Here we provide details of the School's Expansion Project. Please stay tuned as the project develops.
In conjunction with our annual CE, the official opening was held June 5, 2009, 11:30 am - 12:00 pm.
Well, more things happened! No, we did not have occupancy on May 4th as I reported in March but we have occupancy now! It was really exciting as we approached the long-planned grand opening ceremony as occupancy was pushed back a week at a time. We had begun to source bulk window cleaner to remove nose prints from the largely glass exterior that would have been placed there as we all looked inside to see the new space! Fortunately we will not need the window cleaner! Although we have occupancy there are of course a few things that will require completion after our opening but we are in and operational and you will be able to tour the addition following the opening ceremony Friday June 5th. If you can not join us for that event please include a visit the next time you are in the area.
Due to the advancement of the project, the web camera has been removed. The hand-held section of the Photo Gallery will be maintained as developments arise.
Well, things happen, you know, weather for one. We did not reach substantial completion in January as we had hoped for last November. Our occupancy date now is May 4th. At that time we will begin to move into our fantastic new facility. Not too soon I am sure the students will confirm! The weather, after a brutally cold winter, has now turned somewhat more mild allowing for the completion of the glass channel walls and the interior to be addressed. Finishing the interior including paint, tile, flooring, are progressing very well. There will be some outside finishing required after the May 4th occupancy, landscaping and paving primarily, but we hope to be moved in and operational for our ceremonial grand opening during our June CE weekend. The grand opening ceremonies are scheduled for Friday June 5th, around the lunch hour. The precise time will be established shortly so watch our home page for the announcement. Please, if you can, come help us celebrate this long awaited milestone!
There are walls! And a lot more as the addition is racing along towards a January 2009 "substantial completion". In building parlance that translates into a likely March move-in date. This is perhaps a month or so later than the original build schedule. A brutal winter and some delays obtaining the unique glass channel block wall material were the contributors to the delay. Interior work is moving along quickly with the plumbing, heating and ventilation, sprinkler system, electrical, data and security wiring having already been installed. Drywall ceilings and walls are going up, the new lecture theatre is taking shape and service connections to the main building have all been completed. Check out the photos 2008-09 Fall link for some interior progress photos.
Planning has already begun for the Learning Resource Centre move-in. Lots of books and materials to move and re-shelve. Although we hope to see most the addition facilities in use through the late winter and early spring, we are planning the ceremonial grand opening for our June CE weekend, Friday June 5th 2009. Please make a note in your calendars for that date and help us celebrate this wonderful new facility!
There are floors! Walls are coming but concrete has been pored and more is on the way. The ceiling of the first floor was poured during a snow storm at the end of January and the scaffolding to support the ceiling forms of the second floor is in place along with the forms and rebar. Most of the concrete will have been pored by the time you are reading this article. As you may know, a major element of the addition is a new, second elevator. This second elevator will have a prominent and convenient location adjacent to the south staircase and service all 4 floors. The new elevator installation begins in early April just as the addition is predicted to be completely closed in.
As the new elevator will be located through what is now two floors of patient care clinic rooms, renovations of these affected areas will begin at the same time as the elevator installation. While there will be a reduction in clinic examination space initially, the long term plan will see this examination space replaced and relocated in the second phase of our expansion project. Final design planning will begin this summer for the clinic redesign renovations that will follow completion and occupancy of the addition.
On Friday, June 8 2007, the School of Optometry held a ceremonial ground breaking event to celebrate our campaign progress and launch the beginning of construction on our new addition. With more than 450 people in attendance, including the media, there was definitely excitement in the air as we commemorated this important milestone. Anticipation built as we waited for the real work to begin!
The project work began in late September under the capable management of Bonfield Construction, the successful tender bidder. Bonfield has several other projects underway at the University so we are confident that project will move quickly and uneventfully to completion projected for the first quarter of 2009. Site preparation has been completed along with a significant excavation of the manmade hill that stood for almost 40 years between the existing building and Columbia Street. In less that a week the hill was gone and the footing work has begun and will be followed by the pouring of the foundation walls.
George Dixon, VP of Research (former Dean of Science), Thomas Freddo, School of Optometry Director, Kristine Dalton, recent graduate, Marta Witer, Class of '79, Desmond Fonn, CCLR Director, David Johnston, University of Waterloo President.
Gary Marx
Administrator
School of Optometry
University of Waterloo
Waterloo ON N2L 3G1
gmarx@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567 Ext. 32626
Fax 519-725-0784
Andrea Carthew
Senior Development Officer
Ext. 36319
acarthew@uwaterloo.ca
School of Optometry
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1 Canada
Phone: Clinic +1 519 888 4062, Administration +1 519 888 4567 Ext. 33178
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dated June 24, 2009 | copyright © 2007-2009 University of Waterloo
