Government of Canada Repairs Exterior Facade of Windsor Building

WINDSOR, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 8, 2015) - Public Works and Government Services Canada

Today the Government of Canada announced that it will rehabilitate the exterior facade of the building at 185 Ouellette Avenue in Windsor, Ontario, also known as the Paul Martin Building.

Following an engineering review of repair options, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) estimates that project costs will be $6 million.

Originally PWGSC officials estimated repair costs of $19 million for the facade; however, during the process of examining options for rehabilitation, they developed an equally effective methodology with a substantially reduced cost. They discovered that carrying out rehabilitation to the same structural and aesthetic standard, while preserving heritage aspects, was possible by replacing spackled stone panels in situ and resealing the stone joints with a flexible synthetic compound. This method will reduce the total rehabilitation cost by 70 per cent.

The project will entail replacing mortar between facade blocks, repairing the spalled limestone facade and addressing the steel brackets that support the stone facade. Following industry and stakeholder consultations, it has become clear that these repairs will be necessary to help facilitate the divestiture of the building.

PWGSC continues to consult on the divestiture of the building. The Government has been clear that any potential future divestiture will not move federal employees out of the downtown core. The City of Windsor will continue to benefit from a strong federal downtown presence.

Quick Facts

• The tender for the project is expected to be posted in September 2015, with construction completed in summer 2016.
• Upon completion of construction, the existing hoarding and protective mesh are anticipated to be removed.
• The Paul Martin Building is a five-storey art deco office building in downtown Windsor, Ontario.

Quotes

"I would like to thank Member of Parliament Jeff Watson for being a tireless advocate for his community. We are pleased to move forward with this facade rehabilitation."

The Honourable Diane Finley - Minister of Public Works and Government Services

"I am proud to announce this investment, which recognizes the building's historical significance within the community."

Jeff Watson - Member of Parliament for Essex

PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site.

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