Winnipeg | Canada's Diversity Gardens - Page 17

Boreal · #**321** Posted **Jul 7, 2019, 10:10 PM**

I'd be keen to know whether they are "on schedule", from the perspective that I recall a while back that a certain amount of work had to be completed by a point in time this summer, or else the whole opening date effectively shifts one full calendar year, due to planting issues. Obviously, it would be unfortunate if whatever necessary target was not hit.

Wpg_Guy · #**322** Posted **Jul 18, 2019, 5:50 PM**

@MarkusAChambers Jul 11
https://twitter.com/MarkusAChambers/...22717440675840

Wpg_Guy · #**323** Posted **Aug 2, 2019, 4:59 AM**

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0J2Z1cg-Bi/

Wpg_Guy · #**324** Posted **Aug 16, 2019, 7:15 PM**

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Mb548gqtO/

lilwayne · #**325** Posted **Aug 16, 2019, 7:19 PM**

Sexy

We got some beautiful archtechture going up in the city

EndoftheBeginning · #**326** Posted **Aug 20, 2019, 10:03 PM**

Completion delayed from end of 2020 to sometime 2021. Essentially the roof cable structure needs adjusting and they can't get the ETFE roof installed before winter this year, so have to delay it to spring next year.

Story on CBC news here.

Wpg_Guy · #**327** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 4:04 AM**

Quote:

Diversity Gardens complexity through the roof
Assiniboine Park project won’t open until 2021 due to construction delays
By: Maggie Macintosh | Posted: 08/20/2019 7:00 PM

A massive greenhouse lush with tropical plants and slated to house the country’s largest indoor waterfall will fill the dirt and concrete skeleton in the south east corner of Assiniboine Park — but it’s going to take a little longer than expected.

The estimated opening of Canada’s Diversity Gardens has been postponed until 2021 due to roof installation delays, the Assiniboine Park Conservancy announced Tuesday.

"With a unique project of this nature, we do not want to rush it. It needs to be perfect and it will be a masterpiece," APC president and CEO Margaret Redmond told reporters during a media tour of the facilities under construction.

The 35-acre stretch of gardens, which includes a central greenhouse known as The Leaf, was originally scheduled to open in late 2020. However, Redmond said Tuesday the complex installation of the greenhouse’s translucent plastic roof — which will allow for the energy-efficient heating of tropical plants — has proven more time-consuming than initially thought.

It is unclear when exactly the grounds are expected to open during 2021; Redmond said the construction team will have a better idea of the timeframe next spring. "Winter in Winnipeg creates a very specific timeline for us to get that roof in," she added.

Construction crews will have to wait until winter is over to install it, pushing back deadlines for other big projects including installing systems that will work with the roof to maintain a tropical temperature in the building and the planting of flora itself.

When asked about whether the latest delay will increase the estimated $97.8 million price tag, the APC president said whoever is responsible for the delays will carry the cost.

The gardens mark the final phase of the decade-long Assiniboine Park and Zoo redevelopment. So far, the APC has confirmed just under $80 million in funding for the project. All levels of government have chipped in, totalling about $63 million. Private donors are footing the rest of the bill, Redmond said, adding the APC has no plans to ask the government for more money.

Once complete, Canada’s Diversity Gardens will boast five outdoor gardens — the Indigenous Peoples’ Garden, Kitchen Garden, Performance-Sensory Garden, Seasonal Garden and The Grove.

Admission to the outdoor gardens will be free while the APC is still researching market prices before deciding on a price tag for a ticket into the greenhouse.

The Leaf building will house tropical and mediterranean biomes filled with plants and a pond, in addition to a canopy walkway, butterfly garden and six-storey-high waterfall. There will also be a restaurant, banquet hall and classrooms for educational programming inside the 6,000-square-metre building.

Its horticulture space will be about five times that of the old conservatory and twice as tall as its highest point — making it "a world-class tourist destination," Redmond said.

Our provincial, city and national tourism entities are over the moon about this as an asset, not just for Winnipeg, but for Canada," she said. "It’s hard to convey the type of boost this can give to a city’s reputation as a tourism destination. More importantly, it’ll be an incredible asset for our community."

APC expects a total of 200,000 visitors during the first year after the gardens open.

Rolled out in May, the federal government's new tourism strategy emphasizes a need for expanding winter tourism and Indigenous tourism.

Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg, said she expects the gardens to attract nature lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike.

"When you think about what this building is going to do and you pair that with the Museum of Human Rights, the Inuit Art Centre, BellMTS Place … We are building great, iconic assets that are going to benefit our city for years to come," Spiring said.

Flora facts:

-300 species in the outdoor gardens
-29,000 outdoor plants
-600 outdoor trees
-350 species of tropical and Mediterranean plants indoors
-16,500 plants inside
-There will be 200 butterfly chrysalis received bi-weekly from Central America

The Leaf greenhouse facts:

-6,000 square metre building footprint enclosed by glass walls and a translucent plastic roof
-A high tower that will transport visitors up to a canopy walkway
-A six-storey waterfall
-The translucent exterior, geo-thermal energy system and earth tubes will heat the building so it maintains a temperature for tropical plants
-The building is expected to have a 30- to 50-year life expectancy while requiring minimal maintenance

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/lo...557221962.html

https://twitter.com/macintoshmaggie/...591142400?s=20

https://winnipegsun.com/news/local-n...box=1566339010

pspeid · #**328** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 2:15 PM**

^^The delay is disappointing, but I'd rather they get it right the first time rather than risk some kind of disastrous failure of the roof structure in the future.

optimusREIM · #**329** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 2:19 PM**

The building is expected to have a 30-50 year lifespan or the roof? That sounds like a really shittily constructed building or willful negligence to spend big money like that on a structure that isn't expected to outlive anyone who works on it.

esquire · #**330** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 2:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

The building is expected to have a 30-50 year lifespan or the roof? That sounds like a really shittily constructed building or willful negligence to spend big money like that on a structure that isn't expected to outlive anyone who works on it.

No worse than any of our sports facilities in that regard...

lilwayne · #**331** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 2:58 PM**

At 100 million 30 years sounds pitiful

We could of built a 30 plus story high rise with that much or provided clothes food housing to whole bunch of impoverished ppl

optimusREIM · #**332** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 3:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

No worse than any of our sports facilities in that regard...

Well sure but in all fairness this is supposed to be a long term community amenity, not a state of the art sports and performance venue. Like correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't we build institutional buildings with the intent that they be at least somewhat permanent? Just seems like a lot of money to spend for its lifespan. Apartment buildings, office towers, you name it, all seem to last a lot longer. I'd rather put a bit more down up front than have to rebuild (if the money is even there when the time comes) at a much higher price.

esquire · #**333** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

Well sure but in all fairness this is supposed to be a long term community amenity, not a state of the art sports and performance venue. Like correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't we build institutional buildings with the intent that they be at least somewhat permanent? Just seems like a lot of money to spend for its lifespan. Apartment buildings, office towers, you name it, all seem to last a lot longer. I'd rather put a bit more down up front than have to rebuild (if the money is even there when the time comes) at a much higher price.

I was just being a smartass... yeah, the short lifespan is a bit of a headscratcher.

It's funny that outside of a few major parks, there is almost no effort or expenditure by the city on landscaping in any significant way. Most of the parks are barren... it's just trees, grass and minimal park furniture, amenities and such, because there is hardly any money for upkeep. Basically all the plants and flowers will be concentrated at this one site.

drew · #**334** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 3:39 PM**

It's an expensive, complicated glass (plastic?) roof. The glass (plastic?) forms the roof surface and membrane.

30-years sounds about right. You don't expect to get much more life out of any other type of roof membrane. Maybe copper or steel - but you can't see through copper and steel.

I don't expect the entire roof would need to be replaced after 30-years, but certainly seals and the odd panel.

You want nice things, you gotta pay for them. Especially in this climate.

bomberjet · #**335** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 3:44 PM**

I seem to have the missed the 30 year timeline. The roof is not glass, its a transparent plastic. ETFE. Likely where the timeline comes from. 30-50 years is a long time. We're not building pyramids. Most windows on your house will not last anywhere near that long.

But having to replace it will be the challenge while maintain the biome inside.

Regardless of opinions on the cost and such, this will be one unique building. Looks awesome already.

optimusREIM · #**336** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew

It's an expensive, complicated glass (plastic?) roof. The glass (plastic?) forms the roof surface and membrane.

30-years sounds about right. You don't expect to get much more life out of any other type of roof membrane. Maybe copper or steel - but you can't see through copper and steel.

I don't expect the entire roof would need to be replaced after 30-years, but certainly seals and the odd panel.

You want nice things, you gotta pay for them. Especially in this climate.

My beef isn't with the roof having that lifespan. That doesn't bother me in the least. I was just commenting on the fact that in the post the wording suggested an overall building lifespan of 30-50 years. To me that is completely unacceptable.

rrskylar · #**337** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 4:34 PM**

Hey it's only 100% over the original price figure, what's an extra $50M between friends!

PS and the added joy of having to replace the plastic panels in twenty years because we all know 30 is a pipe dream!

plrh · #**338** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 5:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Hey it's only 100% over the original price figure, what's an extra $50M between friends!

PS and the added joy of having to replace the plastic panels in twenty years because we all know 30 is a pipe dream!

Like 25 year shingles. You're lucky to get 15 years out of them.

bomberjet · #**339** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 6:25 PM**

Like every roof anywhere. It needs to be replaced. The cost estimate was originally $70m.

Pinus · #**340** Posted **Aug 21, 2019, 8:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by plrh

Like 25 year shingles. You're lucky to get 15 years out of them.

Please don't encourage the troll.