The Bright Building (749 King St W) | 18 + 3 fl | U/C

[Coke6pk]

UW also has a pretty extensive service tunnel network. It used to be a cool place to urban explore if you knew where to get in! Probably a lot harder to do these days, unfortunately: http://matt.wandel.ca/tunnels/tunnels.html

I got to visit the tunnels when I worked at UW.  Entrance doors are all alarmed and there is a wide array of motion sensors (Highly secure since there is so much infrastructure running thru those tunnels).  Unless the system is turned off (when an authorized user is in there... which isn't often), it would be hard to explore without being noticed very quickly.

Coke

[ijmorlan]

UW also has a pretty extensive service tunnel network. It used to be a cool place to urban explore if you knew where to get in! Probably a lot harder to do these days, unfortunately: http://matt.wandel.ca/tunnels/tunnels.html

I got to visit the tunnels when I worked at UW.  Entrance doors are all alarmed and there is a wide array of motion sensors (Highly secure since there is so much infrastructure running thru those tunnels).  Unless the system is turned off (when an authorized user is in there... which isn't often), it would be hard to explore without being noticed very quickly.

Coke

I get the impression that illicit keys used to circulate relatively freely amongst the student population. Probably mostly engineers, but that might just be a stereotype. This sort of thing is much more tightly controlled these days, partly due to zeitgeist and partly due to technology (alarm systems).

There was a rumour of at least one room where all the doors leading out were locked and there was a table with a telephone on it to phone security, so that the only way out would be to call for a rescue from the campus police. I find this unbelievable however as I’m certain the fire marshal would find that arrangement to be completely unacceptable. There is another rumour that the tunnels (or some of them) were closed due to crime, but I’m pretty sure that is not true; from what I’ve heard (and even what can be seen on floor plans) the closed tunnels are not suitable for public use for walking around (tight spaces, hot pipes, elevation changes, ladders, …). Still, would be nice for the occupants of V1 if they could use a tunnel!

[Votemac]

I also used these tunnels quite a bit when working at UW.... they're mostly creepy and not fun (IMO)

[tomh009]

I got to visit the tunnels when I worked at UW.  Entrance doors are all alarmed and there is a wide array of motion sensors (Highly secure since there is so much infrastructure running thru those tunnels).  Unless the system is turned off (when an authorized user is in there... which isn't often), it would be hard to explore without being noticed very quickly.

Coke

I get the impression that illicit keys used to circulate relatively freely amongst the student population. Probably mostly engineers, but that might just be a stereotype. This sort of thing is much more tightly controlled these days, partly due to zeitgeist and partly due to technology (alarm systems).

Yeah, that would have been in the 70s and 80s ...

[goggolor]

I went into the tunnels under Village 1 in the late 90's. We entered by moving a piece of plywood that was just propped against a large hole in a basement hallway. It was mostly narrow tunnels filled with pipes. The most interesting thing I remember is an empty room where the floor, walls, and ceiling were covered with graffiti from people who had visited over the decades.

[GtwoK]

Anyone know where I could find site plans or layouts or any sort of documents that may have been submitted to the city for this? Seems like its changed drastically quite a few times since the first post, and havent been able to find any sort of records on the Kitchener website. Trying to get a better idea of what this will look like in terms of sizing / massing so that I can model it for the 3D development map. Seems like all there is to go on is this render and this stylized site plan

[Lebronj23]

Anyone know where I could find site plans or layouts or any sort of documents that may have been submitted to the city for this? Seems like its changed drastically quite a few times since the first post, and havent been able to find any sort of records on the Kitchener website. Trying to get a better idea of what this will look like in terms of sizing / massing so that I can model it for the 3D development map. Seems like all there is to go on is this render and this stylized site plan

You will have to email the city for the site plans. They will put you in touch with someone in that department. Although that person will not get back to you even after multiple emails lol. Good luck

[ac3r]

Specifically, you send an email to planning@kitchener.ca but indeed, sometimes you need to ask a few times and they might not even reply.

[Bjays93]

They appear to be at grade here. Kinda forgot this project existed tbh

[Spokes]

Pretty easy to forget about projects when there are a ton of really exciting ones on the go.

[CP42]

[westwardloo]

I hope this project turns out well, but precast in this region has not been the best quality. Hard to tell, but it looks like the building is a bit close to the street. Would have liked a nice wide sidewalk

[GtwoK]

I hope this project turns out well, but precast in this region has not been the best quality. Hard to tell, but it looks like the building is a bit close to the street. Would have liked a nice wide sidewalk

If this is sticking to the renders and original site plan (which it seems to be), its a bit further back than it appears in the photo and theres some nice patio space around the building with those pillars as architectural elements

[tomh009]

The precast construction should be speeding up progress now, strikes notwithstanding.

   

[Bjays93]

Man everything HIP touches is an abomination. We should ban them.