Initial Budget:
$500,000
Construction Award Value:
$522,700
Final Cost:
$594,547
Scheduled Completion Date:
September 2003
Actual Completion Date:
May 2004
Pye & Richards Architects
Carleton University
This project was to install a passenger elevator in an existing five storey building at Carleton University which houses classrooms, laboratories, and offices. The elevator had to fit within the existing height of the building and be able to be installed in a shallow bedrock area. The elevator is also being installed while the building is occupied. Complex construction involves underpinning of existing structure using "micro-piles." Many labs in this building are sensitive to vibration and, therefore, scheduling of activities to reduce the impact on sensitive studies are being undertaken.
The proponent was the prime consultant responsible for leading the team to study the various locations for the new elevator, investigations of existing site, design of the elevator and surrounding spaces affected by this work, building code reviews, coordination, working with the elevator consultant who was hired directly by the client in order to pre-tender the elevator, tendering, site review and contract administration.
Once the best solution for placing the elevator was made the preliminary bore hole identified two problems. The first problem encountered was that the new elevator pit was located over high power electrical cables which had been installed in a different location than the as-built drawings indicated. The solution involved relocating the cables. The second problem was the the closest footing was located directly under the slab and would require underpinning to install the elevator pit. The solution was to use a jack system on piles to support the column on the underlying rock. These problems added approximately $80,000.00 to the project. The pre-tendered elevator also was substantially over budget.
