The newly empty site of the future MTS Centre has created a vast open space in downtown Winnipeg not seen for more than a century although it is only a temporary vista. The remaining clean-up from the demolition of the former Eaton’s building and the early pre-foundation work for the entertainment centre happening right now give little indication of the rapid escalation of building activity that is about to start.
The removal of the concrete basement slab of the Eaton’s complex is almost complete. The shoring and piling on the perimeter of the area to ensure that there is no damage to the surrounding city streets during construction is now in place. The excavation of the earth to a depth of nineteen feet below street level continues. The first 15 of 221 caissons for the foundation have been drilled.
As the final rubble is removed from the basement area, temporary ramps made of earth from the excavation will be built along the Donald Street side of the site to allow construction vehicles to enter and leave the excavated area.
Habitat For Humanity reports that it has now sold all 1050 red bricks salvaged from the Eaton’s building with a further waiting list of over 200 individuals still hoping to purchase a brick. True North, PCL Constructors and MacColman Demolition donated the souvenir bricks to Habitat. Each one was affixed with a metal plaque to authenticate its origin and sold for $10.00. Proceeds from the sale of the red bricks help to fund Habitat’s mission to develop safe affordable communities for people in need by building and renovating houses.
Photographs of the continuing demolition and construction activity can be found on the True North website (www.truenorthproject.mb.ca). The Shaw Cable camera (Channel 11) looks south at the Portage Avenue view of the project while the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation has positioned a web cam (http://www.mpi.mb.ca/cam/cam.html) to document the activity from the Graham Street perspective-looking north.
[MTS Centre Construction Demolition Archive]
