Rumour has it that federal Minister of Environment Jim Prentice is planning a visit to the site of Calgary’s new TELUS World of Science. What will he find when he arrives?

A phoenix, rising from the ashes.

The site of the new TELUS World of Science has seen many industrial uses over the last century or two, and by the time we got a hold of it, it was a brownfield site in need of some TLC.  It was perfect. We remediated the soil and started to build, and now we’ve got the concrete-and-steel skeleton of the structure up. Perhaps you have seen it when you drive Deerfoot Trail?

Over the last few months, it was concrete. Because the ground is so soft, we couldn’t use a typical foundation, so we put concrete into ground. each pile is 17 metres deep and rocketed into the bedrock. Then came the vertical concrete, which includes the stairwells, shearwalls, and elevator shafts that anchor the building and provide stability and rigidity.

Last week, we erected the huge steel trusses that will support our soaring over the main building. “This creates the clerestory that will bring lots of natural light into the Atrium and create a spectacular space,” says Harold Perin, vice-president of program and project management for Stantec and the project manager for the construction of the building. “Each truss is 30 feet high and longer than the atrium space. They are so big they needed to be assembled on-site and lifted into place using a 300-tonne crane. Triangle Steel did a superb job. The lifts went off without a hitch; everything lined up and was bolted into place.”

Minister Prentice will tour the construction site with TELUS World of Science – Calgary President & CEO Jennifer Martin, where they will sign a steel beam that will be placed at the highest point of the building. The tour marks the first anniversary of the ground-breaking of the project.

Phoenix Rising, By the Numbers:

• 1,471,309 pounds of structural steel
• 2,172 drafting hours
• 6,802 manufacturing hours
• 5,698 installation hours