Bell Hunter Building?

[Neednothing]

Are there any known plans for the current Bell building at Albert/O'Connor?
At the moment it seems to be a static block of gray that makes the street rather dingy.

[McC]

This was a popular choice when J.OT13 started a thread for suggesting and voting on ""Tear me" downs" http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=206579
my comment from that time:

Originally Posted by McC

Once upon a time it was a bit of a deco gem, considering its (literally) utilitarian purpose:

Courtesy Midcenturymodernist /Urbsite
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--0UOIr70OWw/UR...Q/ElekEhBPMOg/s1600/BellErnestBarott.jpg

A case study in unsympathetic addition.

[nredding]

It is a major telephone switching centre. Tear it down and you take out most telephone service in downtown Ottawa.

[c_speed3108]

I realize that building is arguably the most important building in downtown Ottawa so it really can't go anywhere. I wish they would install something over particularly the rear cement part. Maybe try to make it look like one of those glass box office buildings from the 80's or something.

[AndyMEng]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

I realize that building is arguably the most important building in downtown Ottawa so it really can't go anywhere. I wish they would install something over particularly the rear cement part. Maybe try to make it look like one of those glass box office buildings from the 80's or something.

THIS rear cement part?

It's getting mostly covered in the back...

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sca!4v1443530994180!6m8!1m7!1sJoxgr95DSx017KQ68nNHIg!2m2!1d45.41964997471447!2d-75.69907278318824!3f344.6169179934121!4f31.291084183484628!5f0.7820865974627469" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by AndyMEng

THIS rear cement part?

It's getting mostly covered in the back...

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sca!4v1443530994180!6m8!1m7!1sJoxgr95DSx017KQ68nNHIg!2m2!1d45.41964997471447!2d-75.69907278318824!3f344.6169179934121!4f31.291084183484628!5f0.7820865974627469" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Well the iframe doesn't work, but yes several sides of the rear portion are covered by other buildings now. I just wish they could maybe fake the Albert side to look like a cheap office building or something. Anything is better than what is there.

[McC]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

I just wish they could maybe fake the Albert side to look like a cheap office building or something. Anything is better than what is there.

Exactly, just clad it in some kind of reflective glass curtain wall and widen the sidewalk a tick, and nearly no one would ever notice it again. In principle, it would have been nice if they'd left the ground floor open for later re-purposing, but ships have sailed.