Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1101469
A PR IL 2019 | 21 Structural Steel PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY WALTERS GROUP It could be argued that in terms of prestige, few projects will beat the historic West Block reha- bilitation project in Ottawa. Walters Inc. supplied, fabricated, painted, and installed the steel "trees" and "branches" that support a cloud-like roof struc- ture over the new House of Commons. The cloud structure consists of a complex array of vertical bracing and beams supported from the branch tips, creating a type of 3D space framing, where the load paths are not apparent. As the new year unfolds, Ruby Bowry, marketing manager for Walters, says 2019 "is very busy for us, and we're heavily involved in several significant proj- ects, including 81 Bay." Bowry is referring to the first phase of the three- million square feet CIBC Square complex. Walters' involvement in this project includes the main tower, podium, an overbuild (that will support a one-acre park), and a PATH bridge (Toronto's downtown pedestrian walkway) to the Scotiabank Arena. The overbuild development is divided into six phases and required the supply, detailing, engineering, fabri- cation, and erection of approximately 1,900 tons of structural steel and metal deck over Toronto's Union Station Rail Corridor. The overbuild primarily consists of over 100-plus large trusses and infill, which presents a challenge as some of the larger trusses need to be erected using a complex crane plan. Just-in-time deliveries are also a challenge, due to limited space for staging on-site. "Phases 1 to 3 were erected first and were entirely supported by 20, 30-foot columns followed by a crush wall that was poured between the tower and the rail corridor to support the south-end trusses of Phases 4 and 5, which ties into the first phase," says Jamie Hebb, project manager of the CIBC Square overbuild. "Phase 6 will be completed by late Spring 2019." Looking forward, Walters is also busy launch- ing Feature Walters, a new fully-integrated division. It is being marketed as a single source provider for custom fabrication and installation of mixed mate- rials projects, combining High Definition Building Information Modelling (HDBIM) with old-school craftsmanship. With a focus on feature stairs, public art, interior fit-outs, modular, and custom metal fab- rication, Feature Walters uses digital pre-fabrication to reduce field fitting and move projects from design to reality with pinpoint accuracy, while staying true to the architect's intent. A Construction of the PATH bridge to the Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON. bensonsteel.com 72 Commercial Road, Bolton Ontario L7E 2K4 Canada 905-857-0684 FM36732.indd 1 2019-03-26 8:49 AM