December Update

New Building Construction Update:

The footprint of the new buildings is now visible, with the concrete grade beams complete. The structure will soon start to rise above ground level, with the following steps expected in the next month:

• December 2 - 6:
  Preparation for the concrete slabs and the structural steel mobilization will commence.
  
• December 9 - 20:
  Structural steel will be erected, first for the Senior School and then for the Fitness Centre.
  
• December 23 - 31:
  Pre-cast concrete hollow core floor slabs will be laid.

By the end of December , we expect that the size, shape and floor elevations of the new buildings will be identifiable to all.

New Dike Construction:

The construction of the dike is complete.  Some minor components of the parking lot re-development remain in progress. The parking lot spaces have, for the most part, been established and the stalls painted, but in our effort to utilize every inch of the parking lot we continue to identify additional spots and will continue to refine the layout. The installation of new electrical outlets for staff vehicles as well as the installation of the new parking lot lights is now complete. Black steel bollards have been installed parallel to the Tyndall stone block wall to protect the wall from potential vehicle or snowplough damage.

Contact Us:

If you have construction-related concerns or questions, please contact the Facilities Administrative Assistant Lisa Klassen at lklassen@sjr.mb.ca or phone 204.477.2403.

If you have a question regarding parking, please contact the SJR Reception Officer Connor Coutu at CCoutu@sjr.mb.ca or call 204.477.2499.

After hours or holidays, please call Security at 204.477.2499.

October Update

New Dike Construction:
The dike project is now virtually complete. The dike has been raised to the City of Winnipeg full flood protection level and is now capable of protecting SJR against the 1 in 100 year flood, such as the one we fought in 1997.

The use of a concrete block wall in the dike construction allowed SJR to retain the same amount of parking. A conventional clay dike would have meant a loss of 75% of the original parking area, so we are extremely pleased to have found this solution.

Because the area in the lower parking lot was already a construction zone, we took this opportunity to restore some of the asphalt. There is now a smooth new surface for staff and students to park their vehicles on.

Grass seed has been spread on the dike and the trees that were removed to facilitate construction have been replanted.

Piling:
Piling has been taking place over the last several weeks. Through the construction process, we discovered that the original South Drive roadway was still in existence, buried under the areas where the Hamber Classroom Wing used to be and where the Fitness Centre will be. While this was a fascinating discovery, it has slowed the piling process a bit as the crews cut through the concrete.  In addition, ground conditions in some areas meant that particularly deep piles – over 100 feet – were needed. This has also slowed down piling, but work is ongoing.

Timeframe:
Piling is expected to be completed during the week of October 7 – 11.

Anticipated Community Impact:
The driving of piles is the most disruptive part of the New Senior School and New Fitness Centre construction project. However, the noise will continue to be within the City of Winnipeg noise regulations. Pile driving will only take place during daylight hours.

Next Steps:
Following the installation of the piles, the construction of the buildings will begin in more visible ways.  The disruption to the front parking area will start to ease up, with the contractors planning to move many of the new materials through the back of the site, not the front.

Contact Us:
If you have construction-related concerns or questions, please contact the Facilities Administrative Assistant Lisa Klassen at lklassen@sjr.mb.ca or phone 204.477.2403.

If you have a question regarding parking, please contact the SJR Reception Officer Connor Coutu at CCoutu@sjr.mb.ca or call 204.477.2499.

After hours or holidays, please call Security at 204.477.2499.

arial shot - construction in progress

no parking spots lost

new higher dike

trees replanted, new grass seeded

Photos:

August Update

It’s been a busy summer at SJR—there’s lots of news to share. Below you will find updates on several of our ongoing projects.

New Dike Construction:

The dike project is nearing completion. Not only is the new dike higher than the old one, but it also includes a block wall which allowed us to retain more of the original parking spots. The final shaping of the dike is now taking place and we will be able to put down new grass and plantings starting in early September, once the irrigation system is back in operation.

Parking:

During the final week of August, we will be restoring the asphalt in the lower parking lot. Therefore, parking in the lower lot is prohibited until September or until future notice. Exceptions will be made for residents living on campus and Facilities Department vehicles. Those community members are asked to follow all signage for their own safety and the safety of their vehicles.

Visitors and staff will also find that parking area in front of the School may be congested at times with equipment, trucks, cranes and other machinery. Please avoid parking or walking in this area.

Construction signs are now up in the affected areas and a parking attendant is on site during the hours of construction to control access. Please obey the signs and directions given by the parking attendant. It is important to note that access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.

New Senior School and New Fitness Centre Construction:

As of August 14, 2013, the Hamber Classroom Wing was fully demolished. There is now equipment on site for the installation of the building piles. 

Timeframe:

The dike should be completed by early September. The anticipated timeframe to complete the new Senior School piling is the end of August, followed by the new Fitness Centre piling to be complete by mid-September.

Anticipated Community Impact: 

The driving of piles is expected to be the most disruptive part of the New Senior School and New Fitness Centre construction project, but the noise will be within the City of Winnipeg noise regulations. Pile driving will only take place during daylight hours. The remaining work to complete the new dike is not anticipated to be disruptive to our neighbours.

Next Steps:

Following the installation of the piles, major construction will begin.

Contact Us:

If you have construction-related concerns or questions, please contact the Facilities Administrative Assistant Lisa Klassen at lklassen@sjr.mb.ca or phone 204.477.2403.

If you have a question regarding parking, please contact the SJR Reception Officer Connor Coutu at CCoutu@sjr.mb.ca or call 204.477.2499.

After hours or holidays, please call Security at 204.477.2499.

Dike Construction

While workers prepped Hamber Hall for demolition, work on the dike was also taking place. To ensure the campus continues to be thoroughly protected from the Red River, the dike that circles the back portion of the campus is being built up to the level of the roads that enter the campus. This part of the project began in early July as the campus closed to students for the summer.

In preparation for construction, fencing around the back of the campus was removed and salvaged for later use. The trees that lined the top of the dike were also removed, but were able to be saved so that they may be replanted when the new dike is complete. Staff on duty during the summer were notified that the parking lot behind the arena was closed for the rest of the summer and other arrangements were made for those employees.

Work began by removing all of the existing grass on the current dike. Then, “steps” were created in the soil to create a base for the new material that is being placed on top. Throughout the process, workers regularly check the composition of the dike to ensure that the clay is of the right quality.

Because the new dike will be taller than the existing one—it will be the same height as the road leading to the campus—additional material must be used. A trench was created on the top and new clay was added. A retaining wall on the “dry” side of the dike is also being created with Allen Block so that fewer parking spaces are lost.

When it is time to replant the grass, hydroseed will be used. Hydroseeding is a planting process that uses a slurry of grass seed and mulch which is sprayed onto the prepared ground. Hydroseed was chosen because a new lawn can be grown in a very short period of time and is an effective choice for hillsides and sloping lawns to help with erosion control. As an added benefit, is also a more cost-effective choice than the traditional process of laying sod.

Anticipated Community Impact:
Sound from the earth-moving equipment should not be significant.

Timeframe:
The dike should be completed by the second week in August.

Next Steps:
Once the dike is of the correct height, hydroseed will be sprayed onto the soil. The new parking lot fence and power receptacles will be completed once the construction equipment leave the site.

Contact Us:

If you have construction-related concerns or questions, please contact Lisa Klassen by email or phone 204.477.2403.

Photos:  

Demolition Begins

As of the third week in July, items that were salvageable were removed from Hamber Hall and interior demolition was completed.

As preparation for exterior demolition, windows on buildings near the demolition site were boarded up to protect them from damage. Trees and shrubs were removed and as many as possible were relocated to other areas of the campus.

On July 25, 2013, major exterior demolition began with the second floor of Hamber Hall. Photos of the demolition in progress are posted below.

Anticipated Community Impact:
Sound from the demolition will be noticeable to our neighbours, but will be kept within the limits required by the City of Winnipeg. Community members will continue to see construction vehicles coming to and from the campus as debris is cleared from the site.

Expected Timeframe:

• Demolition started at 10 AM on July 25, 2013
• Demolition and concrete cutting should be complete by the second week in August (slated for  August 10, 2013).
• Pile driving piles is planned for an August 12, 2013 start.

Next Steps:
Pile driving is the next stage of the project. When this begins, noise levels will increase and will be noticeable in the surrounding area. Please contact us at the coordinates below with any concerns or comments.

Contact Us:
If you have construction-related concerns or questions, please contact Lisa Klassen by email or phone 204.477.2403. 

Photos: