In fairness, they were not overly outward with the tower look when the design was released, looked very placeholder like. As if they were purposely not showing due to incompletion. The overhead look we reference was removed off their site within a week or so after launch. The podium was always the focus. So, ultimately the market said we want bigger patios, so that's what they designed.
I thought it was today
In many ways yes...but I think there was also some really solid stuff being build in the 2000s. Projects like Arriva, Brava/Encore, Colours, Chocolate, 205 Riverfront, Point on the Bow etc. still hold up really well... better than many of the projects from the last 5 years. Often better facade materials, use of curtain wall, and fewer random color squares too.
Per the DP this week, the podium is exclusively brick...charcoal, red, and beige facing south and west...light grey facing north. Some minor spandrel around the windows. Towers are composites in black and silver.
I wonder how much of that has to do with the National Building Code changes that were made 5 or so years ago. I remember hearing that they would make curtain wall much less economical to build.
Also wondering how much is due to rental vs condo. With condos the builders had to put in more effort on the exterior looks to help sell units. Also as mentioned, the building code probably an effect as well, but I suspect it's a combo of the two factors. I see buildings in Toronto and Vancouver with a lot more glass and higher end materials, but of course those units are twice the cost of a unit here in Calgary.
We are still getting a lot of the garbage, but some projects are definitely rising above the trash pile lol
Off topic, but sort of hit me today. Atleast with building renderings, you can sit and go yay or nay, and then have a fairly rationale comparable once it's built to what was illustrated. It's when I see plazas and parks and streetscape renderings...where they show the buildings as they are today or upon opening...but then the landscaping is literally the "year 25" version. Large shrubs, oaks, grasses...lol. Complete misrepresentation of reality.
I think it should be a requirement that every project proposal should come with at least one rendering of the street that shows the street on a grey and slushy February day.