“Creating a real “people place” to relax, play, socialize, enjoy events, and explore neighbourhood heritage”.
The turntable is a historic public plaza that with the exception of a few programmed events is rarely used on a day to day casual basis even though the surrounding neighbourhood is busy and bustling. The mandate of this project is to protect, promote and enhance the existing character and heritage values of the turntable by introducing new, more contemporary but historically compatible elements to animate the plaza and create a stronger sense of place. These elements would provide places to sit, give shelter from the rain as well as shade from the sun, create a focal point on the plaza for events and performances and provide an opportunity for food and drink. Please note some of the elements of the proposed list of changes are tentative as costs for the various elements are still being investigated.
• Turntable bridge turn to a more N/S direction to help create a better defined performance space and to better bring people into the Roundhouse plaza
• A crane reminiscent of early railway cranes to support light shelter/shading canopies with cables for lighting, banners, and aerial performances to increase current casual and programmed usage options while enhancing the industrial architectural style
• Viewing platform overlooking the Turntable pit to feature the bridge turning mechanism and to create an opportunity for historical Interpretation to tell the story of the historic turntable and the Roundhouse
• Mist/steam feature for children and families to enjoy reminiscent of the “Age of Steam”
• To create and enhance a ‘sense of place’ and animate the plaza, strong, colourful and playful forms e.g. furniture, modular flexible seating, trees, etc.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Turntable Project?
The project’s intention is to revitalise the Turntable Plaza area and make it into a more inviting urban space in which to relax, play, socialize and explore neighbourhood heritage.
Why are you doing the project?
The plaza has sat mostly unused and desolate for many years yet it has the capacity to become a valued public space. By improving some of the physical features of the plaza we can offer diverse opportunities to use it as a public space - whether as a nice place to sit and have a coffee, or, as a place to come to a farmers market, dance performance, etc. The improvements will also help fulfill the overall mandate of the Roundhouse as an arts and culture facility.
What is happening?
The plan is to install sunshades and rain cover in the form of one large moveable crane and canopy, as well as flexible public seating, a water/steam feature, shade trees, the ability for sound and lighting for performances, and interpretive material about the history of the turntable and the Roundhouse.
When is it happening?
Work on the project is scheduled to begin in early February 2011 and be completed by mid-July 2011.
What will it be used for?
Most of the time, the plaza will simply be an outdoor public space to be used for sitting, talking and for children to play in. A few times a season, the Roundhouse will use the area to host live events which may include dance, music, or theatre-based projects. Farmers markets and book sales are other possibilities that various community members have asked for.
Who is paying for the project?
It will be jointly paid for by the Vancouver Park Board / City of Vancouver ($950,000), the Government of Canada as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan ($600,000), and the BC Transmissions Corporation ($250,000).
What consultation has there been?
The project has gone through considerable consultation including a design charette planning process in January 2008 and several Open Houses for the public – February 2008, May 2009, May 2010 and September 9, 2010. Members of the Roundhouse community association, community members, Roundhouse staff, artists, designers, planners, heritage planners, West Coast Rail Association staff, Park Board planners, YBIA members, youth and seniors have all been involved at some stage of the process. The Vancouver Park Board approved the concept plan for the project in May 2008.
Who is designing the project?
The turntable and pit area including the proposed canopy are being designed by Nick Milkovich Architects Inc, and the seating and other elements will be designed by Phillip Farevaag Smallenberg. The project is lead by a committee that includes members of the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Society board, staff, and Vancouver Parks Board staff.
Will the live events make lots of noise?
While there will be some noise associated with events in the plaza, it will remain within the limits defined by the City of Vancouver bylaws.
What about the heritage aspects of the site?
Part of the intent of the project is to enhance the heritage components of the Roundhouse. It will include interpretive information to explain the history and function of the Turntable and the Roundhouse. All construction work will be carried out in ways that honour the original heritage aspects of the site and augment it for modern day use.
Who do I send comments to?
Comments on the proposed plan can be sent to:
Vancouver Park Board
2099 Beach Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6G 1Z4
Attn: Ernest Fanthorpe, Facility Development Coordinator
Or e-mail: Ernest.Fanthorpe@vancouver.ca.
