The 1914 Seattle Smith Tower

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Tower 462 ft (141 m)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Tower#History " Although L.C. Smith did not live to see construction begin, his namesake building was completed in 1914 to a height of 143 m (469 ft) from curbside to the top of the pyramid,^[7] with a pinnacle height of 159 m (522 ft)."

Even a 100 years later, Vancouver & BC made sure that no office building would rival what Seattle had in 1914. No 40 story office tower in Vancouver and no 20 story office stump in Victoria.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Centre_(Vancouver)  144.78 m (475 ft.)

It would take until 1973 for Vancouver to allow something comparable in height to what Seattle had in 1914. 

https://the-intersection-point.blogspot.com/search?q=Urban+Tech+Intersection

computers-will-be-like-humans-by-2029-googles-ray-kurzweil

http://www.kurzweilai.net/cnbc-computers-will-be-like-humans-by-2029-googles-ray-kurzweil?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=158ecb0c5b-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-158ecb0c5b-281959761

nasa-robosimian-robot-disaster-response

http://www.space.com/24406-nasa-robosimian-robot-disaster-response-video.html
A spider-bot certainly would have the dexterity.

http://the-intersection-point.blogspot.ca/2014/01/bionics-robotics-and-transhumanism-etc.html

Supercomputers and the Universe

Supercomputers and the Universe
http://discovermagazine.com/2013/dec/09-do-we-live-in-the-matrix

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57615540-1/are-we-in-the-matrix-science-looks-for-signs-were-not-real

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/143180-probing-the-matrix-is-our-universe-simulated-and-if-so-by-who

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/science/121012/universe-computer-simulation-university-bonn-germany-matrix-beane

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2216189/Do-live-Matrix-researchers-say-way-prove-do.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628950.300-the-idea-we-live-in-a-simulation-isnt-science-fiction.html#.Usj8NPRDsrU

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2011/07/-a-matrix-universe-are-we-living-in-a-vast-computer-simulation.html


http://www.ipod.org.uk/reality/reality_simulated_reality.asp

BIG CITIES and the growing World Population

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz_kn45qIvI

http://www.prb.org/Publications/Datasheets/2013/2013-world-population-data-sheet/data-sheet.aspx

BIG DATA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBJLJQqbWsQ

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2533850/Coming-soon-Star-Wars-phone-lets-talk-holograms-loved-ones.html

Bionics, Robotics and Transhumanism, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU1-YFbAifA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zP7yP8hdLE

Robotic Army
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0VgrSSlGoo

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2533850/Coming-soon-Star-Wars-phone-lets-talk-holograms-loved-ones.html

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57615540-1/are-we-in-the-matrix-science-looks-for-signs-were-not-real/

Northeast Blackout of 1965-11-9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_1965
The 11-9 blackout was pretty big.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_Way_Viaduct_replacement_tunnel
Although its nowhere near the scale of the Big_Dig project in Boston, its still a big project.
http://mynorthwest.com/11/2367894/Know-before-you-go-Good-timing-for-closures-on-SR-99-Montlake-Bridge

http://westseattleblog.com/2013/09/traffic-alert-highway-99-blocked-at-battery-street-tunnel


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Seattle_Transit_Tunnel#Stations,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Link#Stations,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_Hill_(Link_station)

http://www.boston.com/beyond_bigdig,
http://www.wbur.org/2012/07/12/big-dig-effect,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkZSQS7lpHE,
http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/tunnel5.htm


http://www.boston.com/beyond_bigdig/cases/sanfrancisco/index.shtml

The Port of Tacoma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Tacoma#History

The road & rail infrastructure is much more substantial than whats in Vancouver,BC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commencement_Bay, http://www.portoftacoma.com

Port of Seattle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Seattle

http://www.portseattle.org/Pages/default.aspx
Unlike Vancouver, Seattle's port is much more concentrated, with wider & better road & rail access.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_Island

Overall, Seattle-Tacoma is the largest urban area in the Pacific_Northwest of North America.

Port of Metro Vancouver, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Metro_Vancouver#Terminals_and_Facilities
Unlike most major port regions, many of the main roadways still only have 4 or 6 lanes.
http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects/CCIP.aspx,
http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects/ongoingprojects/dtrrip.aspx,
http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects.aspx

While several cities have dual track railway bridges, this was not the case for Greater Vancouver.

http://www.nwheritage.org/phototour/riverlife/bridges_fraser.htm
It was tough enough just to get one set of tracks built with a 1 lane road above it.

http://www.newwestcity.ca/residents/residents_services/transportation/master_transportation_plan/articles1602.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberts_Bank_Superport,
http://www.robertsbankterminal2.com/about-the-project,
http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects/OngoingProjects/DTRRIP.aspx,
http://www.tsi.bc.ca/t3/index.php?id=90, http://porttalk.ca/rbt2,
http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects/RobertsBankRailCorridor.aspx,
http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/users/interactiveportmap.aspx,

http://www.translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/Roads-Bridges-and-Goods-Movement/Roberts-Bank-Rail-Corridor.aspx

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?centerx=-123.1355&centery=49.027&zoom=14,
http://www.asiapacificgateway.gc.ca,
http://www.bergergroup.com/?p=open_work&type=work&id=69&t=Deltaport,_Vancouver,_Canada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsawwassen_Ferry_Terminal

Telus Sky

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Telus+announces+plans+storey+tower+downtown+Calgary+with+video/8616228/story.html

http://www.telussky.com, http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/07/04/telus-sky-calgary_n_3547569.html

https://www.google.ca/search?q=telus+sky&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=DLxAUojjK8WdiALotoDYDg&sqi=2&ved=0CDAQsAQ&biw=1777&bih=887&dpr=1

New Massey Bridge

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/09/massey-tunnel-to-be-replaced-by-new-bridge-premier-clark

Surrey

http://www.biv.com/article/20130917/BIV0102/309179980/-1/BIV/surreys-bc-business-hub-aspirations-gaining-traction

The Tower that might have been

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Life_Insurance_Company_Tower

http://www.in-arch.net/NYC_Images/metbldg.html
The Metropolitan+Life+North+Building would have been very impressive had it reached its originally planed 100 stories. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=8942

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Life_North_Building,
http://www.in-arch.net/NYC_Images/metrolif.html,
http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=8325

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=151636, http://www.in-arch.net/NYC/nyc1a.html#6

Telus Garden, Vancouver

http://www.telusgarden.com/TelusGarden.html (TG)
Despite all the hubbub, this building will hardly make a big impression upon the Canadian skyline. In fact, unless it were permitted to have an extra 20 - 30 floors, it will just be another one of the shorter tall buildings in Canada. http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=58275201&page=9,
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2012/03/telus-gardens-residential-tower

"With architecture by Vancouver-based firm Henriquez Partners Architects, TELUS Garden will transform and revitalize the Robson block with this development, which includes a new 24 floor, 500,000 square foot signature office tower and a new 53 floor, 450,000-square foot residential tower, with a three-level retail podium with shops, services, and amenities, plus a public plaza."
http://www.hellovancity.com/2012/03/18/telus-garden-quick-facts-price-floorplans-features-downtown-vancouver-new-condo-development

According to this site, the residential tower wont be 53 floors, it will only have 46 floors above the ground.
http://www.emporis.com/building/telus-garden-residential-tower-vancouver-canada
I wished that TG could have been between 55 to 65 stories, but Vancouver isn't allowed to be a big & tall city, yet.

Perhaps the TG has the potential to have a few more residential floors, but given Vancouver's strict height limitations, TG is around the same height as, the Tour Telus in Montreal & the Telus Plaza Tower in Edmonton. Being both office towers, they only have 34 floors. Look how the Tour Telus is one of the shorter big buildings in the Province of Quebec. The one in Edmonton is even less significant when compared to the tallest buildings in Alberta. It doesn't even make it onto the first page of Alberta's tallest. All 3 Telus towers still make it onto page=9, for now.

http://about.telus.com/community/english/news_centre/news_releases/blog/2012/06/07/telus-garden-construction-work-awarded-to-bc-companies

http://www.604presale.com/telus-garden-downtown,
http://vancouverisawesome.com/2012/04/04/building-blocks-telus-garden

Even the tallest buildings in BC barely makes it onto the 2nd or 3rd pages.
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=58275201&offset=25
More than ever, Toronto, Calgary & Montreal can't stay at a small BC building mentality.
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1
Australia surpassed the small building scale of BC long ago & their cities are still considered to be just as scenic as anything in Canada.
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=58762037&page=1

http://the-intersection-point.blogspot.ca/2013/03/telus-garden-towers.html

Seattle, Vancouver and Calgary

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5988496694_9937348af5_b.jpg
If this building was in Vancouver, it would be the tallest office tower in the city. In terms of height, it would currently be the 2nd tallest building in BC, as of 2020. Seattle hasn't used its scenic setting as an excuse to hold back the city to the extent that Vancouver, BC has.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlemunicipalarchives/5988496694
The Safeco_Plaza was Seattle's first 50 story office tower to open before 1970.
http://www.pnwarchitecture.com/Building/4953/Safeco-Plaza.php
There was just too much fear of ever allowing a 50 or even a 40 story office tower in Vancouver before 1970. Just to consider the possibility of Vancouver allowing an office building to reach 30 stories was difficult. Eventually, the 30 story TD_Tower was completed in 1972 & as of 2013 no BC office building has been permitted to have a 60th, 50th or even a 40th floor.
The Columbia_Center became Seattle's first office tower to rise above 75 stories in 1985.
http://pinterest.com/pin/182818066093890434

The Seattle Smith_Tower opened in 1914 & the Royal_Centre_(Vancouver) opened in 1973. The RBC was the first office building in BC permitted to have more than 35 floors.
While the LC_Smith_Tower has almost become a stump in Seattle, it would still be among, if not the tallest of the office towers in Vancouver.
http://pinterest.com/thesmithtower/how-smith-tower-sees-itself,
http://pauldorpat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/1968-CBD-FM-BH-GoweyWEB.jpg,
http://pauldorpat.com/archivepage/seattle-now-then-piners-point-and-plummers-bay

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattle-history/slideshow/P-I-archives-Aerial-views-of-Seattle-6694.php#photo-771850,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bishopsgreen/2490023088/in/photostream

http://www.equitablerealestate.ca/vancouver-block

http://www.emporis.com/building/vancouverblock-vancouver-canada

https://www.google.ca/search?q=vancouver+block&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=8OQkUa7YF-PmiwKQsoDgCw&ved=0CFEQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=799

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/6077669771/in/photostream/

http://www.artefaqs.com/Search.php?in=1356653942

http://bcupb.com/2013/01/02/seattle-a-look-at-the-northwests-largest-metropolis

Tallest_buildings in Seattle
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=27&searchname=timeline,
Tallest_buildings in Vancouver
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=1&searchname=timeline,
Tallest_buildings in Calgary
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=3&searchname=timeline

https://the-intersection-point.blogspot.com/search?q=Seattle

Heavy Rail and Light Rail Transit Systems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commuter_rail_in_North_America,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_subway_and_RT#Future_expansion,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Metro#Future_projects


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_rail_in_Canada#Light_rail_systems_by_city
So far since the late 1950s, Vancouver hasn't been allowed to have a network of trams or streetcars on a scale of what's in Melbourne, Toronto and San Francisco  Its been impossible for Vancouver to catchup to those cities, but more & more people are starting to realize something. In addition to grade separated heavy rail & light rail systems, trams are great for local transit trips. Trams or streetcars are like a bus on train tracks. Trams can be linked into 2 or more units & are usually longer than any articulated bus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_rapid_transit#Main_features,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_City#Light_rail_transit,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_Street_Subway,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muni_Metro#Routes,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_streetcar_system#Routes

http://skytrainforsurrey.org/2013/02/11/light-rail-transit-has-a-high-operating-cost-per-service-hour/

http://skytrainforsurrey.org/2012/05/03/richmond-wanted-skytrain/

http://skytrainforsurrey.org/2013/02/06/skytrain-creates-more-accessible-communities-the-importance-of-advocating-for-the-right-transit-technology/

http://getthebiggerpicture.wa.gov.au/light-rail/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_transit_in_Germany#U-Bahn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_infrastructure#Subsurface_versus_deep-level_tube_lines

Unlike most urban regions, the Vancouver & BC mentality is about keeping trains, roads & buildings smaller than what's common in most cities. However, things are slowly changing.
http://the-intersection-point.blogspot.ca/2013/02/vancouvers-second-tallest-skyscraper.html

Vancouver’s Second Tallest Building (188m-617 feet)

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/02/vancouvers-second-tallest-skyscraper-to-be-trump-tower

It will have the highest floor count in BC but is 2nd tallest BC tower in height at 188m or 617 feet.
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=1
Here is how it lines up with some of Canada's taller buildings.
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=59334867&page=3
Nothing in BC rivals whats on this page or especially on this page.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/commercial-real-estate/Donald+Trump+eyes+Vancouver+presence+site/7982041/story.html

Unlike Calgary & Seattle, its been quite difficult for Vancouver to enter the urban big league. Most major urban centres have taller buildings, longer trains & wider roads than what's in Vancouver. Sometimes all 3 urban elements.

Although it will have about 10 more floors than this Australian building it wont be quite as tall.
A 188m is hardly among the tallest in Australia.
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=59334906&page=2

For many, a summer Olympics is just another big wast of money. However, such big name events usually implies that a city has become a bustling metropolis.
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2012/08/vancouver-summer-olympic-games-part-i

http://the-intersection-point.blogspot.ca/2013/02/heavy-rail-and-light-rail-transit.html

CentrePort Canada

http://www.centreportcanada.ca/about-us/gateways

http://www.ccwproject.ca, http://www.ccwproject.ca/photo-gallery

http://www.winnipeginlandport.ca, http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/centreport

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/cash-puts-centreport-on-track-163273126.html

http://www.asiapacificgateway.gc.ca/investments-map/mainmap_e.html

http://www.ccwproject.ca/project-maps/south-project-area

http://the-intersection-point.blogspot.ca/2013/02/south-fraser-perimeter-road.html

BC: South Fraser Perimeter Road

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Fraser_Perimeter_Road

http://www.sfprconstruction.ca

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/gateway/sfpr/sfpr.htm

http://www.straight.com/news/south-fraser-perimeter-road-opening-traffic-despite-opposition

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/releases-2013-h004e-7036.htm

http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects/OngoingProjects/DTRRIP.aspx

http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects/OngoingProjects/Deltaport_Third_Berth_Project.aspx

http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/port2050.aspx

http://the-intersection-point.blogspot.ca/2013/02/centreport-canada.html

Explosion and fire Devastates Pemex HQ in Mexico City

http://www.hazardexonthenet.net/article/55896/Fatal-explosion-and-fire-devastates-Pemex-HQ-in-Mexico-City.aspx?AreaID=2

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/31/mexico-americas

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/01/us-mexico-pemex-idUSBRE90U1FF20130201

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21288214,
http://www.infopig.com/keywords/explosion.html

http://www.euronews.com/2013/02/01/casualties-expected-to-rise-in-fatal-mexico-city-tower-explosion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_Ejecutiva_Pemex:
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=23

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18170525

High Rise Building Codes Are Stricter On Fire Safety

Chicago’s new code

New chapters on fire- and life-safety and building planning signify the first major overhaul of the Chicago building code in nearly 50 years. 

http://www.facilitiesnet.com/firesafety/article/New-Codes-Aim-For-Safer-HighRises--2426

http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/tables/high-rise-life-safety-evaluations.html, http://www.highriselifesafety.com/chicago-life-safety-code.html

www.suntimes.com/news/metro/17731411-418/extra-alarm-fire-in-south-shore-high-rise-building.html,
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-high-rise-fire-sprinkler-187972431.html,
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/01/22/firefighters-battle-high-rise-fire-on-south-side
Winter is always a difficult time for many cities.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/01/chicagos-freezing-fire/100445

The Aqua_skyscraper isn't just one of the most visually striking buildings, but one of the safest. http://www.lifeataqua.com,
BuildingID-http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=57839523&offset=50

http://www.radissonblu.com/aquahotel-chicago,
http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Building/913/Aqua.php,
http://www.ctbuh.org/Events/StudyTours/AquaTowerTour/tabid/779/Default.aspx,
http://www.nopromiseofsafety.com/?p=444, http://www.wbez.org/story/scaling-aqua-85846

A similar, but smaller tower in Toronto.
http://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/460-yonge-street,
BuildingID-http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=57839065&offset=25,
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=197965

Highrise Floods

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/01/22/bc-highrise-flooded.html?autoplay=true

http://www.canada.com/news/vancouver/Vancouver+highrise+condo+flooded+from+from+down/7855778/story.html

http://www.ianwatt.ca/Blog.php/every-vancouver-condo-has-had-or-will-have-a-flood

http://www.concordpacific.com/condos/the-max.htm, http://www.6717000.com/max1

http://www.theprovince.com/Vancouver+highrise+condo+flooded+from+from+down/7855778/story.html,
http://www.theprovince.com/news/vancouver/Metro+Vancouver+housing+second+least+affordable+world+study/7856593/story.html

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Dont-underestimate-floods-threat-to-high-rise-cond-30170773.html

Chicago Tunnels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tunnel_Company

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/3720.html,
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/367.html

http://www.michaelearley.info/deeptunnel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvl9jIhMk-w,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelinitaly/sets/72157624113008795/

http://web.archive.org/web/20051105090819/http://wgntv.trb.com/wgntv-news-101005tunnel,1,1202440.story

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornton_Quarry,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_and_Reservoir_Plan

460 Yonge in Toronto

http://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/460-yonge-street,
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=57381944&page=2,
http://thetorontoblog.com/2012/02/28/public-meeting-will-discuss-60-storey-condo-tower-plan-for-site-beside-historic-hall-at-yonge-college,
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1,
http://www.emporis.com/building/460-yonge-toronto-canada
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthread.php/17645-460-Yonge-Street-(current-RBC-Sizzler-s-Pizza-Canderel-Stoneridge-seeking-60s-G-C)/page23

http://www.talkcondo.com/blog/looking-ahead-most-anticipated-toronto-condo-projects-of-2012

The 225 Sixth Skyscraper in Calgary

http://brookfieldofficeproperties.com/content/Calgary/225_SIXTH-6746.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/12/02/225-sixth-skyscraper-planned-tower-will-eclipse-the-bow-as-tallest-on-calgarys-skyline_n_2228078.html#slide=more267113

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/12/01/calgarys-tallest-building-the-bow-to-be-eclipsed-by-planned-56-storey-225-sixth-tower

http://www.westerninvestor.com/index.php/news/ab/1091-tallest-office-tower-planned-for-calgary-,
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2012/12/01/calgary-225-development.html,
http://bestcalgaryhomes.com/tallest-buildings-in-calgary-225-sixth

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/property-report/brookfield-plots-calgarys-tallest-office-complex/article5900026

Alberta http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=2
Canada http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=57381944&page=1

If the tower were already completed, it would be the 7th tallest in Canada. However, considering other building proposals, it might become the 14th tallest building in Canada, whenever its completed.

TELUS Garden

http://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/news/telus-garden-development-takes-up-city-block-in-downtown-vancouver/1001413595,
http://www.telusgarden.com, http://vancouverpresales.com/telus-garden,
http://www.604presale.com/telus-garden-downtown, http://www.buzzbuzzhome.com/telus-garden,
http://www.hellovancity.com/2012/03/04/telus-plan-for-second-tallest-tower-in-vancouver-now-includes-condominium-units-downtown-vancouver-real-estate-news-march-2012,
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2012/03/a-closer-look-at-the-telus-garden-project

http://intergalactic.com/telus-garden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Vancouver

http://www.emporis.com/city/vancouver-canada,
http://www.emporis.com/building/telus-garden-residential-tower-vancouver-canada

http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=90197,
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=1,
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=57306323&offset=175,
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1

Gate Tower Building, Osaka

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gate_Tower_Building,
http://www.kuriositas.com/2012/09/highwaythroughabuilding.html,
http://autos.ca.msn.com/editors-picks/the-worlds-most-dangerous-roads-2#image=6

The CN Tower Area

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CN_Tower#History, http://www.cntower.ca/Intro.html,
http://travel.ca.msn.com/13-things-you-didnt-know-about-famous-canadian-landmarks#image=2

The area is certainly undergoing some big development changes.
http://www.urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/10/breaking-oxford-place-propose-citys-first-supertall-skyscrapers,
http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/48540,
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=1
Toronto might finally be permitted to have an office tower reaching at least 80 stories.
http://www.retail-insider.com/2012/10/nordstrom-simonstarget-or-walmart-in_18.html,
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/10/12/oxford-unveils-3-billion-casino-condo-proposal-for-downtown-toronto/

http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?countryID=2
NYC and Chicago have had office towers above 70 stories for decades, Toronto still only has one.
http://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/first-canadian-place-rejuvenation
Perhaps when Toronto finally has an 80 story office tower, Vancouver will have an office building that has at least 40 floors. So far, no office building in BC has been permitted to have a 40th floor, let alone those 60 to 80 story office towers that are common in other places.

http://skyscraperpage.com/cities
NYC is still the big guy on the block, but other cities have built some taller stuff in the past few decades.
http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/50991,
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=202

The 1982 movie Blade_Runner reveals that Rick_Deckard lives in a residential tower that has over 90 floors. Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep? was published in 1968 when Chicago had a 100 story tower topped out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock_Center LA and SF have no buildings with 80 floors yet. So far, California only has one building that's over a 1000 feet tall.

Portland, Maine...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Maine, Earthquake:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/18/maine-earthquake-facts-2012_n_1980933.html,
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usb000d75b#summary,
http://www.usatoday.com/story/ondeadline/2012/10/16/earthquake-maine-boston/1637441,
http://copycateffect.blogspot.ca/2012/10/ME-Earthquake.html

Boston:
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=145,
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/10/17witness-hollis-maine-quake-felt-like-boom-rumble-and-sinking-feeling/h0Vg99l5NFhOXmx36nM4PI/story.html,
http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/2012/10/16/maine-earthquake-rattles-new-england/JEHscgGOGsUqeNngsKCcgJ/story.html

Montreal:
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=22, http://www.imtl.org/montreal/timeline.php,
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/4-5-magnitude-earthquake-shakes-montreal-area-1.989538,
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/45-magnitude-earthquake-rattles-montreal-area/article4600428

The 4 lane Pattullo Bridge Saga

The Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932 with 6 lanes & 2 tracks for trams & another 2 tracks for the heavier passenger trains. Eventually the trams were removed so that the bridge could have 8 lanes, but the 2 train tracks remain. It would be several decades before a bridge of similar width would be built in Canada. In BC, it was difficult enough just to get a 4 lane bridge built & the single track NW_Bridge.
www.nwheritage.org/phototour/riverlife/bridges_fraser.htm,  www.flickr.com,  www.tenthtothefraser.ca/2010/09/19/remembering-new-westminsters-pay-a-toll-o-bridge

The Pattullo_Bridge could have really been something spectacular between New_Westminster & Surrey. However, back in the 1930s there just wasn't that much population growth compared to more established urban areas of the world. Thus, there was no need to meet the equivalent engineering standards of New_South_Wales or California. Switzerland can fit into the land area of BC some 23 times. While Switzerland has about 8 million people, BC is struggling to reach 4.5 million & its 23 times larger. New_Zealand has about the same population of BC, but is about 3 quarters its size. Although Canada & Australia are among the largest countries_by_total_area, they are among the smallest in population because of their size. Canada hasn't been allowed to equal the population of California & Australia hasn't been allowed to rival the population of Texas. After all these years on a planet that has over 7 billion people, Canada & Australia combined, haven't been permitted to even equal the population of the United_Kingdom. Perhaps the Commonwealth_realm requires that its two largest land areas never rival the population of the UK, indefinitely.
http://io9.com/5930595/the-future-is-unevenly-distributed?tag=futurism

Although Canada has over 10 million more people than Australia, the urban infrastructure seems to lag behind that of Australia.
The new bridge might have 6 lanes, some 9 decades after the Sydney Harbor Bridge started out with its first 6 lanes in 1932. The heavy rail bridge might still remain as a single track crossing. www.surreyhistory.ca/rrera.html, www.southfraser.net/2008/06/rail-bridge_24.html

The Forth_Bridge is a fine example of a large scale double track bridge. The Quebec_Bridge was originally a double track railway crossing.

www.civicsurrey.com/2012/02/09/pattullo-plans/bridge-replacement, 

www.civicsurrey.com/2011/02/10/province-wants-to-postpone-replacement-of-deadly-pattullo-bridge

www.civicsurrey.com/2011/09/29/redeveloping-the-area-around-scott-road-skytrain-station/an-example-for-surrey

www.civicsurrey.com/2011/06/30/surreys-city-centre-needs-to-be-more-focused/initial-concepts-for-civic-centre

www.civicsurrey.com/2011/07/26/guildford-mall-set-for-phase-two-of-expansion-renewal, 

www.civicsurrey.com/2011/05/31/rapid-transit-study-points-to-fraser-highway-possible-skytrain

buzzer.translink.ca, http://actsofminortreason.blogspot.ca/2010/09/tunnel-visions-vancouvers-skytrain.html

www.civicsurrey.com/2012/08/08/proposed-road-expansion-project-pattullo
A basic comparison of New_Westminster & Surrey,_British_Columbia with Vancouver,_Washington & Portland,_Oregon. Both are port cities on either side of a wide river, but NW still only has a 4 lane bridge to Surrey. Where as V,Wa has a 6 lane Interstate_Bridge & the 8 lane G.L.J._Memorial Bridge to Portland.
www.civicsurrey.com/2012/08/08/the-case-for-building-a-replacement-four-lane-pattullo-bridge

British_Columbia: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=1,
Oregon: http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?stateID=26

https://the-intersection-point.blogspot.com/search?q=bridge

The Tallest Buildings and Structures in Seattle vs. little Vancouver

The Columbia_Center opened in 1985 with 76 stories, 80 counting the mechanical or plant floors. Vancouver has the RBC with windows only up to the 36th floor. There are a few windowless floors above that.
The Smith_Tower opened in 1914. While this is a stump in Seattle, it would be the tallest office building in Vancouver, BC.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Bank-of-america-seattle.jpg

List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures_in_Seattle ,

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017518305_clise16.html ,

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/301481/20120220/amazon-plans-three-skyscrapers-seattle.htm

Seattle was never under the same zoning and building limitations as Vancouver, BC.

https://the-intersection-point.blogspot.com/search?q=Urban+Tech+Intersection

The Technology Intersection (TTI)

The Technology Intersection (TTI) is essentially an Urban Tech intersection. Technology is continually expanding all over the world. Is it a government-corporate push or is it just that more people that are wanting to live in cities & urban areas in general? (This blog is semi-dormant at times.)

The Internet_of_Things (IoT) is quite a big thing on the horizon. https://www.techtarget.com/iotagenda/definition/Internet-of-Things-IoT

 

TTI intersects with Science, Urban themes and technology in general. There is also a Sci-Fi, popular cultural aspect as well. Such as the urban monster_movie, Batman & Superman, TRON & the Matrix...

Technology & urban development are key aspects of cities. Some cities grow big because they are in a desirable location, but usually it's for economic reasons.

Being from Vancouver, Canada it's always amazing to see how so many cities are allowed to exist on a much larger scale than what is allowed in Vancouver & BC in general. That's because most big cities around the world aren't limited by anything like Vancouverism. 

Even to see how much larger Seattle is able to be than little Vancouver, is astounding. No office tower in Vancouver has ever been permitted to have a 40th floor. Where as the tallest office tower in Seattle has 76 stories.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Seattle#High_tech:_1970_onwards

The people of Seattle and especially the urban planners never had the same thwarting mentality that Vancouver seems to cultivate.

https://special.seattletimes.com/o/special/centennial/december/silicon_forest.html

Obviously, the Greater Seattle Area was allowed to become a big high tech industry base. https://www.historylink.org/File/9190 Especially, the SF Bay Area.

Toronto is a BIG city on a lakeshore, just like Chicago is. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Chicago , 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Toronto 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago#Geography , 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto#Architecture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Chicago#Tallest_buildings , 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Toronto#Ranking_by_standard_height

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago#Economy , 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto#Economy

Being from Vancouver, BC its amazing to see how several other cities are allowed to be built on a much larger scale, simply because they aren't under Vancouver type controls & restrictions.

Toronto Towers and Vancouver Stumps

The 72 story First_Canadian_Place and the 36 story Exchange_Tower.

The Exchange Tower is essentially a stump in Toronto, but in Vancouver it would be among the tallest office buildings.

Commerce_Court#1931_North_Tower & Commerce_Court West 1972

While CC North has become a stump in Toronto, it would be almost the tallest office buildings in Vancouver & BC, overall.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/features/at-the-bell/torontos-moving-on-up-and-up/article2343503 

One of the main features of this blog is to point out how various cities have their tallest towers next to what would be a Vancouver size stump. How their long trains compare to the short trains of Vancouver. Being from Vancouver, its always fascinating to see how wide streets, roads and freeways can get in real cities.

Some how its like a multi-generational agenda was established so that Vancouver, Victoria and BC at large, would continually do things at a smaller scale than what is permitted in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. 

Therefore, by continually building things at a smaller scale, it helped to thwart the economy. That means less economic reasons for people to move to BC. Several generations of extreme zoning and building restrictions have helped to condition people in BC to never expect Victoria to be as big as Seattle or Sydney, NSW. That Vancouver could never be on the scale of a Montreal, especially Toronto & the SFBA.

There has been a long running argument that because Vancouver and Victoria are in a scenic setting, the scale of things have to be held back. Yet, scenic cities such as Sydney, SF, Seattle and Auckland..., don't have the same building restrictions as what Vancouver and Victoria have.

Several cities around the world have a larger scale of urban infrastructure than what Vancouver allows. Even though Victoria has a mild winter climate, Halifax, Q. City, Winnipeg and Edmonton still all have more people. With BC having so many imposed limitations, more business and people go elsewhere. The scale of downtown Calgary and Seattle just aren't thwarted like Vancouver's downtown is.

I wish that Victoria was allowed to be on the same scale as Sydney, Australia or at least Auckland. I wish that Vancouver was allowed to be on the same scale as Montreal or Seattle or especially SF & Toronto. However, a multi-generational power-structure has been quite adept in holding Vancouver & BC back. Then there is a Canadian version of this mentality as well. In spite of Canada being the 2nd largest country in area, its never been allowed to contain 1% of the worlds population. Indeed, Canada has yet to even house half of one percent of the worlds population.

https://the-intersection-point.blogspot.com/search?q=Toronto , 

https://the-intersection-point.blogspot.com/search?q=Seattle

More about The+Urban+Intersection at TTI.