[Daveography]

Two-level ice facility could be the future of Rexall Place
EDMONTON — With the future of Rexall Place still not official, Global News is getting a better picture of what Northlands hopes to do with the site.

Northlands has a plan that would turn the arena into a two-level facility with upwards of seven sheets of ice.

“It’d be a tournament centre for western Canada, obviously used by hockey teams and figure skating individuals in the city, and it’s just a really exciting plan that could then drive people to the site which would then create all sorts of opportunities for the entire Northlands site,” Ward 5 city councillor Michael Oshry said Friday. Oshry also sits on the Northlands board of directors.

Seating at Rexall would be reduced to between 2,800 and 3,000 to accommodate the additional ice surfaces. A conceptual design picture obtained by Global News shows the vision for the building. Global News has also learned Rexall Place could be renamed “Northlands Ice Coliseum.”

Full Story (Global Edmonton)

 

[Daveography]

Two-level tournament centre proposed for Rexall Place
Renderings for the future of Rexall Place are giving the public a glimpse of what the building could be used for in the future.

Floor plans obtained by CTV News show a two-level facility with at least six sheets of ice.

“We anticipate this would be probably the premier venue in at least Western Canada, if not in Canada,” said City Councillor Tony Caterina.

When Rexall was built, the roof system was designed to hold significant weight, which Caterina said lends itself to the two-level idea.

“So here you have the ability to make it multi-level rather than just one level with seating.”

The facility also has potential for a supporting medical centre and retail space.

Source / Full Story (CTV Edmonton)

 

[bennessb]

This looks very exciting, thanks @Daveography!

 

[Daveography]

More / better renderings:

Source (Edmonton Journal)

 

[bennessb]

cool! I feel like Dialog is everywhere.

 

[archited]

This is going to be the least imaginative and most expensive thing that Edmonton has ever considered. Dialog and "Institutional design concepts"-- unfortunately -- are everywhere.

 

[Daveography]

@archited Welcome to the forum!

Pretty sure the $1.8B Valley Line LRT which is about to start construction takes the record as the most expensive, though.

I'd say it's far more imaginative than another "urban village" concept which are a dime a dozen (and too often doomed to fail in this city).

 

[archited]

@Daveography Thanks for the welcoming words.

You are right about the Valley Line -- however, it is comprised of many components spread across the City. The Northlands proposal is one site.

 

[archited]

@Daveography And, I will grant you that it is barely more imaginative than an urban village (think Blatchford), but on the imagination scale (1 to 10), this concept registers just under a 2. You and I could have come up with something better in a discussion over coffee.

 

[archited]

@Daveography I would have more faith in the tasked outcome of a class of Grade One students.

 

[Daveography]

@archited Haha, I don't think it's so bad, though I do question the actual business case for it. I also had some concerns about the "abundance of free parking" they were so proud of; not only for the usual reasons (creates traffic and congestion, it's right by two LRT stations and major bus routes, etc.), but also if money is an issue why wouldn't you want to collect lucrative revenue on that parking?

 

[archited]

@Daveography My point -- this is public space -- it should at least get the effort that went into City Hall, Art Gallery, Rogers Place. I don't have a beef with Dialog other than their solutions seem so (what's a kind word) -- "restrained". Financially, this scheme is destined to be a black hole

 

[archited]

@Daveography Of the three buildings I mentioned in last post, add in Royal Alberta Museum and you decide which of the four has the least design oomph. Dialog projects all strike me as "institutional architecture". Maybe some criticism would challenge them to dig deeper.

 

[Daveography]

Dan Barnes: City-supported Rexall Place renovation could break arena deal
A Rexall Place renovation supported by the City of Edmonton looks like a deal-breaker.

By advocating on behalf of Northlands’ plan to renovate the grand old barn as a six- or seven-sheet hockey tournament venue, it appears the city contravenes the 2013 master agreement with the Katz Group. If council approves any funding for the $85-million renovation project, part of Northlands’ ambitious Vision 2020 strategy, that too would seem to run afoul of Article 22 (c) of the agreement, which states:

“The city: will not financially support or advocate in favour of any initiative to rebuild or substantially renovate Rexall Place unless such rebuilding or renovation is for the purpose of converting Rexall Place into a facility to be used for purposes other than as a sports or entertainment facility.”

The master agreement was dated Aug. 29, 2013 and signed by the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Arena Corporation, a member of the Katz Group of companies. It was drawn up primarily to provide a legal framework around the construction, financing and ownership of the downtown arena, Wintergarden, LRT link and community rink.

Full Story (Edmonton Journal)

 

[Daveography]

Edmonton Oilers OK with Rexall Minor hockey plan
The Edmonton Oilers are still looking at Northlands’ plans for a Rexall Place without them, but a spokesperson for the team said it’s unlikely they will stand in the way of plans to renovate the building.

Northlands unveiled plans last week to convert Rexall Place into a seven-sheet ice arena for minor and recreational hockey. The Oilers deal with the city for the downtown arena has a provision requiring the city not “support or advocate in favour of any initiative to rebuild or substantially renovate Rexall Place.”

That provision does specify that it doesn't apply if the renovation is for converting Rexall into something other than a sports or entertainment facility.

Oilers vice-president of corporate communications Tim Shipton said it’s very early in the process, but he doesn’t see the team standing in the way of more ice for minor hockey teams.

“We are committed to the growth of hockey and the growth of grassroots hockey in this city,” he said.

Full Story (Metro Edmonton)