Simon Dupuis, Manager,
Design and Construction, City of Ottawa and Craig Ginther, Division Manager,
Central Library Project, OPL provided a presentation on the work and progress
to date. (Held on file with the Chief Executive Officer). Alain
Gonthier, Director, Infrastructure Services, City of Ottawa; attended
virtually.
Key highlights of the
presentation included:
-
Project
Progress (public engagement, Indigenous engagement, design progress and
reveal);
-
Project
Status (design schedule and key milestones);
-
Design
Update (look and feel, acoustics, accessibility, building sustainability, pandemic
design review, and next steps;
-
Procurement
and Early Work (four-stage procurement process, general contractor Request
for Qualification (RFQ) Tender results and Early Works package and scope of
work; and,
-
Next Steps
(Indigenous and future public engagement, finalizing construction documents,
permits, etc. and next update to the Board.
Trustee Slack said it was phenomenal to see how the project
design have evolved based on public participation in the process. The facility
will be a landmark building that will set the tone for the City.
Trustee Hidgon said the
building has that “wow” factor and that it is impressive and inspirational.
Vice-Chair Fisher asked
if there will be further presentations to the Board, and if today’s presentation
will be included on the Inspire555 website? Mr. Dupuis said the presentation
will be added to Inspire555, City of Ottawa, and OPL websites. Mr. Ginther
indicated that further presentations will be made, and the timeline for these
will be based on project progress.
Trustee Brown
congratulated the CEO, the Project team, and staff on the great work on this
project.
In response to a question
from Trustee Brockington on whether the pathway that leads from the Light
Rail Transit station will connect to the library, Mr. Dupuis said the pathway
will be connected to the building and is part of the landscaping component.
Trustee Brockington asked
whether the exterior wood elements will have the ability to withstand
Ottawa’s weather over a long period of time. Mr. Dupuis said staff and the
architectural team are very focused on looking at different treatments for
wood to ensure they weather well.
Trustee Brockington asked
about the significance of the difference between the budget estimate and the
budget reality. Mr. Dupuis indicated that the Project Team has flagged that construction
in the City is a super-heated industry at the moment, and as a result are
very focused on the potential budgetary implications of this market. He
indicated that any potential cost increases would come to the OPLB and City
Council. Changes to the project will be brought to the project’s Executive
Steering Committee (ESC), composed of: Stephen Willis, General Manager,
Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development, City of Ottawa; Danielle
McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Public Library; and, Leslie Weir, Librarian
and Archivist of Canada, Library and Archives Canada. Mr. Dupuis added that
the Board delegated authority for the project to ESC through the governance
agreement; the final design details will be shown to the Board prior to the
tendering process.
Chair Luloff said he is
very excited for the project, and that it sets a high bar for development at Lebreton
Flats.
There being no further
discussion, the presentation was RECEIVED as presented.
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