Infrastructure Ontario – mackaycartoons

Wednesday April 29, 2015

April 28, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday April 29, 2015

“Embarrassed in front of the world:” Stadium woes put Pan Am ‘at risk’ says councillor

The city and its stadium contractor are at odds over whether the unfinished $145-million facility can open before the Pan Am Games — or even in time for the international event.

Councillors were outraged to learn Monday the 10-month-late stadium won’t be completely outfitted with furniture and equipment until the end of June — two weeks or fewer before Pan Am soccer matches kick off.

As it is, ongoing construction and repairs to faulty waterproofing have already forced cancellation of dozens of stadium bookings, with a community welcome event and an international women’s soccer friendly on the bubble for late May.

“The Pan Am Games are now at risk,” said committee chair Lloyd Ferguson, who urged committee members to write the province demanding a guaranteed stadium delivery date or risk being “embarrassed in front of the world.”

Terence Foran, spokesperson for provincial project overseer Infrastructure Ontario, said the agency doesn’t believe the games are in danger.

“From our perspective, anyone suggesting that furniture delivery equates to an incomplete stadium is choosing to ignore all the successful events hosted at the stadium last year,” he said, referring to Hamilton Tiger-Cats football games held in the partially finished facility.

David Kirkland, a representative of contractor Ontario Sports Solutions argued the stadium would be “essentially complete” and usable for events after May 8, even if negotiations continue over contract disputes.

But the stadium isn’t expected to reach “substantial completion” under the contract until the end of June, said Mayor Fred Eisenberger in a letter sent to Premier Kathleen Wynne and top Infrastructure Ontario brass late Monday. (Hamilton Spectator)

Stadium Chronology 2009-2015

August 20, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

A CARTOON CHRONOLOGY of HAMILTON’S PAN AM STADIUM

Wednesday August 20, 2014

August 20, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 20, 2014

Crucial stadium inspection will take five days

The city building department expects to spend five days inspecting the city’s new football stadium before pronouncing it ready — or not — for a fast-approaching Sept. 1 game.

That timeline adds to the deadline pressure facing the beleaguered builder of the $145-million stadium as well as the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The team doesn’t have a local backup venue for the much-anticipated Labour Day classic.

Chief building official Ed VanderWindt said Monday he has two inspectors “on call” to begin a marathon study of the 22,500-seat stadium as soon as the contractor applies for an occupancy permit.

“There is a lot of ground to cover … It’s not just one big walkabout and you’re done,” said VanderWindt, who has scheduled five days for the inspection.

Pan Am Stadium Chronology

While inspectors could eyeball the stadium in two or three days, the city’s building boss said the extra time accounts for document review and any required repairs.

The two inspectors will roam the city-block-sized venue dozens of times, said VanderWindt, because each critical element — sprinklers, fire exits or hand rails, for example — requires a dedicated walk-about.

VanderWindt said it’s not practical to assign more eyes to the stadium because not all parts of the building will be ready to inspect at the same time.

But he noted a team of in-house engineers will simultaneously be reviewing documents certifying everything from electrical work to structural integrity to fire safety.

The chosen inspectors — whom VanderWindt declined to identify — have a history with the building, including one dedicated to the stadium full-time.

“What I can say is our staff feel very privileged to be part of this project. I think everyone recognizes the pressure there is to make sure everything is done on time, but for our part I can say we’re keeping on top of it and looking forward to getting it done.”

The contractor, Ontario Sports Solutions, maintains the building will be ready for Sept. 1, but the building department hadn’t received an occupancy permit application by the end of the business day Monday.

But VanderWindt said building inspectors will work weekends if necessary, meaning a permit could still be granted by next Monday. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

OTHER NEWS SITES

This cartoon is posted on Yahoo Canada News.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

July 8, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Tim Hortons Field won’t be ready for first two Ticat home games

Two weeks ago, the vice-president of Infrastructure Ontario was asked if there was time to get Tim Hortons Field done in time for the Tiger-Cats’ July 26 home opener, assuming good weather and no bankruptcies by subcontractors.

“Yes,” said John McKendrick. “Yes, there is. Yes.”

Apparently there wasn’t.

As if to put an exclamation point on a project that has divided, excited, angered, intrigued, frustrated and baffled Hamiltonians for the past half-decade, it was announced Monday that the building wouldn’t be ready for the Ticats’ games on July 26 and 31 after all. Instead, those two contests will be played at McMaster’s Ron Joyce Stadium.

“All partners, including IO, confirmed today that the stadium would not be ready in time,” said Infrastructure Ontario communications adviser Mandy Downes.

While news of the announcement came suddenly — following the second long meeting in a week involving all the principals — it can’t have been much of a surprise to anyone who’s driven by the site lately.

There’s definitely been some progress made over the past few days. Most of the steel frame for the huge scoreboard has gone up since late last week. The turf isn’t ready for action, but it’s been laid. Other work has been done under the stands in the bowels of the building where it can’t be seen.

However, these incremental improvements were clearly moving at a slower pace than the hands on the stopwatch are spinning toward D-Day. With just seven days to go until the building department was going to be asked to begin its inspection toward granting an occupancy permit, there’s still more than a little to do.

Pan Am Stadium Chronology

According to Infrastructure Ontario, tasks remaining to be completed include: “Field of play installation, exterior building facade work, sprinkler systems installation, all mechanical and electrical work, installation of seats, VIP and box suites, installation of broadcast facilities, installation of railings and elevators throughout public areas.”

Sound like a lot? Walk around the site and it sure looks like a lot.

“They just haven’t been able to progress as they thought they would,” says Hamilton general manager of public works Gerry Davis.

So there’s another delay and another twist written into one of the most convoluted narratives this city has ever produced.

Even in its current state, this stadium looks like it has the potential to be really nice when it’s finally finished. Until now though, it’s been an ongoing migraine that flares up at regular intervals, with Monday being a Tylenol 3 day. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)