PCL Construction Canada Inc. has started work on the $110 million National Arts Centre renovation project.

The centre on Elgin Street remains open through the project, as the contractors implement the design by architects Diamond and Schmidt.

The project calls for improved performance spaces, public areas for education and events, improved accessibility for people with mobility challenges and “a magnificent glass entrance”

The NAC says the work schedule is moving forward more quickly than originally anticipatedt to ensure its new atrium and entrance onto Elgin Street would be open for Canada Day 2017 and its new banquet room finished by January 2018, CBC has reported.

In an email, an NAC spokesperson said work was originally going to start in June after the end of its 2015-16 season.

The NAC said in a letter to supporters that it would schedule construction outside performance hours, or between midnight and 2 p.m. ET on weekdays, so evening and weekend performances can go ahead as planned.

“A certain number of school matinées and daytime performances and rehearsals taking place during the week will have to be cancelled or moved to other halls within the NAC, or to other venues across the city,” it said.

The NAC’s Fourth Stage will close from spring 2016 until July 2017, but it said many shows and community events will be held in other parts of the building.

Its “le café” restaurant will be closed for lunch from Jan. 4, 2016 to June 26, 2017, but will be open for dinner.

There will also be a new, temporary 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. box office at a yet-to-be-named location near the NAC. The release said will be an “oasis from the construction zone,” while its main box office will be fully operational from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Outside the building, hoarding will start going up on Elgin Street and the northeastern side of the NAC terrace overlooking Confederation Square and the National War Memorial in December or January.

In an earlier news release PCL said as its “Ottawa district celebrates its 25th year in the nation’s capital, we are very excited and proud to be working with the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and playing an important role in transforming this Canadian landmark.

“As we approach Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017, this renewal will bring great energy to the downtown core by showcasing the performing arts, education and introducing new event spaces with one of the most beautiful views in the country,” said Kevin Skinner, vice president and district manager for PCL’s Ottawa operations. “We are truly excited about this project and we see similarities with a theatrical experience. Over the next two years we will rehearse, bring the program together and enable the public to watch the show as it unfolds.”

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Architects with Diamond and Schmidt are designing a $110.5 million project to “transform and revitalize” the National Arts Centre on Elgin Street.

The project calls for improved performance spaces, public areas for education and events, improved accessibility for people with mobility challenges and “a magnificent glass entrance.”

Construction will start this summer and is expected to be completed sometime in 2017. The general contractor hasn’t yet been announced.  The NAC building will remain open during construction.

The NAC is Canada’s only bilingual, multi-disciplinary performing arts centre and was built as a centennial project, first opening its doors in 1969. The NAC will remain open during the construction phase and all scheduled performances will go ahead.

“We are very grateful to the Government of Canada for this major re-investment in the NAC,” NAC president and CEO Peter Herrndorf said in a statement.

“The new entrance of the NAC will be warm and inviting, and will embrace the Nation’s Capital for the first time.  With this new design we will finally face the city and its most important square. We often call Confederation Square “Canada’s Square” at the NAC, because it’s a place where the country gathers for important anniversaries, including Remembrance Day and Canada Day.”

Architect Donald Schmitt has sought to create a transparent entrance to the National Arts Centre on Elgin Street. “The glass entrance, in the hexagonal shape of the NAC’s original design, will showcase the importance of the performing arts in Canada,” a NAC announcement said. “The new entrance respects the original design of the NAC, while enhancing Confederation Square and the National War Memorial.

“It’s on the edges of the NAC, it’s on the north face, it’s going to be hugging the contours of the building, so the actual performance venues will not be affected except the 4th stage,” said NAC spokesperson Rosemary Thompson.

The architects say they’ve already begun some inside work. Exterior work will start next year.

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            Challenging DND project requires exceptional environmental and site management co-ordination

Ottawa Construction News special feature

A new home for HMCS (Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship) Carleton, Ottawa’s naval reserve base, is rising at Dow’s Lake.

The unique, $18.5 million 6,000 sq. m. structure designed by GRC Architects is being constructed by Ruiter Construction Ltd. of Kanata. The project is being managed by Defence Construction Canada (DCC) on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND).

Originally opened in 1943, the 1.95 hectare site once had six buildings, including administrative offices, classrooms, messes, a drill hall and storage, surrounded by parkland and NCC (National Capital Commission) bike paths. The drill hall had been demolished earlier and other components have or will be demolished in sequence as part of the new construction. Artifacts and historical records currently on the site will all be relocated to the new building once it is completed.

DCC site manager Janette Brodeur says the concrete, block and steel building is expected to be completed by May 2015 and final exterior work (including final demolition) by July 2015.      “At this point the steel is almost done, the envelope about 60 per cent complete and masonry about 50 per cent complete,” she said. “The electrical and mechanical rough ins have begun and framing work has started on the second floor.”

The project has been designed to achieve LEED Silver certification through conventional energy efficiencies. It will stand out along the lakefront for its unique, two–storey design. Resembling a ship with its swooping profile and porthole windows, some of which will look out over the lake, the design connects the building’s occupants to its appearance.

GRC Architects principal Martin Tite says this connection provided inspiration, as did the location and the desire to tie into the site’s marine environment.

The design team had some challenges, he said. “The position had to allow for one of the buildings to remain and be occupied during construction. We also had to position the building to allow for pedestrian traffic because Dow’s Lake is such a busy location.”

Taking this as an opportunity not only to allow for but to improve pedestrian traffic, the design and construction team worked closely with the NCC, who had an interest both in the design, and in maintaining an existing bike path that winds past the site.

“The bike path had to be relocated, signed and fenced so it could continue to be used,” says Brodeur.

She says other site-related challenges included a small amount of hydro-carbon soil contamination that had to be removed to a specific landfill and environmental controls required because of the lake’s proximity. “There was specific fencing required for sedimentation control and we had to have a water truck on site during demolition to control the dust out of consideration for the lake and the adjacent businesses.”

Brodeur says all of the environmental concerns are closely monitored by DCC’s environmental services co-ordinator.

DCC Construction services co-ordinator Graham Yantha says another similar project, the HMCS Hunter is being constructed in Windsor. He says the Windsor project is slightly ahead in its construction cycle so has provided a valuable tool for the team. “I’ve been to Windsor to see the project take shape and as discoveries and changes are implemented there, they are passed down to us so we’re able to react earlier in the process.”

As co-ordinator, Yantha handles quality assurance on behalf of the owner, the site’s day-to-day business, changes, and is the go-between for the client and construction and design teams.

“Communication has been key from the start,” he said. “An early partnering session detailed roles and responsibilities and lines of communication. This is a fairly tight site and with 30 to 50 workers active daily, people have to be talking to each other to get things done and make room for each other.”

Yantha says deliveries from Prince of Wales Dr. have a tight entrance to navigate, must be co-ordinated and then turned around on site. He says an adjacent curling club agreed to allow summer parking, easing some of the worker parking burden.

Tite says the building will have a very public exterior, likely garnering a great deal of interest and curiosity from passersby, but the interior belongs to the military and will be secure. Interior spaces will include training facilities, offices, a gymnasium, a drill hall, an officer’s mess and boat houses.

Prime Mechanical Inc. is the project’s plumbing contractor. President Peter Gault says work is going well and his staff is about half way towards completing their work. As a LEED project, some alterations had to made to materials such as caulking but Gault says Prime has completed several other LEED projects, so is well versed in what must be done differently.

Following Navy tradition, land-based establishments such as this are known as stone frigates. Other Navy terminology will be used within the building as well with floor levels referred to as decks and the kitchen referenced as a galley. This fall an official change of command parade will take place, as well as the Navy coin laying ceremony.

“Following historical navy tradition the youngest member of the crew, in this case through the construction crew, will be asked to position the coin,” Brodeur said.

Another challenge has been the complicated phasing required to retain power and services to the site with demolition, construction work and an existing operating building sharing the same location.

Tite says GRC has done many projects for DND from minor roof replacements to complex new constructions. He says the team assembled to construct HMCS Carleton has been wonderful, from the Canadian Forces Fire Marshall to the NCC representatives, to the DCC project team, Kamal Mostafa, the DND project manager, and the trades on site.

Gault says he has worked with DND, DCC and Ruiter before, as well as with most of the trades on site. “The team they have assembled here is good. Everyone knows the expectation, knows what they are doing, and has proven skill in their specific role.”

Yantha says everyone at the HMCS Carleton has been wonderful, sharing information and dealing with the noise and activity of a busy construction site. “This project has been a long time coming together and we still have almost a year of working together ahead of us. Projects like this allow for people to come together, for relationships to develop and for a stronger working environment for everyone.”

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            Construction continues after REDBLACK’s opening game

Ottawa Construction News special feature

While Lansdowne Park has successfully re-opened, hosting its first Ottawa REDBLACK’s  and Ottawa Fury FC games, work is continuing behind the scenes.

Pomerleau’s project director Philippe Goulet says a pre-game event for REDBLACK’s season ticket holders provided the soft-opening opportunity needed to ensure everything worked as expected. “We were able to provide OSEG (Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group) support in figuring out how to make the fan experience seamless with all of the construction still going on around.”

Crews are still finishing up minor deficiencies and in the Civic Centre where scaffolding, used to support the work going on at the Upper Concourse, is still being removed. “Suite fit-ups are happening now and we have yet to install a rigging platform that will provide flexibility in lighting and sound for concerts and other events inside the arena,” Goulet said.

He expects the Civic Centre construction will conclude in September, in time for the Ottawa 67’s to host home games in the fall.

As site manager, Pomerleau has responsibility for ensuring the public’s safety. With construction ongoing, that means clearing the site for events and releasing it again for work to resume. “During the weekend of the REDBLACK’s opener the site was contained and all the work behind fences from Friday through Sunday when the Fury played. Work resumed on Monday but then there was another event on Wednesday so everything had to be cleaned up again. This process will be ongoing for the remainder of the season.”

These efforts will keep Pomerleau on site until October when the project’s retail portion  is completed. Condominium-area construction will continue into 2015.

The next big unveiling for Lansdowne is the official opening of the urban park August 16 which includes a community festival and picnic.

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Special to Kingston Construction News

Jeff Bradfield, chief executive officer of Anchor Concrete Products Limited and Anchor Rebar Supply Inc. has announced the promotion of John Tait, Roy Baron and Jude Tremblay. “These promotions are an integral component of the Anchor Growth Plan that will ensure the companies continue to meet the needs of their increasing customer bases and varied product lines,” the Kingston-based company said in a news release.

John Tait has been named as president of Anchor Concrete and Anchor Rebar. He most recently served as general manager and started at the company as controller in 2002. “Through his education as a Certified General Accountant and his work at Anchor, John has gained a variety of skills necessary to oversee the complete operations of both Anchor Concrete and Anchor Rebar. John’s diverse skill set and strengths in accounting will continue to help Anchor deliver superior customer service and product quality at cost competitive pricing.”

Roy Baron has been named vice-president finance. The announcement said he began his career at Anchor in 2008 as controller bringing with him over 35 years of accounting experience. “His skills in financial management have been vital to the continued operation of Anchor Concrete and Anchor Rebar. Going forward, Roy will be focusing his talents on strategic financial planning, business relationship development and he will also play a key role in providing financial advice regarding future investments in Anchor’s growth plan.”

Jude Tremblay started his career at Anchor in 2013 as sales and marketing manager bringing with him over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. His “commitment to satisfy the customer makes him a natural fit for his new position as vice=president customer service where he will oversee the engineering, shipping and sales departments.”  He is a professional engineer.

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The trend is a six month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of housing starts.

“As expected, Ontario residential construction activity moved higher in April, led by strength in the GTA and Kitchener markets. The jump, which was fuelled by apartment and row construction, was from exceptionally low levels in March. While apartment ownership starts are dominating, rental apartment construction registered strong gains in April. Stronger rental demand, low rental vacancy rates and a backlog of condominium sales that have yet to break ground will continue supporting high density construction during the second quarter,” statedTed Tsiakopoulos, CMHC’s Ontario Regional Economist.

CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of the state of the housing market. In some situations, analysing only SAAR data can be misleading in some markets, as they are largely driven by the multiples segment of the markets which can be quite variable from one month to the next.

The SAAR of total housing starts was 62,627 units in April, up from 37,126 units in March. While the GTA and Kitchener markets posted the strongest growth, increases were broad based across the province and across home types. For the year ending April, Ontario raw urban starts were 6 per cent above levels for the same period one year ago.

Read More

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J.L. Richards & Associates Limited (JLR) was selected from a field of hundreds of other applicants to win a 2013 Canada’s Best Managed Companies award.

The prestigious national award is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums.

“This award is in recognition of the skills and dedication of our employees to the success of the firm and to our clients,” stated JLR President Guy Cormier.

JLR is a mid-sized architectural, engineering and planning firm offering high quality, integrated, multidisciplinary services across a broad range of sectors and geographic regions. The firm’s head office is in Ottawa, Ontario.

JLR’s core services are building science, offering multidisciplinary teams of architects and all the requisite engineering disciplines – structural, mechanical and electrical; civil municipal engineering; mining/industrial engineering; and municipal planning.

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Nancy Schepers, the deputy city manager of planning and infrastructure for the City of Ottawa, said in a memo that Steven Cripps has been named the new director of the Rail Implementation Office (RIO) to lead the Confederation Line project.

As RIO’s director, Steve will oversee the largest capital project in the history of the city — a project, that once completed, will change the face of the Nation’s Capital, shape future growth, and transform public transit and Ottawa’s transportation system for the benefit of current residents and future generations.

Steve comes to Ottawa from the Ministry of Transportation with over 30 years of progressive engineering and management experience, covering 4 Regional Offices, Head Office and Queen’s Park. He is a licensed civil engineer with proven managerial leadership experience in all facets of highway planning, design, construction and maintenance.

Most recently, he was executive director/chief engineer of the MTO’s Provincial Highways Management Division. In this role, Steve dealt extensively with alternate project delivery methods, including large scale P3s and design-builds. Additionally, he was responsible for the fiscal management of a $3 billion capital budget and a $400 million operating budget.

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This year marks the 125th anniversary of the 1889 establishment of the Contractors and Builders Association of Ottawa – the forerunner of the Ottawa Construction Association.

As part of the anniversary year, all firms with more than 25 years membership will receive a special plaque recognizing their membership in OCA.

The complete listing of 251 firms and their year of joining OCA may be downloaded from the OCA website.

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In 2015, City of Ottawa is launching a Vendor Performance Management (VPM) initiative.

The goals of VPM are to provide performance feedback; encourage two-way communication between the vendor and the city with the goal of improved performance; and establish standard Key Performance Indicators (KPI).

VPM components include evaluation scope; evaluation procedure; evaluation criteria; and actions based on score.

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