聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 In June 2014 flooding of the Redvers Arts Centre led to the building being closed due to structural concerns. For the past two and a half years, the Redvers Arts Council and Building Committee have been working diligently to save the building and re-open the Arts Centre.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The project, however, was announced to have been abandoned in a public information session on Thursday, Feb. 16. Approximately 50 people were in attendance to receive an update on the direction the Arts Council and Building Committee were going in regards to the renovations of the Arts Centre.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 On Jan. 15 of 2015, a public meeting had been held with the majority in attendance supporting the erection of a new building; but, preliminary plans projected the cost of the project to be approximately $2.5 million. This would include the theatre/stage area, change rooms, washrooms, a small hall, and kitchen/concession. Additionally it would be a one-level project to increase accessibility.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It was decided in the summer of 2015 that this would not be feasible and the decision was made to look at rehabilitating and renovating the Arts Centre. Throughout the rest of 2015 and most of 2016, a multi-phase plan was established with the aid of an engineering firm and architectural firm. The multi-phase plan would mean they could fundraise and work on the project in pieces.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Phase 1 would include structural steel channel reinforcing installed between the new basement floor slab and the main floor joist structure to reinforce the existing foundational walls, a new cement floor to replace the wooden joist floor, exterior grading and water prevention strategies 鈥 including weeping tile, sump pump and pits, reinforce the main beam, and rough plumbing for future washroom and kitchen plans and planned provisions for a future elevator between the three levels to be included in future Phases.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Work would take place from December 2016 to February 2017 and the building would be usable by the end of February.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Once the contractors began work in December, however, it was discovered that the foundation of the building was worse than originally expected.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥溾he onsite work in December by our contractors (and subsequent testing) revealed that the concrete foundation is in much worse condition than was originally thought. Surprisingly, the concrete on the south wall 鈥 which was our chief concern 鈥 is stronger than the concrete in other areas,鈥 the Arts Council explained.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Scans were done of the concrete showing there was no rebar in place and cement cores were taken, which showed the foundation to be exceptionally weak.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When met with this unexpected revelation, the Arts Council was presented with four options:
1)聽聽聽聽 Remove and replace the basement concrete walls
2)聽聽聽聽 Reinforce the concrete walls with additional concrete
3)聽聽聽聽 Fill in the basement, create a crawl space, and re-support the theatre level
4)聽聽聽聽 Walk away from the project and abandon the building
The first option was expected to cost an additional $165,000 to $225,000 above the original projected cost of just over $300,000 for Phase 1. The second option was estimated to be $145,000 to $210,000 above the Phase 1 contract amount. The third option was projected to be $100,000 to $140,000 above the contract amount of Phase 1.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Arts Council and Building Committee were disheartened by the news of the building and were worried about further funding, but also other unknowns moving forward with the building. Thus, they decided the fourth option was the most responsible option to make and the building project will be abandoned.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥溾 We have decided that we are best off abandoning our plan to renovate the Redvers Arts Centre,鈥 the Arts Council and Building Committee made in a joint statement. 鈥淗ad this winter鈥檚 phase one plan for the building rehab gone as expected, our multi-phase plan would be a viable long-term solution for our building and community. However, new proposals would either be much more expensive or not provide long-term stability for the building鈥檚 entire structural life. To be clear, options to correct the weak concrete basement are much more costly than we are willing to undertake.鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎n option to fill the basement and still support the main beam has been proposed, but we have decided that the costs spent on this option would have to be followed up with other building improvements 鈥 none of which would be guaranteed to add substantial life to the building structure. For that reason, it no longer seems viable to move forward, and we are better off 鈥榗utting our losses鈥 and ending this project. Therefore, no further work will be done on the Arts Centre and it will remain closed while we make plans for the building鈥檚 eventual demolition and removal from the site.鈥
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There will be costs involved in this project, which are currently being negotiated. The cost of the failed venture will be absorbed by the Arts Council and they have stated that they will clean up the site, including the demolishment of the Arts Centre. This will all be done without using the $50,000 grant from the Town of Redvers, which will be returned, or the $50,000 grant from the R.M. of Antler, which has not been accessed.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Decisions surrounding any funds following the demolition and clean-up of the site have not been decided, however, the Arts Council has discussed a variety of options, which will benefit the community. The Arts Council will continue to operate and will continue to bring in arts events and concerts to the community.