WINNIPEG, MB – As The University of Winnipeg prepares for construction of the inner-city’s most significant recreation and wellness hub, demolition work begins this week on campus with removal of McNamara Hall on Spence Street and demolition of the brick building at 359 Young Street to follow in September.
Construction of a new Field House, Health, Wellness and Healing Complex on Spence Street which includes a renovated Duckworth Centre is on track to begin this fall with an official sod-turning planned for early September, in conjunction with UWinnipeg’s 2012 Homecoming.
Recycling slate on Spence Street – August 2012, photo by Isaac Gutwilik
As with other new construction on campus, UWinnipeg is committed to achieving LEED Silver status and will reuse and recycle all salvageable materials during the demolition process.
The scale of this project has prompted a number of changes on campus over the next few weeks.
BUS SERVICE:
Winnipeg Transit is relocating the Spence Street Bus Loop to capture our west campus. By mid-November, buses will be rerouted permanently to create a ribbon around our science complex, daycare and student residence, running up a newly paved Furby Street, turning onto Furby Place, then heading south down Langside Street and onto Portage Avenue. In the interim, beginning on September 4, buses will be moved off Spence Street to a temporary route on Portage, Colony and St. Mary.
Additionally, a new traffic light with companion pedestrian crosswalk will be installed at Langside and Portage by mid-fall 2012.
TREES AND GREEN SPACE:
Salvaging trees for reuse – August 2012, photo by Isaac Gutwilik
Construction along Spence and Young necessitates the relocation of the Alumni Garden and a number of trees. The Alumni Garden will be rededicated on campus in the coming weeks. The University, in conjunction with our Campus Sustainability Office, Number TEN Architectural Group and local company Wood Anchor, has developed a Tree Salvage, Reuse and Recycling Plan with the goal of keeping or recycling back onto campus every tree possible for reuse as lumber, furniture and art. Four large elm trees will remain in place. Four trees will be relocated to other locations on campus. Other elm, ash, spruce and maple marked for reuse will be carefully cut into lengths and stored at Wood Anchor to be used during the construction phase of the new Field House. The repurposed lumber will form benches in change rooms, rough cut logs for ceremonial healing spaces, reception desktops and floor planks, among other things. Educational signage with photographs of the original trees and description of the salvage and reuse process will be posted.
The Richardson Green Corridor, a walkway and cycling path linking our main campus to the west Furby campus, is currently being landscaped and may accommodate relocated trees from Spence Street.
RELOCATIONS AFFECTING THE PUBLIC:
- Klinic On Campus has moved to the main floor Sparling Hall.
- The Legal Help Centre has moved to 310 Balmoral Street.
- Soma Café is moving from the Duckworth Centre to Lockhart Hall sometime in fall 2012, replacing Café Bodhi.
- Café Bodhi will move to the 2nd floor, Duckworth Centre, sometime in fall 2012.
MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
