Victoria Memorial Museum Rehabilitation Base Building

The entire VMMB and site is to be rehabilitated. The rehabilitation includes extensive work to the foundations and structure, building envelope, interior finishes, mechanical and electrical systems stairs, elevators, and site improvements. The site is bounded byMcLeod Street, Elgin Street, Argyle Avenue, and O'Connor Street.  Significant components of the work include the following:

• A 2,600 m2 addition of a new shipping and receiving, mechanical and electrical area including a new greenhouse.
• Asbestos Abatement and demolition of existing partitions and finishes and significant amounts of structural demolition.
• New foundations inside the building adjacent to the existing foundations.
• Seismic upgrading of the existing load bearing stone structure with new structural steel endo-skeleton.
• Leveling of floors to correct up to one half meter of settlement.
• Placing new concrete toppings over to the existing terracotta block floor structure.
• Addition of mechanical penthouses on the existing roof and complete new mechanical and electrical systems.
• Complete new site development and landscaping of the 8.5 acre site.
• Protection and Restoration of historic components while meeting FHBRO guidelines.
• Creation of a Dynamic Buffer Zone (DBZ) in exhibit halls to protect the existing exterior stone wall once the new interior environmental conditions are implemented for artifact preservation.
• The addition of a structural  glass “lantern” over the existing main entrance to replace the original stone tower that was dismantled shortly after its original construction due to excessive settlement .

The construction is phased to permit the museum to stay open throughout the life of the project. The design, moving, and installation of exhibits is not included in CM Scope of work, but the project must support existing and future exhibits in every way. The original scope of work was only for the base building renovation and addition, but a significant amount of phase 2 gallery fit-up work has been added to PCL's scope. The base building and exhibit fit-up work must be closely coordinated with the museum exhibit installations.  Some of the new exhibits include sensitive artifacts, therefore the building systems must be coordinated with the exhibit installation. One of the most important schedule milestones to the Canadian Museum of Nature is the public opening of the first new galleries in October 2006.  The project final completion is scheduled for July 2009.