Work on LU architecture school begins soon

Work on Laurentian University’s new School of Architecture will be proceeding in the weeks ahead at the downtown building which was, until recently, the city's farmer's market.

The transfer of title for the property took effect Nov. 6.

Laurentian University purchased the site from the City of Greater Sudbury as the home of Canada’s newest School of Architecture, which will welcome its charter class of students in September 2013.

To mark the occasion of Laurentian Architecture’s beginnings at Elm and Elgin streets, there will be a ground-breaking and “welcome ceremony” at sunrise Nov. 23.

The event will include a blessing of the land by Chief Steven Miller of the Whitefish Lake First Nation.

The first cohort of students will be studying in renovated space in the CPR Freight Shed, while faculty offices will be located in the CP Telegraph Building, according to a press release from Laurentian.

Both structures, which were erected on the site in the early 20th century, will be incorporated into the design of the new school, which is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

“This is an exciting juncture for the architecture project, and we are anxious to begin the work of preparing the buildings for occupancy next fall,” said Terrance Galvin, Laurentian Architecture's founding director, in a press release.

“Phase one of the renovation work will give us our studio and seminar space for the first two years of the school’s operation.”

Bids have been received for Phase One of the Laurentian Architecture construction project from a list of Ontario contractors who were successful in the pre-qualifying process.

“We were pleased to see several Northern Ontario companies qualified to bid, as well as some firms from other parts of the province,” said Brad Parkes, director, capital projects at Laurentian University.

The successful bid for the Phase One contract is expected to be announced in mid-December.

The renovations to the Freight Shed in phase one will include upgraded insulation and new finishes to the interior, new siding and roofing, as well as updated electrical, mechanical and ventilation systems.

The brick and mortar of the Telegraph Building will be freshened, and many of the interior surfaces refinished, while the original wooden staircase will be refurbished.

Laurentian Architecture and its design team have worked with Sudbury’s Local Heritage Committee in planning the renovations of the historic CP Telegraph Building, and all changes will respect the integrity of this historic downtown landmark, the press release said.