Main Street Project – Emergency Shelter
Main Street Project – Emergency Shelter
The transformation of the former Mitchell Fabrics building on Main Street was originally conceived to be a holistic homeless health centre comprised of shelter space, medical support services, counseling and community gathering space. The project took a sudden pivot with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – there was an urgent need for increased shelter space that would accommodate physical distancing.
Bockstael worked closely with Main Street Project to develop a rapid scope of work and budget to reimagine the space as an emergency shelter and submit to the federal government for funding. Within 3 weeks, government funding approval was obtained, a permitting strategy was put in place with the City of Winnipeg, and sketch plans were developed on a design-build basis such that work could begin.
As construction began, the plans developed further, and the team remained agile as the scope of work altered to remain current with evolving knowledge of COVID-19 and the longer duration of the pandemic. With all work conducted on a transparent time and material basis, the complete $2.5M scope of work was delivered from concept to substantial completion in 21 weeks.
