Big Daddy said:
It does appear that the interesting design of the two office towers will change given they will be getting a new architect.
Click to expand...

Maybe. The wording of the DCN notice says this:

"An architect will be secured from an invited list late 2014/early 2015 to complete design and working drawings."

To me, that sounds like they want to complete the existing design with the necessary detail work on construction-level drawings. Foster presumably just did high-level design and models/renders.

The DCN information is almost identical to the earlier project information, with only the casino not being present. So either the DCN information is a placeholder, or Oxford intends to build the original design (minus the casino) without modifications.
 
Last edited:
True, I didn't realize how far behind we are. Even at 1.1 million square feet, we will still just barely make the top 20 in North America.

(I think the Georgia World Congress Centre is listed as number 5 because it is three buildings plus the Georgia Dome to get the total)

1. McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, 2,760,000-square-foot (256,000 m2) of exhibition space[3]
2. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, Exhibition space: 2,100,000-square-foot (200,000 m2). Total area: 7,000,000-square-foot (650,000 m2)[4]
3. Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, Exhibition space: 2,000,000-square-foot (190,000 m2), 3,200,000-square-foot (300,000 m2) total space[5]
4. Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, Massachusetts, 1,700,000-square-foot (160,000 m2) total area[citation needed]
5. Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, 1,500,000-square-foot (140,000 m2) exhibition area; 3,900,000-square-foot (360,000 m2) total area[6]
6. Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan: 700,000-square-foot (65,000 m2) exhibition area; 2,400,000-square-foot (220,000 m2) total area
7. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.: 2,300,000-square-foot (210,000 m2) total area
8. Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado: 584,000-square-foot (54,300 m2) exhibition area; 2,200,000-square-foot (200,000 m2) total area
9. Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas: 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) exhibition area; 2,000,000-square-foot (190,000 m2) total area
10. George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, 853,000-square-foot (79,200 m2) exhibition area; 1,800,000-square-foot (170,000 m2) total area
11. Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio: 426,000-square-foot (39,600 m2) exhibition area; 1,700,000-square-foot (160,000 m2) total area
12. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: 330,000-square-foot (31,000 m2) exhibition area; 1,450,000-square-foot (135,000 m2) total area
13. Reliant Center, Houston, Texas: 706,000-square-foot (65,600 m2) exhibition area; 1,400,000-square-foot (130,000 m2) total area
14. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas: 440,000-square-foot (41,000 m2) exhibition area; 1,300,000-square-foot (120,000 m2) total area
15. Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland: 425,000-square-foot (39,500 m2) exhibition area; 1,225,000-square-foot (113,800 m2) total area
16. Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky: 1,200,000-square-foot (110,000 m2) exhibition area
17. Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada: 1,200,000-square-foot (110,000 m2) total area
18. San Diego Convention Center, San Diego California: 615,700-square-foot (57,200 m2) exhibition area; 1,107,000-square-foot (102,800 m2) total area
19. Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu, Hawai’i: 1,100,000-square-foot (100,000 m2) total area
20. Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana: 1,100,000-square-foot (100,000 m2)
21. Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada: 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) total area
22. Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon: 255,000-square-foot (23,700 m2) exhibition area; 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) total area
23. Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 679,000-square-foot (63,100 m2) exhibition area; 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) total area
24. Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona: 312,000-square-foot (29,000 m2) exhibition area; 900,000-square-foot (84,000 m2) total area
25. Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas: 246,092-square-foot (22,862.7 m2) exhibition area; 881,400-square-foot (81,880 m2) total area
26. Donald E. Stephens Convention Center: Rosemont, Illinois: 840,000-square-foot (78,000 m2) exhibition area
27. Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California: 800,000-square-foot (74,000 m2) total area.
28. Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California: 720,000-square-foot (67,000 m2) exhibition area
29. Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, California: 700,000-square-foot (65,000 m2) exhibition area
30. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City, New York: 675,000-square-foot (62,700 m2) exhibition area
 
I think we need something bigger - but clearly given the list you have provided size is but one factor in the popularity of a city as a site for conventions.

AoD
 
I know I'm asking for it, but to come back down to earth for a moment, what would you, those whom work in the field, estimate the actual chances of this actually being built? The idea blows my mind, but I hate getting all excited only to discover the project is rejected. So before I whip myself into an architectural frenzy, I'd like to know if this could actually happen. But that aside, imagine this project, 1-7 Yonge Street, the Mervish-Gehry towers, 156 Front, 50 Bloor West and the like are all constructed with in the same time period? If you think the skyline has changed so far, imagine after that? It will be an entirely different city, I only pray. I'm still around to see it. Yeah, sorry to say gang, I know it's way off topic, but, during my last follow up, they found more bloody cancer cells in the small amount of intestine, 13 feet to be exact, I have left (which is about 1/4 of the average GI tract). I mention it not for sympathy (although I can be pathetic, and no comments from the peanut gallery), but to explain my seemingly dazed desperation to see these amazing projects actually built, before this bloody disease finally finishes me off. Good thing I'm so stubborn, I've been fighting it for years, and it hasn't got me yet. Tell you what, if Oxford is approved and built, and I'm still around, I'll treat all of you to a night at the pub, deal?:p
 
^Sincerely sorry to hear it. Keep fighting. In the stark relief of the trials of real life, our skyscraper enthusiasm is insignificant.
 
Hanlansboy said:
Tell you what, if Oxford is approved and built, and I'm still around, I'll treat all of you to a night at the pub, deal?:p
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good deal, but here's looking forward to this going forward and then arguing over who should pay the bill!

42
 
Big Daddy said:
True, I didn't realize how far behind we are. Even at 1.1 million square feet, we will still just barely make the top 20 in North America.

(I think the Georgia World Congress Centre is listed as number 5 because it is three buildings plus the Georgia Dome to get the total)

1. McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, 2,760,000-square-foot (256,000 m2) of exhibition space[3]
2. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, Exhibition space: 2,100,000-square-foot (200,000 m2). Total area: 7,000,000-square-foot (650,000 m2)[4]
3. Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, Exhibition space: 2,000,000-square-foot (190,000 m2), 3,200,000-square-foot (300,000 m2) total space[5]
4. Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, Massachusetts, 1,700,000-square-foot (160,000 m2) total area[citation needed]
5. Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, 1,500,000-square-foot (140,000 m2) exhibition area; 3,900,000-square-foot (360,000 m2) total area[6]
6. Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan: 700,000-square-foot (65,000 m2) exhibition area; 2,400,000-square-foot (220,000 m2) total area
7. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.: 2,300,000-square-foot (210,000 m2) total area
8. Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado: 584,000-square-foot (54,300 m2) exhibition area; 2,200,000-square-foot (200,000 m2) total area
9. Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas: 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) exhibition area; 2,000,000-square-foot (190,000 m2) total area
10. George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, 853,000-square-foot (79,200 m2) exhibition area; 1,800,000-square-foot (170,000 m2) total area
11. Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio: 426,000-square-foot (39,600 m2) exhibition area; 1,700,000-square-foot (160,000 m2) total area
12. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: 330,000-square-foot (31,000 m2) exhibition area; 1,450,000-square-foot (135,000 m2) total area
13. Reliant Center, Houston, Texas: 706,000-square-foot (65,600 m2) exhibition area; 1,400,000-square-foot (130,000 m2) total area
14. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas: 440,000-square-foot (41,000 m2) exhibition area; 1,300,000-square-foot (120,000 m2) total area
15. Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland: 425,000-square-foot (39,500 m2) exhibition area; 1,225,000-square-foot (113,800 m2) total area
16. Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky: 1,200,000-square-foot (110,000 m2) exhibition area
17. Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada: 1,200,000-square-foot (110,000 m2) total area
18. San Diego Convention Center, San Diego California: 615,700-square-foot (57,200 m2) exhibition area; 1,107,000-square-foot (102,800 m2) total area
19. Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu, Hawai’i: 1,100,000-square-foot (100,000 m2) total area
20. Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana: 1,100,000-square-foot (100,000 m2)
21. Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada: 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) total area
22. Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon: 255,000-square-foot (23,700 m2) exhibition area; 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) total area
23. Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 679,000-square-foot (63,100 m2) exhibition area; 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) total area
24. Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona: 312,000-square-foot (29,000 m2) exhibition area; 900,000-square-foot (84,000 m2) total area
25. Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas: 246,092-square-foot (22,862.7 m2) exhibition area; 881,400-square-foot (81,880 m2) total area
26. Donald E. Stephens Convention Center: Rosemont, Illinois: 840,000-square-foot (78,000 m2) exhibition area
27. Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California: 800,000-square-foot (74,000 m2) total area.
28. Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California: 720,000-square-foot (67,000 m2) exhibition area
29. Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, California: 700,000-square-foot (65,000 m2) exhibition area
30. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City, New York: 675,000-square-foot (62,700 m2) exhibition area
Click to expand...


I"m almost certain that this 1.1m sq.ft does not include the existing south buildings of the convention center which would be largely unchanged. This is tearing down the north building and adding 1.1m sq.ft. The whole convention centre now is 640k sq.ft. with about 480k of exhibition space I believe. The south building is about 380K of the total I think.
 
Mithras said:
I"m almost certain that this 1.1m sq.ft does not include the existing south buildings of the convention center which would be largely unchanged. This is tearing down the north building and adding 1.1m sq.ft. The whole convention centre now is 640k sq.ft. with about 480k of exhibition space I believe. The south building is about 380K of the total I think.
Click to expand...

They are also proposing some kind of multi-story addition right at the corner at Simcoe and Bremner.
 
Hanlansboy said:
I know I'm asking for it, but to come back down to earth for a moment, what would you, those whom work in the field, estimate the actual chances of this actually being built? The idea blows my mind, but I hate getting all excited only to discover the project is rejected. So before I whip myself into an architectural frenzy, I'd like to know if this could actually happen. But that aside, imagine this project, 1-7 Yonge Street, the Mervish-Gehry towers, 156 Front, 50 Bloor West and the like are all constructed with in the same time period? If you think the skyline has changed so far, imagine after that? It will be an entirely different city, I only pray. I'm still around to see it. Yeah, sorry to say gang, I know it's way off topic, but, during my last follow up, they found more bloody cancer cells in the small amount of intestine, 13 feet to be exact, I have left (which is about 1/4 of the average GI tract). I mention it not for sympathy (although I can be pathetic, and no comments from the peanut gallery), but to explain my seemingly dazed desperation to see these amazing projects actually built, before this bloody disease finally finishes me off. Good thing I'm so stubborn, I've been fighting it for years, and it hasn't got me yet. Tell you what, if Oxford is approved and built, and I'm still around, I'll treat all of you to a night at the pub, deal?:p
Click to expand...

In all honesty, the office component is likely to be phased in - one tower at a time - based on demand at the time. I personally think Oxford will downsize the towers even if the city doesn't (and it likely will) as it would take a while to absorb this much space in Toronto. Especially if another tower were to get started before them.
 
Big Daddy, where does the Direct Energy Centre fit in your convention space list? Toronto has several different convention centre options and I assume other cities do to. So does size matter in convention space, is it better to have several smaller convention centres or one large one? Would a bigger convention centre at this location compete with shows with the Direct Energy Centre (which I assume is a bigger facilitynow)?
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top