Edmonton Construction 13 (November 2015)

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Because something always has to go wrong with City projects...

Unexpected foundation issues found in downtown library rehabilitation
http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-ne...rehab-finds-unexpected-foundation-issues

[s4.audios]

My value-engineering senses are tingling

[McBoo]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

I think our downtown is way down the ranks. Other than 3 blocks on 104 and 1 block on RHW we have nothing to compare with Ottawa or that matter or Calgary. We need to see 103 revitalized somehow and City Centre exterior changes that open stores to the street all the way around could do that. Then we have a clustering effect.

Um, with respect, don't agree.

I mean, love Stephen Ave mall and how its lit at night.

But my YYC friends tell me, it's virtually deserted after 5:00.

[Urban recluse]

I think Edmonton falls behind Calgary and Ottawa. The Byward Market is wonderful, and the historic architecture is amazing. When I lived there, and worked downtown at night, I always saw so many people around. I think Calgary slightly edges out Edmonton.

[Mikemike]

Actually, it reads like un-value engineering. Quality engineering, or maybe fixing problems with the original specifications.

[tele75]

It's 50 years old. Try renovating a 50 year old house without finding problems.

[Airboy]

It sounds like the As Built drawings are not As Built.

THAT never happens.

Doing a renovation now, Storm drains were not an issue, Today they are.

[Vixx]

Just hope this doesn't delay the opening of the library (even though they are assuring it won't). I know many are disappointed with the renderings but I actually kind of like them, I think it'll turn out great.

Also, I believe Ottawa and Calgary currently have better downtowns. Ottawa has a great blend of old historic gothic style buildings, greenspace, cleanliness, shopping and corporate flair that make it interesting. Although Rideau street is still a work in progress and Sparks street is dead after 6 pm, downtown feels vibrant on a consistent basis, although the lack of height irritates me sometimes. Calgary has the same feel as Ottawa; clean with certain pockets of vibrancy but lacks the historic punch that Ottawa has (well most eastern cities at least) however has impressive skyscrapers and scenery.

Edmonton isn't far behind these two and I expect in the next few years Edmonton will at the very least be on par with those cities in the downtown sense.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by tele75

It's 50 years old. Try renovating a 50 year old house without finding problems.

The Mayor said the same thing:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/stanley-milner-library-construction-cost-1.4288875?cmp=rss

Mayor Don Iveson said he isn't surprised there have been unforeseen challenges with the construction.

"I've renovated a couple of kitchens and old houses in my day and this is exactly what happens when you open up a 50-year-old wall," he told reporters after the council meeting.

"You find stuff in there that does not make sense and it costs you more to fix."

Edmonton Public Library CEO Pilar Martinez said the cost will not be assumed by the public.

The library put a hiring freeze in place last year and reshuffled many of their Milner library staff to different locations within the city, allowing the library to save enough money to cover the cost of the repairs, Martinez said.

"We knew it's been a tight budget all along so we've done certain things to mitigate the funding challenges," she said.

Martinez said the construction challenges should not affect the quality of the new design.

[Coldrsx]

Simply put, we do not have enough 'complete blocks'.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

The Mayor said the same thing:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/stanley-milner-library-construction-cost-1.4288875?cmp=rss

i'm pretty sure it's not really the same thing...

i think the odds are pretty good you would open up that wall to find out what's holding it up before you tore the roof off your house.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by kcantor

i'm pretty sure it's not really the same thing...

i think the odds are pretty good you would open up that wall to find out what's holding it up before you tore the roof off your house.

True, but sometimes even when you open up a small area to investigate you don't really know what's behind the walls until they are fully opened up. We see this time and time again on our adaptive reuse projects. There will always be unforeseen's, sometimes it's worse than what you've assumed and sometimes it's not.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by B.ike

Maybe top 4.

I give the top three to Van, TO and Mtl easily. Ice District might help us solidify the 4th spot by separating us from Calgary or Ottawa but even that is debatable.

I'm not sure we're there yet. While we've made some major strides there is more work to go. I still believe Ottawa and Calgary have an up on us, but we're not far behind.

[Coldrsx]

^It comes down to more 'complete blocks'. We have 5-7 holes to still fill to really get to another level.

[Coldrsx]

@CMD_UW - how about that Healy site...

[s4.audios]

Originally Posted by Mikemike

Actually, it reads like un-value engineering. Quality engineering, or maybe fixing problems with the original specifications.

Was referring to what is to come. I suspect some cutbacks in design to keep costs down.

[s4.audios]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

^It comes down to more 'complete blocks'. We have 5-7 holes to still fill to really get to another level.

100%

ICE District is going to be awesome for sure, but only a piece of the whole downtown. We still have a ways to go; I say when there are no more surface lots in all of warehouse district, we can start bragging to the rest of Canada's city cores.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

True, but sometimes even when you open up a small area to investigate you don't really know what's behind the walls until they are fully opened up. We see this time and time again on our adaptive reuse projects. There will always be unforeseen's, sometimes it's worse than what you've assumed and sometimes it's not.

Been On enough projects now to know renos are always black holes. You can never capture the full extent of the work until you actually start getting dirty.Currently have one where the owner payed for a new water proof membrane a few years ago. Yesterday proved that membrane isn't what he payed for. and because the moisture that was trapped in the last reno is now exposed we find more damage.

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

I'm not sure we're there yet. While we've made some major strides there is more work to go. I still believe Ottawa and Calgary have an up on us, but we're not far behind.

Yeah...that Healy site sure could use a couple stunning towers

My magic 8 ball says in the next couple years!?

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by Black Star

Yeah...that Healy site sure could use a couple stunning towers

My magic 8 ball says in the next couple years!?

We need those towers sooner than a couple of years. Encore is at present the last tower where construction has commenced to be completed.