Calgary Construction XXVI

[The Urbanist]

Originally Posted by suburbia

That's not what the interview on the CBC revealed. The owner got a contractor to review, and that was happening over a long period. The contractor got so worried at one point however, that they contacted the city, who sent a person to have a discussion and a review, and made the call immediately.

This type of massive structural issue is always going to be a possibility with aging apartment infrastructure.

Wishful thinking, but hopefully they knocked it down. That building is a major eyesore.

[240glt]

^^ agree that structural issues are actually rather common in older buildings, sometimes they just need to be monitored, in extreme cases like this one you have this result

My old condo building on 15th ave in the Beltline, which was built in the early 70's was actually slowly rotating as if it were on some sort of center vertical axis. I can't remember the engineering term for the phenomena but basically the ground condition was rotating the building. The engineers said it was actually normal, and at some point might be an issue, but at the time the building was deemed sound.

One of my last office towers in Edmonton had a bad footing that was sinking, and how we found out about it was that the sprinkler standpipe, which was supported off the footing, started sliding down the tower. We had to jack the standpipe and cross brace it between two adjacent columns to correct it

^ the owners of the parkade we had structural problems with originally told us they were going to knock it down... until they found out how much it would cost to replace it. Then $5.5 mil sounded like not such a bad number. In this case, even if the owner has to spend a million bucks on it, may be a better investment than knocking it down and replacing it

[Fishthebow]

Originally Posted by rotten42

or someone we care about.

You responded to the post so obviously you care lol. Anyhow, this is an internet forum, I doubt anyone cares about anyone else. People who think they have friends on here are deluded.

[speedog]

A nicely landscaped gravel parking lot is needed along 10th Street NW, no? Parking is becoming quite a challenge in the area, could be quite the money maker.

[BlaineN]

Here's a link to that story of the building in Sunnyside with the issues.
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/apartment-buil...uated-over-structural-concerns-1.3691778

[s211]

Originally Posted by 240glt

I am just speculating of course, but the last time I was at my sis' place there were some pretty obvious problems with the slabs. It is an old building that's seen better days. Concrete delamination occurs when water is able to penetrate the slab and two things happen: the freeze & thaw cycle starts to break the concrete apart and the reinforcing steel in the concrete starts to rust, compromising the slab's integrity. In this building's case, the balconies are extensions of the slabs, and if for whatever reason the way it was poured caused water to roll back towards the structure it could over time cause serious issues. It can be fixed but it's not easy or cheap. We repaired some delamination on a ten level parking structure at my last complex and overall it was a $5.5 million dollar repair

As for insurance no idea.

Any chance that building has post-tension cables? I'd be heading for the hills if that's the case. I've heard some good tales, some likely tall, about the force at which PT cables can detach from their ties.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by s211

Any chance that building has post-tension cables? I'd be heading for the hills if that's the case. I've heard some good tales, some likely tall, about the force at which PT cables can detach from their ties.

I don't think so, at least it doesn't look like it. I think it's just a typical cast in place slab structure

I remember big problems with PT buildings in Calgary in the early 2000's. for a while there you couldn't even get a CMHC loan on a suite in a PT building

Post tension does seem to making a resurgence lately though. My new tower is PT, as are several other new buildings here

[Doug]

That Kensington building looks toomold for post tension cable construction, which was popular in the late 70s and 80s. Western Canada Place is the most infamous victim of this type of construction. Cables ripped through floors and all ultimately had to be replaced, which was very expensive.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by suburbia

That's not what the interview on the CBC revealed. The owner got a contractor to review, and that was happening over a long period. The contractor got so worried at one point however, that they contacted the city, who sent a person to have a discussion and a review, and made the call immediately.

This type of massive structural issue is always going to be a possibility with aging apartment infrastructure.

Improper maintenance and repair is a problem with any structure. Same goes with modifications that look great on the surface but, are structurally unsound. You wouldn't believe how many structures go unnoticed that probably should be condemned or have been condemned but, aren't worthwhile for a story.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Doug

That Kensington building looks toomold for post tension cable construction, which was popular in the late 70s and 80s. Western Canada Place is the most infamous victim of this type of construction. Cables ripped through floors and all ultimately had to be replaced, which was very expensive.

I did not realize all cables had been replaced. I know there was a comprehensive monitoring system for the remaining cables that were left in place, but removal must then have happened in the last ten years or so if you're saying they're all gone now.

[s211]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Post tension does seem to making a resurgence lately though. My new tower is PT, as are several other new buildings here

As I understand it, the technology and installation practice for new generation PT is much more sound.

[dg66]

Ouch.

Originally Posted by BlaineN

Here's a link to that story of the building in Sunnyside with the issues.
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/apartment-buil...uated-over-structural-concerns-1.3691778

[MrBigStuff]

Originally Posted by 240glt

I don't think so, at least it doesn't look like it. I think it's just a typical cast in place slab structure

I remember big problems with PT buildings in Calgary in the early 2000's. for a while there you couldn't even get a CMHC loan on a suite in a PT building

Post tension does seem to making a resurgence lately though. My new tower is PT, as are several other new buildings here

If I'm not mistaken - this building was built in the early 70's - as I knew one of the workers who worked at that site and I believe it was built of poured concrete rather than precast concrete. When the building was first built - I noticed how the balconies were wavey - thinking that maybe the floor forms were not very strong to support the weight of the concrete.
Is there someone who knows what year this building was built???

[topdog]

If it was the Canada section that was the kicker I don't blame you. I made the mistake of looking at the CFL thread yesterday, only to find that everyone and their dog was gleefully celebrating Calgary grey cup loss.

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

Just want to set the record straight that Suburbia is not the reason I don't post much at SSP. Suburbia and I didn't always agree, but most of the disagreement posts were was just banter. I liked to give him the gears sometimes, to get a rise out of him. but nothing more than that. I don't actually have anything against the guy.

Really just a couple of reasons.

Whenever I posted updates (which is a lot of work, especially since they have to be hosted and reposted) they would just get lost in the shuffle.

The kicker: I went to the Canada section one day and the usual gang was dumping on Calgary, which happened alot but this particular day it was just too much. I decide I couldn't in good conscience support that kind of site anymore.

[suburbia]

Is there a thread for the new cancer centre? Just did a search on Twitter and found this:
https://twitter.com/aswalli/status/935181292320178176

[DoubleK]

There was a Soilmec drilling at the Anthem condo development on Memorial Drive this past Friday.

We used to live in the adjacent apartment building and it was strange/sad to see the old heritage homes not there.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

There was a Soilmec drilling at the Anthem condo development on Memorial Drive this past Friday.

We used to live in the adjacent apartment building and it was strange/sad to see the old heritage homes not there.

Is that the stretch just west of 10 Street N.W.?

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Is there a thread for the new cancer centre? Just did a search on Twitter and found this:
https://twitter.com/aswalli/status/935181292320178176

I don't think there is a thread for the cancer center. I was at Foothills a couple of times last week and the new main parking structure is progressing nicely. Does anyone know if it's ahead of schedule? The sooner it's done the better as the lack of parking on campus is a real issue.

[Tarsus]

There were a few guys celebrating, but today nothing but regular talk.

Originally Posted by topdog

If it was the Canada section that was the kicker I don't blame you. I made the mistake of looking at the CFL thread yesterday, only to find that everyone and their dog was gleefully celebrating Calgary grey cup loss.

[jc_yyc_ca]

I really had to laugh at this article. Talks about how Calgary is going to have a busy year in construction and it shows a nice skyline shot from 20 years ago. lol.
http://albertaconstruction.net/?p=1533