Parliament structural costs

[login]

This is rediculous

http://www.theglobea...article4823775/

over 1 billion in reno costs. You could build a massive building for less.

You could build a second parliament building for less.. who the heck made the call to pump 1 billion into the west block? That is basically like $50 per tax paying Canadian just to keep the west block looking good.

YOu could probably build like 100 federal apartment buildings that provided low income housing for people and generate revenue for that, then use proceeds to keep parliament upkept. This is just pissing money down the mouth of the public.

Edited November 1, 2012 by login

[Mr.Canada]

The parliament buildings are part of our heritage. They don't build anything like that anymore with all the stone work. Everything today is all glass and stucco or pre cast concrete.

[login]

The parliament buildings are part of our heritage. They don't build anything like that anymore with all the stone work. Everything today is all glass and stucco or pre cast concrete.

The $50 bill is part of Canadian heritage and a lot more people get to see it each year. Spread the culture.

I'm sure a 1 billion dollar new building would quickly become part of our culture too. We could include a museum that held all the parts that would have been fixed inside it so when biologists create money trees our descendents can follow their dreams to restore history to the greatness it once was.

It could be bigger than disney or just plop an aircraft carrier ontop of parliament hill, people would love it.

Nothing says Capital like an aircraft carrier.. and with rising sea levels it could be used as an arc it could be called the CNS Noah totally forward looking and prepared for the worst be it rising sea levels, tsunamis or war in the middle east.

Edited November 1, 2012 by login

[guyser]

The cost is rediculous, I agree, however that is because of the structures themselves.

Money well spent? Perhaps, perhaps not.

Contractor overruns....most definitely , oversight by someone in charge..?...probably not close enough.

They are worth re-doing though, we cannot just ditch them and start new

[PIK]

The cost is rediculous, I agree, however that is because of the structures themselves.

Money well spent? Perhaps, perhaps not.

Contractor overruns....most definitely , oversight by someone in charge..?...probably not close enough.

They are worth re-doing though, we cannot just ditch them and start new

Must be some quebec constrution companies involved.LOL

[g_bambino]

I was originally taken aback by the total estimate for the renovation of a number of buildings in the parlaimentary precinct. However, comparing it to the cost of buildings I've worked on over the past few years, I now no longer think a billion is that far out of whack for the West Block, given the scope of the project and the type of building it is. Retrofitting a 150+ year old building, heavy masonry and timber structure to meet seismic reqiurements, removing asbestos, installing new HVAC systems and ducts and IT infrastructre behind heratige plaster and woodwork, moving staff and furniture out of there to somewhere else and back again (plus the rent to be paid for the other location for the duration of the construction), the unkowns that can't be determined until drywall is pulled down or floor boards pulled up, and so on. Plus, there is the simple fact that hard-to-come-by specialists in hand-crafted masonry, woodworking, carving, plastering, stained glass, brasswork, wrought iron, slate tiling, mosaics, etc., etc. will need to be employed at a premium. Also not mentioned in the article is the fact that the centre courtyard of the West Block is being roofed over with a glass and steel structure and the space fitted out as a new House of Commons, replete with all the technology and associated spaces and services required for that, all installed in a temporary manner that can be removed without leaving permanent damage to any part of the West Block when the renovations to the House of Commons in the Centre Block are complete.

It's always more expensive to do a full renovateion than it is to tear down and build new. However, in some cases, the value is greater than the cost. That's not to say, though, that costs should be let to run out of control.

[eyeball]

Well, speaking for myself I don't think the value we've gotten from Parliament justifies the cost of the digs we put it up in.

If the place has as much merit as some people think, perhaps they should volunteer to pick up the tab.

[Mighty AC]

I volunteer some of my tax dollars...and some of yours.

[g_bambino]

Well, speaking for myself I don't think the value we've gotten from Parliament justifies the cost of the digs we put it up in.

Good thing that's not the sole means by which the value of a building is judged, then.

[ed.: -]

Edited November 6, 2012 by g_bambino