Ontario Construction News staff writer
Matheson Constructors has submitted a formal delay claim related to additional standby/administrative costs it due to “unknown site conditions” at the new administration centre construction site in Alliston.
The $20-million project was originally supposed to be completed in September 2022, but delays pushed the completion date back to the late first quarter or early second quarter of this year.
“Staff will be reviewing this with input from the town’s consulting architect,” Bruce Hoppe, general manager of infrastructure and development wrote in a report to council. “Any resulting impact to the contingency will be reported during the next status report to the committee of the whole.”
The town has spent $714,840, or 70 per cent of the contingency budget, due to 45 change orders, which is up about 10 per cent since the last status report. He said the majority of these costs are attributed to soil issues, floor topping on the second level, and unplanned sanitary sewer works.
Construction is expected to be substantially completed in early spring, but the final cost is still up in the air, according to a staff report presented to New Tecumseth council.
Matheson is repurposing the former Alliston Union Public School to serve as a modern municipal administration centre. This adaptive re-use project consists of the renovation and addition to an existing two-storey structure built in 1968.
Extensive reconfiguration and rehabilitation will be performed to the existing building as well as a new addition to the west entrance. The existing gymnasium will be partially infilled with a new second floor with the remaining double height area to be reconfigured to house the council chamber.
“During this reporting period the footings and foundations for the two-storey addition have been completed. The steel framing for the curtain wall have been completed, and is ready for glazing,” Hoppe wrote. “The window frames have been delivered to the site, and installation is anticipated over the next few weeks. Spray foam insulation as well as the roof structure atop the second floor washroom bank has been completed.
“The interior works have progressed completing all below grade works within the footprint of the building and interior room partitions and block walls for service areas trending towards completion. Installation of the sprinkler system has commenced.”
Since Nov. 28 the project has seen a total of 45 change orders be approved with a total value of $714,840 – the majority of the cost being attributed to soil issues, floor topping on second level and unplanned sanitary sewer works.
To date the current spend percentage equates to approximately 70 per cent of the total approved contingency amount.
“At this time there is no concern with the financial state of this project,” Hoppe said.