The client’s design brief required that the building grow from the landscape and reflect the traditions of the Okanagan People. The colour palette and soft curvaceous forms mimic the textures and patterns of the rolling hillsides that flank the valley. The forms flow in and over each other, most evident on the west façade where the roofs roll over and seamlessly transition into walls. These forms have been peeled back at entrances, revealing the interior spaces while providing much needed shade. The organic form language continues through to interior spaces where rooms appear to open up within the crevasse of shifting geological forms, suggesting the evolution of tectonic displacement. Benches, display cases, and classroom entrances will be carved out of these forms as though the building was only inhabited long after the structure’s masses had finally settled.

This language culminates in the dramatic education room being dedicated to teaching the Okanagan People’s language, history and art. With interactive sound and video media, the interior space is an artistic interpretation of the traditional pit house, conducive to passing down native skills. It is made up of alternating ribbons of plaster and wood slats that rise toward the oculus and terminate just above the aluminum frame of the domed skylight. The forms are meant to drape into the space and then soar upward, guiding one’s eye to the sky. The four food ‘Chiefs’ - bitter root, Saskatoon berry, king salmon, and black bear - are carved into four pillars around the perimeter and lit with recessed floor lighting. The space serves as a vivid reminder of the Band’s roots while providing a dramatic vision of their evolution as a people.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make Duchess Park a Success!

Our image gallery of the school will be up shortly.

A wooden engineered stair tower has been designed and constructed to allow access to the areas for rehabilitation. Engineered platforms will be tied in to the stair tower in eight foot lifts.

Special considerations must be taken over environmental issues as the nearby water is a habitat for sturgeon. In the fall we will be re-doing the concrete face on the forebay wall. Inserted pictures show the engineered stair tower in place.

We are happy to announce the project is in the final stages and is progressing nicely. The Prince George region has witnessed a harsh winter, but Western Industrial Contractors, and our sub-trades, have maintained the course, making sure the March 2010 completion is still on time.

WIC

* Continuing siding for AL West North Side.
* Continuing siding for AL East South side.
* Continued installing doors and hardware in the CC Core.
* Installing thresholds for the CC Wing exit doors.
* Completed cedar siding for CC main entrance.
* Continued installing gutters for Complex Care buildings.
* Poured footings and columns for the center courtyard Glulam columns.
* Continued installing Bi-Fold doors for the AL wings.
* Continued installing washroom pocket doors for the AL wings.

Landscaping

* Completed grading and compacting open area in front of CC Entrance ready for paving Monday morning.
* Continued irrigation system around the CC Wings.
* Continued placing landscape soil around the CC Wings.
* Completed retaining wall on Victoria street side of the south wing.

Dry Wall & Tee Bar Ceilings

* Completed wall board for the AL East wing.
* Continued wall board for the AL Core ceilings & walls.
* Continued bulkheads for the AL Core.

Painting

* 2nd coat painting for the AL East.
* Finish painting Al West wing.
* CC Exterior painting.

Mechanical HVAC

* Continued duct work for the AL Core.
* Installed rage hoods for the CC Core multi-purpose rooms.
* Commissioning ventilation systems.

Mechanical Plumbing

* Completed rough-ins for the AL East wing.
* Continued rough-ins for the AL Core.
* Continued installing soiled laundry room fixtures for the CC West & South wings.
* Re-installing fixtures for the CC Wings tub rooms.

Electrical

* Rough-ins for the AL Core.
* Continued lighting for the CC Core & CC East wing.
* Continued installing lighting for the AL West wing.
* Connecting nurse Call System for CC.
* Commissioning fire alarm system for CC.
* Terminations in the CC Com/Tele Room.

Millwork

* Continued installing cabinets for the AL West wing.
* Corridor handrail bases for the AL West wing main floor level.
* Re-installing millwork for the CC tub rooms.
* Installed millwork above the fireplaces for rooms 1001 & 2320.

Store Front Doors & Inside Windows

* Continued hardware for the CC Core doors.
* Installed mirrors for CC area washrooms.

Flooring

* Completed vinyl flooring for the CC tub rooms.
* Started vinyl flooring for the AL West wing second floor level.
* Started install carpet for the AL West wing main floor level.
* Installed tactile strips for the CC wings exit stairways.

WIC

* Continued siding for CC East balcony area.
* Continued installing resident washroom accessories for the CC wings.
* Completed feature stone for the AL Core North side chimney.
* Preparing to install feature stone for the AL community room chimney column.
* Continued feature stone for the AL Core South side.
* Completed blocking under the canopies for AL & CC.
* Continued installing cedar railings for the CC balconies.
* Installed joists for the free-standing canopy North of the CC Core.
* Completed patio pavers for the CC South wing balcony.
* Started patio pavers for the CC West wing balcony.
* Continued installing glazing for the CC doors and interior windows.
* Installed hand rails for the CC wings exit stairways.
* Started caulking the siding for the CC West & South wings.
* Form work for the AL West patio concrete pads (South side).

Landscaping

* Continued foundations and columns for the landscape retaining walls.
* Continued foundations and columns for the free-standing canopies.
* Continued landscaping preparation around the CC West & South wings.

* Poured concrete base and pathway for the CC South wing patio.
* Started brick work for the retaining wall at the end of CC West.

Dry Wall & Tee Bar Ceilings (Excel Acoustics)

* Continued wall board for the AL East wing.
* Continued taping for AL West – 2nd & 3rd floor levels.
* Wall boarding for the AL Core ceilings & walls.

Painting

* Painting stairway C in the CC East wing.
* Painting door frames in the CC Core – both floor levels.
* Painting for the AL West wing 1st floor level.
* Painting MDF for the fireplace’s millwork.

Mechanical HVAC

* Duct work for the AL East wing.
* Duct work for the AL Core.

Mechanical Plumbing

* Continued insulation of piping for the CC mechanical room.
* Continued rough-ins for the AL East wing.
* Continued rough-ins for the AL Core.
* Continued placing fixtures for the CC East wing.

Mechanical Sprinklers

* Continued sprinkler piping for the AL East wing.
* Completed rough-ins for the AL Core basement.

Electrical

* Rough-ins for the AL Core.
* Continued installing lighting for the CC West & South wings.
* Continued lighting for the CC Core & CC East wing.

Millwork

* Installing reception desks and nurse stations for the CC Core.
* Installing handrails for the CC East wing second floor corridor.
* Installing cabinets for the private dining rooms in the CC Core.
* Installing perimeter benches for the Activity room 2004 in the CC Core.
* Installing handrail boxes in the CC Core.
* Installing baseboard in the CC Core.

Activities and Progress

Activities – Period of Mar 30 – Apr 03, 2009

WIC Activity

* Continued siding for the CC East wing North side.
* Started siding for the CC Core.
* Installing room doors for the CC South wing.
* Installing resident washroom accessories for the CC West wing.
* Started resident washroom accessories for the CC South wing.
* Completed CC South patio decking ready for membrane.
* Completed patio railings steelwork for the CC East balcony.
* Continued installing FRP panels for the CC Serveries.
* Completed permanent stair treads for stairway C in CC East wing.

Dry Wall & Tee Bar Ceilings

* Continued framing bulkheads for the AL West wing.
* Continued framing ceiling and bulkheads for the CC Core second floor level.
* Continued taping bulkheads for the CC Core.
* Continued wall board for the AL East wing.
* Boarding for stairways D & H in CC Core.
* Taping & finishing for stairways to mechanical rooms in CC wings.
* Taping & finishing Stairway C in CC East wing.
* Continued insulation and vapour barrier for the AL East wing walls.

Painting

* Continued finish painting for the CC South wing resident rooms.
* Finish painting CC West wing center rooms.

Mechanical HVAC

* Duct work for CC Core.
* Duct work for the AL East wing.

Mechanical Plumbing

* Continued insulation of piping for the CC mechanical room.
* Continued rough-ins for the AL East wing.
* Placing fixtures for the CC West & South wings.
* Installing thermostats for the CC West wing resident rooms.

Mechanical Sprinklers

* Continued sprinkler piping for the AL East wing.
* Install sprinkler heads for the T-Bar ceilings in CC Core.

Electrical

* Rough-ins for AL East wing.
* Rough-ins for the CC Core.
* Installing lights in the mechanical rooms.
* Installing lights in the CC resident room washrooms.

Millwork

# CC West wing
# CC South wing
# CC East wing
# Border vents for the CC Core.
# Corridor handrails for CC South.

Flooring

* Continued floor installation in the CC South wing.
* Continued floor installation in CC East wing.
* Continued baseboard in the CC West wing resident rooms.

Roofing & Exterior Flashing

* Installing cages for the CC passenger elevators
* Install hydraulics for the CC Elevators.

Duchess Park Report March 2009

Project Images

Site images on the progress thus far.

Trade Contractors on Site

- Bryant Electric
- Christman Plumbing & Heating
- Excel Acoustics
- Excel Ventilation
- Farr Installations
- Prince Sheet Metal
- West Central Fire Protection
- Harris Rebar

Average Weather Conditions

- High (+3˚) to (-5˚)

Site Weekly Activities

Civil Workers:
- Site drainage maintenance and snow removal
- Clean Up

Carpenters:
- Removed hoarding from the South end of Phase 1
- Removed hoarding from the Stairwell 4
- Removed hoarding and shoring from Line J
- Stripped column bases and prepared to pour
- Straighten bleacher beam

Sub Trades:

- Farr Installations finishing roof Phase 3
- Farr Installations installed structural steel in Phase 4
- Farr Installations welded beam clips in Phase 2
- Christman Plumbing & Heating roughed in 1st & 2nd floor of Phase 1
- Christman Plumbing & Heating installed conduit under windows in Grid Line 4
- Excel Acoustics framed in Phase 1 on the ground floor
- Excel Acoustic started to laying out track and framing in Phase 2 on the 2nd floor
- Excel Acoustics started boarding wall on Bay Line J in Phase 1
- Excel Acoustics started framing parapet in Phase 3
- Excel Ventilation roughed in Phase 1 on the 1st and 2nd floor
- Excel Ventilation installed duct work in Phase 1 on the 1st and 2nd floor
- Bryant Electric roughed in 1st & 2nd floor
- Bryant Electric installed conduit under window (Grid Line 4)
- Prince Sheet Metal worked on roofing on Phase 2
- West Central Fire Protection roughed in Phase 1 on the 2nd floor

Next Week’s Building Schedule

Bryant Electric
- To rough in Phase 1 & 2 on the first and second floor

Christman Plumbing & Heating
- To Rough in Phase 1 on the first and second floor

Excel Acoustics
- To finish Phase 3 parapets
- To continue to frame Phase 1 & 2 on the first and second floor

Excel Ventilation
- To continue installing duct work in Phase 1 & 2 on the first and second floor

Farr Installations
- To start erecting comflor in Phase 4

Prince Sheet Metal
- To install roofing in Phase 2
- To start roofing in lower Phase 3

West Central Fire Protection
- Start to rough in Phase 1 first and second floor

WIC Carpenters
- To frame curb for RTV’s in Phase 3
- To continue installing parapets
- To form and pour two pads in the gym
- To start patching ceiling and shoring in Phase 4

WIC Civil Workers
- Site drainage maintenance
- Plumbing Excavation

Activities and Progress

Activities – Period of Mar 23 – Mar 27, 2009

WIC Activity

* Continued siding for the AL West wing.
* Continued siding for the CC East wing North side.
* Installing room doors for the CC West wing.
* Installing room doors for the CC South wing.
* Installing resident washroom accessories for the CC West wing.
* Continued modifying AL Core wall panels to accommodate ducting.
* Completed CC West patio decking ready for membrane.
* Installing decking for the CC South wing balcony.
* Completed patio railings steelwork for the CC West & South wings.
* Completed installing FRP panels for the kitchen.
* Started FRP panels for CC Core main floor servery.
* Installed corridor door frames for the AL Core.
* Installed last two windows for the CC Core.
* Installed CC Chimney cap steelwork.

Dry Wall & Tee Bar Ceilings

* Continued dry wall for the CC Core.
* Continued dry wall for the AL West wing.
* Completed framing ceiling and bulkheads for the CC Core main floor level.
* Continued framing ceiling and bulkheads for the CC Core second floor level.
* Continued taping bulkheads for the CC Core.
* Installing sound bar for the AL East wing.
* Continued wall board for the AL East wing.
* Completed boarding the CC basement rooms.
* Boarding for stairways D & H in CC Core.

Painting

* Continued finish painting for the CC South wing resident rooms.
* Continued painting walls for the CC Core second floor level.
* Continued painting ventilation grills and access panels.
* Completed FRP wall covering for the CC South wing corridors.

Mechanical HVAC

* Duct work for CC Core.
* Duct work for the AL East wing.
* Completed chimney cap for the CC boilers.

Mechanical Plumbing

* Commissioned CC boilers – heat now on to CC West & South wings.
* Continued insulation of piping for the CC mechanical room.
* Continued rough-ins for the AL East wing.
* Placing fixtures for the CC West & South wings.

Mechanical Sprinklers

* Continued sprinkler piping for the AL East wing.

Electrical

* Rough-ins for AL East wing.
* Rough-ins for the CC Core.
* Completed lighting for the CC basement rooms and corridors.

Millwork

* CC West wing
* CC South wing
* CC East wing
* Border vents for the CC Core.
* CC East wing main floor level corridor millwork.
* Corridor handrails for CC West.
* Completed mock-up for the AL suites kitchen area.

Flooring

* Continued floor installation in the CC South wing.
* Continued floor installation in CC East wing.
* Continued baseboard in the CC West wing resident rooms.

Roofing & Exterior Flashing

* Continued installing metal beam caps for the Glulam beams and joists.
* Flashing for the CC Chimney cap.