But then again, it does much more than any modern building has yet done in the old town/inner harbour area. It does much more than the lame 1990s faux-heritage reno it replaced, and it does much more than the Harbour Square complex right next door.
Instead of nursing that established Victorian attitude of eternal dissatisfaction, why not dare to break the pattern and ask ourselves: What exactly is our standard? What are we comparing against? Why do we place such a heavy burden on each singular small project? And what do we gain by supposing Victoria's built form is so incomparably challenging and undefinable that any new development must inevitably be inadequate and disappointing?
All we really need to do is open our eyes and take an honest look at what's there now and what was there in the past.
I do agree with you that the Harbour Square is one of the worst buildings to be built in the heritage district. Others include the few parkades that serve as eye sores all around town.