Vision

From ConCerv

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Adaptive Re-use of Historic Powerhouses

ConCerv has argued strongly that the Rossdale site is an inappropriate site for the generation of power. Generation of power in the river valley is contrary to the bylaws of the City. In addition, the Rossdale site is at the entrance to downtown, it is close to the legislature, it is the site of the Proclamation of the Province in 1905, it is the site of the first European settlement in the Edmonton area, and it has been the meeting place for First Nations People for centuries.

ConCerv has argued that the architecturally significant Maxwell Dewar Building should be adaptively re-used for some other purpose that is compatible with cultural, recreational or residential purposes which are allowable uses of the river valley. Progressive cities around the world are realising the potential of such buildings and are finding alternative uses that add much more to the cultural, social and economic fabric of those cities than a power plant ever could.

ConCerv commissioned noted architects David Murray and Jeremy Sturgess along with noted town planner Lesley Beale to look at alternatives for the Rossdale site. They show some exciting possibilities which would have a far gretater economic, social, and cultural impact than a power plant expansion could ever have. The report is available here in Adobe Acrobat format.


Some examples are:

A Sunday Times acrticle (http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/2001/04/08/stiptypty01017.html) describing how London developers have transformed an aging power station into the "the centre of a complex consisting mainly of offices, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, notably the permanent London home of Cirque du Soleil, the spectacular Canadian animal-free circus."; The Battersea Power Station Community Group (http://www.batterseapowerstation.com/) hosts information on the history, significance, and current use of the power station.

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