Construction Archive

October 2014: Today our Construction Manager - Bruce Wilson has informed me that the Contractor building the Art Gallery has successfully removed the temporary shoring (support holding up the overhanging steel floors), and the composite design cantilevered floors are now standing on their own .... the yellow posts were holding up the floors while the steel went up , and the Q-decking went in and the concrete was poured. The cantilevered floors rely not only on the structural steel, but the combination of the steel, concrete and reinforcing to act as a cantilever and not fall down! Some fairly involved engineering went in to making this structurally work so that the architect's vision could be realized.

July 2014: Construction on the Remai Modern Art Gallery of Saskatchewan is continuing. The structural concrete on the project was completed in June 2014. Structural Steel has commenced in July. As you can see in the new aerial photographs the ‘back of house’ is structural concrete framing, and the ‘front of house’ where the atrium and entrance exist are framed in Structural Steel. The project has had schedule challenges due to the 2013 increased River Levels, site soil conditions and the winter temperatures of 2013/14. The project is very complex and is being administered by the Architect team commissioned by the City. The largest immediate challenge to the project will be completing the structural steel and completing the building shell so that the interior works can proceed independent of the weather. Construction will continue on into 2016 and become operational by the Remai Modern Board of Directors and the Remai Modern Administrative team.

This project supports the Quality of Life Strategic Goal, relating to the implementation of the Municipal Culture Plan. It supports the four-year priority to enhance the quality of life in Saskatoon by directing expenditures toward amenities in neighbourhoods to enhance and protect property values and encourage private investment.

November 12, 2013: The building construction continues, with the removal of the remaining soil, or detailed excavation is nearly complete.  More than 80% of the footings have been poured and five more remain.  80% of the P2 columns have been poured and the vertical walls for the project are 80% complete. The weeping tile is also 80% complete.  Three pours have been completed for the P1 slab and it is approximately 60% complete.  Heating and insulating tarps are placed on all newly poured concrete to protect it against the weather and to ensure the correct conditions for curing.  Mechanical and electrical sleeving is underway.

November 4, 2013:  At its meeting on November 4, 2013, City Council approved a recommendation to proceed with items that were originally deferred.   The deferred items include, in part: the Changing Gallery fit-out, the Multi-Purpose Space fit-out, the west side landscape, and the 4th floor deck.  These deferred items can now proceed with an approved “advance” of funds from the City to be re-paid by the AGS fundraising campaign.
Financing the deferred items would first utilize the $695,640 available from the Remai Gallery Capital Campaign.  The remaining amount of $901,520 would be an advance from the City to the Remai Gallery, funded from the Reserve for Capital Expenditures. City Solicitors has prepared a proposal outlining the Gallery’s commitment to fully repay this amount through fundraising and the Gallery is in agreement.  The Administration has initiated the process to include these items within the construction contract.

October 15, 2013:  The Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan project construction continues with the removal of the remaining soil and with excavation of the ramp at the south end of the site. Fifty-five percent of the footings and forty-five percent of the columns on the P2 Level have been poured.  The vertical walls and the tie-ins to the footings are well underway, with the north sections being fifty percent complete. Weeping tile and gravel have been installed at the north end of the construction site. The sump pits have also been installed. The scaffolding has being installed for the north portion of the P1Level horizontal slab. The first concrete pour is scheduled for the second week in October. The power duct installation is complete. The transition to this power source is planned for the second week in October.

September 16, 2013: A significant milestone was met at the beginning of August, with the installation of the site crane. It is located in the southwest portion of the construction area.  With site excavation 99% complete, the foundation construction is now underway.  Approximately 45% of the foundation footings have been installed.  Rebar and concrete formwork are underway and the construction of the vertical walls for level P2 began the week of September 2, 2013.  Concrete waterproofing and weeping tile installation has commenced.

A duct bank is required under Saunders Place to provide permanent power service to the Remai Gallery building.  That construction is underway and is being led by Saskatoon Light and Power.  Construction of utilities, including storm water drainage, sanitary lines and SaskEnergy services is also occurring at this location.

July 15, 2013: Site drilling has wrapped up and excavation throughout the site is being carried out. Installation of the shoring wall support rods started on June 11th. The site crane is scheduled for installation at the end of July and will be located in the southwest portion of the excavation area, allowing a single crane to reach both the southern and the northern extents of the construction area. A duct bank is required under Saunders Place to provide permanent power service to the Remai Gallery building. That construction is underway and is being carried out by forces led by Saskatoon Light and Power. The impacted soil with in the excavation area that was identified in the June report has been safely removed from site.

June 17, 2013: The official sod turning for the project was held on June 7, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. Presentations were made by the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification), on behalf of the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport); the Honourable Jim Reiter, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations; His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison; and Jason Aebig, President and Chair for the Board of Trustees for the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan. Speeches were made inside the Persephone Theatre, and the sod turning occurred at the south end of the project site.

Site Drilling for caisson construction continues and excavation started on May 24, 2013. A small, localized area of soil contamination (likely motor oil) was found on site and is being safely removed according to the Corrective Action Plan. Targets for completion are November 2015 for substantial completion and the grand opening in June 2016.

May 13, 2013: A pre-construction start-up meeting was held April 18, 2013.  The site has been prepared for construction including the installation of site fencing and site trailers. Site signage relating to detours and routing has been completed to help the public easily navigate River Landing.  Site Drilling - required for the caisson construction prior to the excavation - is underway.

March 14, 2013: Construction of the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan and the River Landing Parkade will start in late March, 2013.  The building is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2016.

Last updated May 5, 2015