830 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

I would think this is a new initiative, and TELUS will be jumping on board as the corporate sponsor/advocate for UVic's ocean sciences pursuits. I wouldn't be surprised if the first corporate naming of a university building will involve TELUS.

 

WIth COVID slashing revenues, UVic would gladly welcome a few million bucks to rename the ocean sciences building.

 

Anything is possible but again I ask what does Telus have to do with the ocean? Telus has had 250 people in Victoria for years

[Mike K.]

This is what I'm thinking, that it would appear that they're going to partner with UVic on creating technology for their ocean sciences research.

 

TELUS is already a huge player in the healthcare industry, and research/scientific pursuits in other industries seem like a natural progression.

[Jackerbie]

Anything is possible but again I ask what does Telus have to do with the ocean? Telus has had 250 people in Victoria for years

 

Telus isn't the only tenant. I doubt the City would select Telus if all that was proposed was a consolidated head office, so there are likely a host of other things going into the building to support the City's economic plan. Helps said this proposal scored the highest of the six submission received.

 

From the TC article: "In addition to being a regional headquarters, the new building will house a Telus innovation centre that will showcase its latest technologies and be a place for brainstorming, Dutchak said... Telus will occupy a significant portion of the building, with the remainder dedicated to commercial, retail, restaurants, events and gatherings, the city said."

[Mike K.]

I would posit that the City's economic plan is based off of what TELUS proposed, not what the City wanted. Don't forget this has been in the works for several years.

[Jackerbie]

I would posit that the City's economic plan is based off of what TELUS proposed, not what the City wanted. Don't forget this has been in the works for several years.

 

I dunno, the ocean science and innovation cluster goes as far back as the 2011-2012 economic development strategy, at the very least. It doesn't have the capitalized name as it does in the new Victoria 3.0 plan, but it's still there! The city even calls it "an obvious yet untapped opportunity."

[Brantastic]

Does anyone know if the current Telus office building next to The Atrium on Yates is fully occupied by Telus or if there are other tenants? Man I would love to see that one redeveloped. 

[Mike K.]

I dunno, the ocean science and innovation cluster goes as far back as the 2011-2012 economic development strategy, at the very least. It doesn't have the capitalized name as it does in the new Victoria 3.0 plan, but it's still there! The city even calls it "an obvious yet untapped opportunity."

 

That's what I mean. The City finally connected the dots when TELUS arrived and moved on the opportunity.

 

Sometimes you need a hub, which the technology innovation centre could be, to make it all make sense.

Edited by Mike K., 04 June 2020 - 08:44 AM.

[spanky123]

That's what I mean. The City finally connected the dots when TELUS arrived.

 

Here is a link to OCN's industry partners. Telus is not listed but Shaw is.

 

https://www.oceannet...stry-directory?

[Mike K.]

Shaw has that ocean discovery centre in Sidney so they would be, for sure.

[Nparker]

...I doubt the City would select Telus if all that was proposed was a consolidated head office...Helps said this proposal scored the highest of the six submission received...

And I should take anything Her Worseship says at face value - why?

[PPPdev]

Love Bob Beaumont’s grandma!

Wish I was as optimistic as you Mike, but this a small office (250 people), ten floors, and a local firm that is only known for creating small bunker style infill housing. If they can come up with a stunning design that doesn’t turn it’s back on the street - drinks are on me.

I’m not seeing this as a vote of confidence in Victoria by Telus, instead a necessary update to their existing office setup in Victoria. Telus Sky hired superstar architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group, and no doubt paid millions for their service. No one was expecting a starchitect for Victoria - but a small local firm with no track record in designing signature office buildings? It boggles the mind, and is a bit insulting to the city.

BUT, I’d love to be proven wrong.. and hey, Francis Rattenbury was a bit of an unknown local too right..? That being said, it’ll be hard to beat the rejected design on page 1 of this thread.

 

bunker style infill, thats new one

 

We are leading the creative direction for the project and as has been stated previously, Telus is not a developer, they partner for things outside their wheelhouse so we are working together to bring forward something significant. The architecture firm is not local, they are a world class firm and I don't think you'll find the design boring. You'd better warm up your wallet as you are buying drinks soon.

[threePs]

Didnt UVic buy the Sisters of St. Ann's site on Arbutus for their "Queenswood Campus" to house ONC? I believe they're still doing renos and upgrades. Apart from this site they also operate out in N. Saanich by the airport. Am I missing another location?

[Jackerbie]

bunker style infill, thats new one

 

We are leading the creative direction for the project and as has been stated previously, Telus is not a developer, they partner for things outside their wheelhouse so we are working together to bring forward something significant. The architecture firm is not local, they are a world class firm and I don't think you'll find the design boring. You'd better warm up your wallet as you are buying drinks soon.

 

For those not in the know, Telus partnered with Westbank for both the Vancouver and Calgary developments. Telus Garden was designed by Henriquez Partners Architects, and Telus Sky was designed by Bjarke Ingles Group.

[spanky123]

Didnt UVic buy the Sisters of St. Ann's site on Arbutus for their "Queenswood Campus" to house ONC? I believe they're still doing renos and upgrades. Apart from this site they also operate out in N. Saanich by the airport. Am I missing another location?

 

If you look at the ONC annual report it looks like they have slowly been winding down. They had one employee this past year with the others being funded by another project. The report claims that a contract they had in Vancouver was terminated after they had a premature failure. 

[zoomer]

bunker style infill, thats new one

 

We are leading the creative direction for the project and as has been stated previously, Telus is not a developer, they partner for things outside their wheelhouse so we are working together to bring forward something significant. The architecture firm is not local, they are a world class firm and I don't think you'll find the design boring. You'd better warm up your wallet as you are buying drinks soon.

 

Hey, I'll be more than happy to open up the wallet, starting to save my nickels now just in case!    Help me out here - I don't understand 'leading the creative direction' - doesn't a world class firm have a slew of people to do that, and wouldn't they want full control over that process?  Or is Azyre's role to do all the local legwork, interpret the local context and expectations and feed that back to the architectural firm who will have leeway in presenting a few options?  Will the design be better than one of the losers on page 1 of this thread?  Will the building meet the street in a inviting manner or will it be cold and sterile.. like the bottom of an ocean? 

 

 

Good luck PPPdev - don't let the city down! 

[Spy Black]

Too bad the Bjarke Ingles Group isn't doing this one here in Victoria.

They're literally ripping it up all over the world with amazing and brilliant work.

[qv]

Anyhow, this is an amazing gift for a city our size. It’s big-league stuff to have a project of this caliber destined for a small city, and from what I’m hearing the design will be quite something.

We’ve known this was in the works for several years, but to have it confirmed during our initial COVID recovery phase is a huge, and I do mean huge, boost of confidence for investors who will be looking to safe havens where they can park their capital, and TELUS just shined a light on US!

Thank you, TELUS, Aryze and CoV. Politics firmly aside, this is game changing for Victoria and I trust there won’t be too many obstacles for this project to receive the green light and dirt to start moving.

Mike, you have me positively excited with these words. Inspiring stuff!

[lotusland]

Will CoV not approve a taller building on this site?

[Victoria Watcher]

Mike, you have me positively excited with these words. Inspiring stuff!

property values in the area will skyrocket. elsewhere they’ll plummet and crater.

[Jackerbie]

Will CoV not approve a taller building on this site?

 

Depends how far they want to stray from the Downtown Core Area Plan, which has the tallest buildings on Blanshard between Herald and View (see the Hudson District) with building height sloping to the water and the legislature. The height of the Telus Ocean building will be very much affected by the relationship with the Empress. I expect to see a lot of perspective drawings from the inner harbour and Songhees for this project.