Robson Square

Robson Square is a modern civic centre and public plaza, located in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the site of the Provincial Law Courts, UBC Robson Square, government office buildings, and public space connecting the newer development to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Background

The British Columbia Centre was a development proposal slated to be completed by 1975. At 208 metres (682 feet) it would have been the tallest skyscraper in the city (and taller than the Living Shangri-La, which will hold the record upon completion). With the defeat of W.A.C. Bennett Socred government in 1972, the plan was scrapped just as the construction phase was about to begin. The New Democrat government of Dave Barrett responded to fears of the dark shadow that the building would cast downtown, and commissioned a redesign from the architect of the project, Arthur Erickson. The reconceptualization Erickson came up with was of a skyscraper laid on its side, the "B.C. Centre on its back." [cite web|title=British Columbia Centre|publisher=Emporis Buildings|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=britishcolumbiacentre-vancouver-canada|accessdate=2007-04-13 ]

Features

The new development was completed between 1979 and 1983, encompassing three city blocks and housing convert|1300000|sqft|m2 of space. The main component is the glass-covered Provincial Law Courts.

It houses 35 courtrooms and is 42 metres (139 feet) in height. The glass roof is 420 by convert|115|ft|m and is supported by a steel space frame structure, covering approximately convert|50000|sqft|m2 of public space. Three cascading waterfalls throughout the complex provide natural air conditioning with 850,000 gallons of water. [cite web|title=Provincial Law Courts|publisher=Emporis Buildings|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=provinciallawcourts-vancouver-canada|accessdate=2007-04-13]

An outdoor skating rink can be found in a lower level that extends below Robson Street and connects on the other side to the Vancouver Art Gallery, which was renovated as part of the project. The University of British Columbia's downtown satellite campus, UBC Robson Square, is also housed in the lower level, along with restaurants. Typical of Erickson's designs, Robson Square is constructed primarily out of grey concrete, but softened by its environmental design. In addition to the water features are trees and numerous other plantings as well as gradually inclining stairs with integrated ramps. [cite web|title=Robson Square|publisher= The Great Buildings Collection|url=http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Robson_Square.html|accessdate=2007-05-13 ] The open design allows for relatively unobstructed natural light and fresh air, and the waterfall divert from the noise of downtown traffic. Landscaping on the project was designed by Cornelia Oberlander.

The complex was completed in three stages at a cost of $139 million. The provincial government offices were finished first in 1978, the Law Courts the following year, and the renovation of the old provincial court building into the new Vancouver Art Gallery was completed in 1983, a decade after the design was completed. [cite web|title=provincial law courts robson square & art gallery|publisher=Arthur Erickson |url= http://www.arthurerickson.com/txt_law.html|accessdate=2007-04-13]

Criticism

Tenants have complained about problems with leaks in the building. British Columbia Buildings Corporation has also discontinued icing the rink in the winter time, claiming that $250,000 is needed for re-piping and that the $50,000 required to ice and operate the rink for three months is too much money for a luxury item. [cite web|title=Plan to reopen ice rink faces meltdown|publisher=Vancouver Courier|url=http://www.vancourier.com/issues03/012103/news/012103nn5.html|accessdate=2007-04-13] The rink area is still used in the milder months for Ballroom & Salsa dancing, skateboarding, and various other activities.

References