Winnipeg | CentrePoint | Alt/Glasshouse | 20F | 21F | 72.5M | 70M | Completed - Page 52

Dominic Lemieux · #**1021** Posted **Oct 17, 2014, 12:15 PM**

The reason why the podium and the tower are so different is that they are developed by two different companies. The Alt hotel chain is owned by Groupe Germain out of Québec City and the podium is owned by Longboat Developments out of Winnipeg. We played a big role in the structure of the podium by providing a slim-floor precast solution but it was impossible to convince the Alt people to move away from a cast-in-place structure. That explains why nothing happened during last winter. Pouring concrete in the dead of winter in Winnipeg is just not possible. It's the only structure I know of that has cast-in-place over precast. The other way around makes more sense, to me at least.

esquire · #**1022** Posted **Oct 17, 2014, 1:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominic Lemieux

The reason why the podium and the tower are so different is that they are developed by two different companies. The Alt hotel chain is owned by Groupe Germain out of Québec City and the podium is owned by Longboat Developments out of Winnipeg. We played a big role in the structure of the podium by providing a slim-floor precast solution but it was impossible to convince the Alt people to move away from a cast-in-place structure. That explains why nothing happened during last winter. Pouring concrete in the dead of winter in Winnipeg is just not possible. It's the only structure I know of that has cast-in-place over precast. The other way around makes more sense, to me at least.

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for the explanation.

The Alt tower is not the greatest when it comes to appearance, but it's not necessarily that bad either. Unfortunately the mismatch between the two does little to flatter the tower, though.

drew · #**1023** Posted **Oct 17, 2014, 2:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominic Lemieux

The reason why the podium and the tower are so different is that they are developed by two different companies. The Alt hotel chain is owned by Groupe Germain out of Québec City and the podium is owned by Longboat Developments out of Winnipeg. We played a big role in the structure of the podium by providing a slim-floor precast solution but it was impossible to convince the Alt people to move away from a cast-in-place structure. That explains why nothing happened during last winter. Pouring concrete in the dead of winter in Winnipeg is just not possible. It's the only structure I know of that has cast-in-place over precast. The other way around makes more sense, to me at least.

The Manitoba Hydro Tower is all cast-in-place concrete. It was built throughout the year, including winter, I am sure there are more examples. Cast-in-place concrete construction is not impossible during the winter here - just more expensive.

The podium of the Alt tower was built using pre-cast concrete, using the "Delta Beams" main support beams (those are the beams with the holes in your picture). They are steel forms that use cast-in-place concrete to create a reinforced section - that has the same thin profile as the hollow core.

(FYI - the Glasshouse will use a similar system (delta beams and hollowcore), but also includes steel columns on the perimeter and a cast-in-place concrete elevator core).

I discussed the delay between the podium of the Alt and the hotel tower with the project manager - winter construction was a factor - but the biggest factor was finding someone with the expertise to design and take responsibility for the joining of the pre-cast concrete podium to the cast-in-place tower. Apparently this either has never been done before, or is rare enough that they needed to find someone experienced enough to complete the design.

buzzg · #**1024** Posted **Oct 19, 2014, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominic Lemieux

The reason why the podium and the tower are so different is that they are developed by two different companies. The Alt hotel chain is owned by Groupe Germain out of Québec City and the podium is owned by Longboat Developments out of Winnipeg. We played a big role in the structure of the podium by providing a slim-floor precast solution but it was impossible to convince the Alt people to move away from a cast-in-place structure. That explains why nothing happened during last winter. Pouring concrete in the dead of winter in Winnipeg is just not possible. It's the only structure I know of that has cast-in-place over precast. The other way around makes more sense, to me at least.

Sounds like someone is trying to sell us on their own product. Cast-in-place is completely feasible. When there's a major road problem in the winter, the city still fixes it, and thats without tarping and heating it.

1ajs · #**1025** Posted **Oct 19, 2014, 5:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzg

Sounds like someone is trying to sell us on their own product. Cast-in-place is completely feasible. When there's a major road problem in the winter, the city still fixes it, and thats without tarping and heating it.

Letting concreat freez during curing is not the best it will weaken it

Buzz no need to be cynical

And txs for sharin that dominic

Dominic Lemieux · #**1026** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 5:48 PM**

I thought I would correct my previous statement. It is not "impossible" to build using cast-in-place during winter, we have projects all over the world where that has been done. However, I believe it make more sense to build using precast when building during winter months because your have less risks of having issues with concrete freezing during curing. We provide slim-floor solutions for both cast-in-place and precast. We provided the Deltabeam on Centrepoint and I wonder how Drew knew that Deltabeam was specified also in Glasshouse. Are you involved in the Glasshouse project?

drew · #**1027** Posted **Oct 20, 2014, 6:13 PM**

^ I am all knowing...

But no, I am not personally involved.

Jimbo · #**1028** Posted **Oct 21, 2014, 11:52 AM**

Anyone know if Portage Ave. in front of the MTS Centre/ Alt will also be getting a facelift anytime soon?

buzzg · #**1029** Posted **Oct 22, 2014, 1:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Anyone know if Portage Ave. in front of the MTS Centre/ Alt will also be getting a facelift anytime soon?

The sidewalks all along Portage are all new within the last few years. Maybe some SHED lights next year, but I'd rather them all be the all along Portage

kent_eh · #**1030** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 2:42 PM**

cllew · #**1031** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 3:31 PM**

First tower crane I have ever seen taking up space in a street. Usually its large track crawler cranes.

JamieDavid Exchange · #**1032** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cllew

First tower crane I have ever seen taking up space in a street. Usually its large track crawler cranes.

I found that pretty strange as well. That is a lot of cement they had to pour for the base. I wonder if that is all going to be smashed up later or the base going to be used for something else once the crane is disabled.

kent_eh · #**1033** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 4:18 PM**

The block of concrete is over 6 feet tall.
Plus there are some H-columns driven into the ground in the bottom of the block.

I assume it is temporary, and will be removed after the construction is complete.
Normally that street is 2 traffic lanes, plus 1 parking lane.

steveosnyder · #**1034** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kent_eh

The block of concrete is over 6 feet tall.
Plus there are some H-columns driven into the ground in the bottom of the block.

I assume it is temporary, and will be removed after the construction is complete.
Normally that street is 2 traffic lanes, plus 1 parking lane.

Maybe this is a part of the city Bid Op to make that stretch more pedestrianized...

But seriously, How tall is Glass House supposed to be? I thought tower cranes used the building as their base to keep themselves upright? I can't see this working all the way up to 21 floors.

Cyro · #**1035** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 9:36 PM**

Haven't browsed their site in a while, It's been updated quite nicely.

http://glasshousewinnipeg.com/roots-glasshouse/

drew · #**1036** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kent_eh

The block of concrete is over 6 feet tall.
Plus there are some H-columns driven into the ground in the bottom of the block.

I assume it is temporary, and will be removed after the construction is complete.
Normally that street is 2 traffic lanes, plus 1 parking lane.

It's all "temporary". Slab and piles get removed after the crane is finished up.

I think there was a lot of back and forth on the location and who was responsible for the support of the crane. By the time they figured it out, this was the only solution available.

Seems crude to me, but that slab and foundation are beefy.

1ajs · #**1037** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 2:30 PM**

Its guna suck who evers gotta smashit the amount of rebar in it

Tower crains can stand to x hight with out being tied to a buildin they did that woth hydro and how this ones down u see that allot in ny and other cities around the world

Biff · #**1038** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 3:07 PM**

Meh, tower cranes in Winnipeg. They are so.....dime a dozen now. What, has that been 4 or 5 in the past year or two. Yaaaawwwwn

DowntownBooster · #**1039** Posted **Nov 5, 2014, 5:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

Meh, tower cranes in Winnipeg. They are so.....dime a dozen now. What, has that been 4 or 5 in the past year or two. Yaaaawwwwn

It's nice to see another tower crane going up now that the one for the Alt has come down. However, it sure would have been great if one were to go up at the NW corner of Portage & Main. I think that's one of the biggest disappointments to see that project get cancelled as we have been waiting so long for that surface parking lot to get filled in. I wonder if we'll have to wait another 20 years or so.

bomberjet · #**1040** Posted **Nov 5, 2014, 5:28 PM**

^Harvard developments purchased 201 Portage along with that lot. They seem to have a good track record in Saskatchewan. So we'll see if something comes of that.