Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/109465
photo courtesy IKEA IKEA Canada Winnipeg by Stefan Dubowski embers of the general public may think all IKEA avoided the obstacles with constant communication and crestores across Canada are the same. The home- ativity. Unusual soil conditions called for advanced foundation decor outlets sport identical blue and yellow metal exteriors. The stores offer similar shopping experiences, with work. Situated on former industrial land that was riddled model living rooms, dining rooms and workspaces arranged with construction waste, the building needed a strong yet to showcase the latest couches, tables and desks. They all have flexible foundation that would settle evenly as the soil compacted over time. cafeterias and large parking areas. ���We had areas of eight People involved in developing these stores, to 10 feet of fill,��� says David however, know each IKEA outlet is different ��� O���Sheehan, architect and especially since the buildings are situated in principal at ABBARCH . various cities across the country. Construction crews must contend with unique soil condi���Removing and replacing tions and weather patterns, as well as municithat would have been cost pal by-laws and traffic matters that call for prohibitive. So we worked location-specific solutions. with it.��� What���s more, IKEA is known for applying The construction team analyzed the soil to learn the very latest store-design concepts; it often how it would settle over warns companies building its outlets that changes to contracts ��� even with construction ��� Jeff McKay, the years. The soil was underway ��� are inevitable. senior project manager, compacted and a half���IKEA is a dynamic company, and with that PCL Constructors Canada Inc. metre of sand was laid for the foundation to sit on, to comes a strong desire to ensure that each help even out any settling. new store captures the current company The structure is designed such that the soil ��� consisting of vision,��� notes Brian Esplan, project manager at Pivotal Projects Inc., the project and construction manager for the new clay that may expand and contract over time ��� can shift the 400,000-square-foot Winnipeg store. ���On this project, that floor slab without disturbing the entire building, explains translated into a large number of changes, which put signifi- Aaron Korchinski, design engineer at Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., the structural engineering firm. ���The ground cant pressure on both schedule and budget.��� These are the challenges that companies involved in devel- beneath the store could swell or shrink. We had to accomoping the Winnipeg outlet faced. Yet the firms, including Piv- modate any change there.��� Soil conditions weren���t the only challenge. Timing was otal, ABBARCH Architecture Inc. and PCL Constructors Ltd., M ��� It was definitely pedal to the metal. The solution was detailed work sequencing and really close coordination with IKEA.��� IKEA Canada Winnipeg p94-97IKEA_Sanford.indd 95 tight, too. The team had just 14 months between the ground breaking and the handover. ���It was definitely pedal to the metal,��� says Jeff McKay, senior project manager at PCL . ���The solution was detailed work sequencing and really close coordination with IKEA .��� That meant phasing in the work, McKay explains. For example, while the base building was underway, the fit-out team undertook its tasks at the same time. ���At certain points we had IKEA retail in there doing its thing as well,��� McKay says. With so many teams working on various parts of the building at varying times, the project was complicated, but ���close communication and a lot of meetings made it work.��� This coordination enabled the construction team to incorporate the changes and improvements IKEA introduced as the store was developed. Working together, the firms also met IKEA���s exacting standards for environmental stewardship. A green-conscious retailer, the client required an energy-efficient heating and cooling system, plus additional measures that would reduce the store���s impact on the environment. ���We installed an advanced open-loop geo-exchange system that uses ground february 2013��� ��� /95 13-01-22 4:03 PM