Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Guelph was recognized with three Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) awards in May, including two for Project of the Year.
The awards promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects in five categories and recognize the collaboration between the managing agency/municipality, the consultant/architect/engineer, and the contractor who work together to complete public works projects.
Guelph was recognized for:
- The Niska Road bridge for Project of the Year in the Transportation – $2-$10 Million category
- Locomotive 6167 relocation for Project of the Year in the Historical Restoration/Preservation – less than $2 million category
- Waterworks Heritage in the Historical Restoration/Preservation – $2-$10 million category
“I want to congratulate all the staff, volunteers, community members, consultants and contractors who worked together to deliver these exceptional projects,” says Jayne Holmes, deputy chief administrative officer of Infrastructure, Development, and Enterprise. “We are honoured to be recognized for working together on creative solutions that protect and preserve Guelph’s unique history and cultural heritage.”
Niska Road Bridge
The original bridge crossing the Speed River collapsed in 1974 and was replaced with a Bailey bridge loaned from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, as a temporary connection.
Wood and steel constructed Bailey bridges were originally created for military use and were light weight and easy to assemble in different configurations on the World War 2 battlefield. Each piece, known as a Bailey panel, could then be taken apart and moved elsewhere. At the end of the war, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation collected old panels for municipalities to use.
By 2017, the Bailey bridge’s condition had deteriorated and the new bridge was designed to be compatible with the cultural heritage landscape, incorporates architectural elements of the Bailey bridge, and maintains the landscape views the Bailey bridge afforded.
Waterworks Heritage
This project won the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation earlier this year.
Completed in 1879, the Guelph Waterworks Pumping Station Engine House at 29 Waterworks Place was intended to provide water for fire protection. During construction the purpose expanded to provide water for residential use. The building had most recently been used for storage purposes and had fallen into disrepair.
Conservation efforts focused on preserving elements of the Italianate architectural style and restoring the scale and grandeur of the space by removing a mezzanine level added in the 1970s to expose the cathedral ceilings. The conservation and adaptive reuse of the building now provides vibrant and fully accessible administrative space for staff.