I think the additions are good. They mimic the hexagonal shape of the original building, but contrast with the use of transparent glass with the austere opacity of the concrete. You could argue that the almost exclusive use of glass is paying homage to the original philosophy behind Brutalism to an extent. It makes a simple statement, but does not compromise the integrity of the original building.

I don't think there's anything brutalist about spandrel glass.

I agree with Teej on this one. First of all, that it's just an election stunt and political statement, like taking PRIME land away from the justice department and building a monument to victim's of communism on it. (what decade are we in? sorry, off-topic)

Secondly I think this is a fairly lazy, and vain, architectural facelift. I wish they'd have actually designed a building/addition, maybe with some actual form, function, and environmental control. Rather than just throw up a bunch of glass boxes of little programmable value to completely veil the existing facility.

My first impressions were: (TLDR)
A. This ruins the building's relationship to the landscape, and removes the public space, terrace and sightlines on the north and east facades.

B. The original NAC is guarded and modest but elegant in every detail. It's about an interior life. I agree that it needs to be more inviting. I don't think the way to do that is to tack on a bunch of copy/paste glass boxes.

C. It's a facility of performance spaces, conferences, and other events like weddings, graduations, receptions. Events that require significant environmental control, acoustic design, privacy, etc. Those glass boxes provide none. It significantly limits how you can program those spaces if you have no control of the lighting, acoustics and limited temperature control.

D. If there's limited use for these spaces, are they limited to circulation and lobby type spaces? some small gala space? The NAC already has more than adequate circulation and lobby spaces... This rendering represents a massive chunk of the project... its all circulation to nowhere.
E. If the spaces aren't designed for artists and performers, I'm assuming they were designed to show off the people attending events, like macbooks at an apple store. Why does every new landmark project in Ottawa have to be all glass? THIS IS OTTAWA! +30/-30...

The NAC is one of the most geometrically consistent buildings I know. Everything works on some triangular, hexagonal or tetrahedral geometry. Even down to the railings and stairs and waffle slabs, etc. NOW I can see that they tried to keep that going in the new space. At first glance, from the angle of the first rendering, they all appeared to be square boxes. The newer renderings they published are all significantly clearer than the first perspective. I think the hexagonal tower with glass display/projections would be a great addition, I don't see much else in the rest.

Did that NAC restaurant really need expanding? by like 200%? I wasn't aware they were so busy. I thought restaurants were a tough business here in Ottawa...

They added the "4th stage" to provide an affordable, but professional, space for independent musicians. But from what I hear it's not all that affordable and you have to sell it out at 20$+/ticket to break even. Renovating it won't make it more affordable. MAYBE they could have provided an affordable professional venue for real in the expansion? Instead of a glorified hallway? Or just some whole new performance space in general...

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by ElieB

E. If the spaces aren't designed for artists and performers, I'm assuming they were designed to show off the people attending events, like macbooks at an apple store. Why does every new landmark project in Ottawa have to be all glass? THIS IS OTTAWA! +30/-30....

To nitpick, temperatures in Ottawa very, very, very, rarely actually hit -30. We come close but most winters we never hit it. The last time the temperature in Ottawa hit -30 was one night in January 2011.