NEWSWAVE MARCH 2010: With the great weather we have experienced this winter, construction on The Current is well underway. The underground parkade has now been completed and high efficiency R28 LOGIX system insulation has been installed. The structural steel beams and columns have also been installed and the first floor framing systems are now underway. With summer just around the corner, we just can’t wait to welcome you to The Current! Display suites will be available for viewing in mid June. Some suites will be ready for a late July-early August possession.

Q and A with Barry Hedgecock, Manager, Qualico Headwaters

Q: How are you attaching the parkade to the ground?
A: The entire structure for the building is anchoured to bedrock using a series of steel dowels drilled and epoxied into the exposed bedrock.

Q: Why is the whole building not conventional wood frame construction like you see in Winnipeg?
A: There are many differences from a construction and building materials standpoint that you will not see in a conventional wood frame building. We have chosen to use a large number of steel columns and beams to ensure the building is rigid. The steel columns also carry through the centre of the building mass to stiffen all of the floor systems. On top of our commercial grade 18” deep joists is a high strength 1 1/8″ OSB floor deck that ensures our floor systems remain extremely stiff. We felt that this wasn’t enough so we went the extra mile and used a special sound dampening membrane and we will then pour 1 1/4″ of gypcrete topping over the entire floor plate.

Q: Will the building be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified?
A: No, however, we have many LEED products and principles we are following. We wanted to ensure that the entire building was extremely energy efficient from the parkade to the attic. To accomplish this, we started with an R28 insulated concrete foundation system called LOGIX. The floor system uses an insulated rimboard from a company called EMERCOR. This is an area where many buildings fail energy tests as it is an onerous task to adequately seal the floor system for air leaks. The final piece of the puzzle is an amazingly strong and quiet R44 wall system from EMERCOR that allows the building to become truly energy efficient.

Q: Why are you using OSB and not plywood?
A: Today’s OSB (orientated strand board) is extremely durable and preferred in part due to its reduced environmental impact. OSB is made up of resins and fast growing trees that allow the manufacturer the luxury of not impacting old growth lumber stock. The engineered floor systems also use OSB as a main component in its manufacturing process. The myth of OSB being an inferior product is just that—a myth!

Q: When will The Headwaters suites be open for viewing and occupancy?
A: Display suites will be available for viewing in mid June while some suites will be ready for a late July-early August possession. The exterior of the building and landscaping will be completed by mid August.

Q: Why are your exterior walls being delivered pre-built and in long sections and not built on-site like other builders?
A: We believe that this system that some call “modular building” or “panelized construction” will eventually be the way homes, cottages, and multi-family projects are built in the future. This process allows us to reduce the environmental impact significantly, build faster, and build a stronger, higher quality building compared to standard wood frame construction.

Q: Are you using local Kenora trades and suppliers?
A: We are proud to say that several of our trades are local Kenora contractors. Currently our mechanical trade, electrical trade, surveyor, site supervisor and some of our site labourers are from Kenora. We are hoping that once the other buildings are ready for tender we will be able to hire more local trades and continue to increase our support of the Kenora economy.