Waterloo Region Connected
Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | completed - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | completed (/showthread.php?tid=1146)



RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - tomh009 - 09-13-2020

I really don't think the Duke St side is much more attractive, either.


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - Momo26 - 09-13-2020

Massive podium:tower footprint ratio. Yah I dont know what's going on with the black and white side. Maybe we wait until it's done to pass judgement!


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - Spokes - 09-14-2020

Reserving judgement....reserving judgement....reserving judgement.


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - midriser - 09-14-2020

Trying to reserve judgment as well, but so far this is shaping up to be just a taller version of a Northdale style student housing complex, with lots of cheap spandrel and mostly unsuccessful application of patterns and colours. At least these aren’t crazy reds and blues and oranges and yellows all on the same building like a few of the recent developments on Albert. That said, it’s also not too surprising as it looks like student housing is the main focus of IN8 Developments. Ever since it was announced that they were the developer I’ve been a bit worried, even though the renders kinda looked ok.

Hopefully the tower portion will be better, and that the look of podium improves as more gets completed.


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - westwardloo - 09-14-2020

I will repeat what I have said previously. This is a tall building for the region and that is it. It will not win any beauty contests. The tower is just as much a dysfunctional mess as the podium in my opinion. I only hope we aren't left with this building as our tallest for decades to come like Hamilton's landmark place.


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - Momo26 - 09-14-2020

Please dont look as terrible as Landmark Place!


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - panamaniac - 09-14-2020

To be fair, the original render seemed to show an open parking garage on the Frederick St side of the podium. Any covering would seem to be an improvement on that ...


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - mastermind - 09-14-2020

(09-14-2020, 01:29 PM)westwardloo Wrote: I will repeat what I have said previously. This is a tall building for the region and that is it. I will not win any beauty contests. The tower is just as much a dysfunctional mess as the podium in my opinion. I only hope we aren't left with this building as our tallest for decades to come like Hamilton's landmark place.

Not sure anyone was judging your looks...   :-P


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - westwardloo - 09-14-2020

(09-14-2020, 01:52 PM)mastermind Wrote:
(09-14-2020, 01:29 PM)westwardloo Wrote: I will repeat what I have said previously. This is a tall building for the region and that is it. I will not win any beauty contests. The tower is just as much a dysfunctional mess as the podium in my opinion. I only hope we aren't left with this building as our tallest for decades to come like Hamilton's landmark place.

Not sure anyone was judging your looks...   :-P
haha haha my bad


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - cherrypark - 09-14-2020

(09-14-2020, 01:52 PM)panamaniac Wrote: To be fair, the original render seemed to show an open parking garage on the Frederick St side of the podium.  Any covering would seem to be an improvement on that ...

It might improve a bit with the final finish, but I would say I would rather the open garage with the dressing in the render over the mass of this wall on a major street front.


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - panamaniac - 09-14-2020

(09-14-2020, 07:06 PM)cherrypark Wrote:
(09-14-2020, 01:52 PM)panamaniac Wrote: To be fair, the original render seemed to show an open parking garage on the Frederick St side of the podium.  Any covering would seem to be an improvement on that ...

It might improve a bit with the final finish, but I would say I would rather the open garage with the dressing in the render over the mass of this wall on a major street front.

Dressing in the render?  All I see is an open parking garage, although the render is very unclear.


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - tomh009 - 09-14-2020

Here is what the podium facade (on Frederick St) is supposed to be. Precast panels with some metal trim.

(08-14-2020, 10:17 AM)westwardloo Wrote: Not sure if everyone has only seen an initial marketing render of this project or not but from the renderings I have seen it looks like they are building it as proposed with precast concert panels. 

It appears that they are going to attach some metal louvers in a "decorative" pattern. some of the louvers are supposed to hid LED light fixtures, but who knows.

I am not sure the Architects thought it was going to look this bad when they designed it, but does not appear to be turning out great.

[Image: attachment.php?aid=7243]



RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - jeffster - 09-14-2020

I think we need to see this building completed before passing judgment. Just a guess though, it will look better at night than day.


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - Momo26 - 09-14-2020

Yah, overcast night?


RE: Duke Tower Kitchener | 39 fl | U/C - cherrypark - 09-15-2020

(09-14-2020, 07:13 PM)panamaniac Wrote:
(09-14-2020, 07:06 PM)cherrypark Wrote: It might improve a bit with the final finish, but I would say I would rather the open garage with the dressing in the render over the mass of this wall on a major street front.

Dressing in the render?  All I see is an open parking garage, although the render is very unclear.

I was thinking of this one from the marketing materials. Not the height of design, but seemed like it would blend in a bit more.

[Image: DTK_01.jpg]