[adam]

The current recession is hurting the poor the most. The rich will stay afloat and keep accumulating wealth. In the US, the Federal Reserve company just bought one of the largest mortgage companies... so now they own properties on top all the monye supply, etc.

[raisethehammer]

the next step, one of these years is when the US government goes bankrupt. That'll be fun.

[LikeHamilton]

Back on topic!


Innovation Park gets first major tenant

BY WADE HEMSWORTH, The Spec, 20 September 2008

The windows aren’t all in yet, and already the main building at McMaster Innovation Park has its first major private tenant.

Trivaris — a company that puts ideas and money together to create new companies and social ventures— is moving to Hamilton from Burlington and taking over the entire top floor of the industrial space now under renovation on Longwood Road South.

Company president Mark Chamberlain signed the lease late yesterday, and the company plans to move 50 personnel into 23,000 square feet of space as soon as it is ready for occupancy, likely by March. Over the last three years, Trivaris has been behind nine startups and three social ventures.

The innovation park is to take shape over 10 to 15 years on a occupied by Camco’s appliance factory. McMaster bought the property in 2005 and its plans include 14 lowrise buildings housing as many as 3,000 employees in an airy, campus style setting.

The park’s mission is to build university, government and private partnerships that turn research into commercial products and services.

Chamberlain said that mission fits perfectly with his company’s, as both work to help Hamilton shift to a knowledge economy. “Ideas are the new raw material, and we couldn’t imagine being in a better place than the McMaster Innovation Park,” he said. “This park is critical for our region, and it will become a lightning rod.”

whemsworth@thespec.com
905-526-3254

[markbarbera]

The Innovation Park is definitely going to positively impact Hamilton in a big way. News of the first tenants moving in is great, but they are still a few months off from occupancy. Is it my imagination or has the renovation taken longer than anticipated?

[SteelTown]

In overdrive
Tenants moving in, signing up at McMaster Innovation Park

September 20, 2008
Wade Hemsworth
The Hamilton Spectator

The headquarters building at McMaster Innovation Park is thumping.

While the first tenants are already working in the renovated offices at the front of the red-brick building on Longwood Road South, construction workers are busy in the 90,000-square-foot space at the rear of the building, knocking a big rectangle out of the middle of the heavy concrete floors directly below the massive new skylight in the roof.

That rectangle is becoming an atrium, which is the key to transforming four storeys of dark industrial space into a bright, modern complex of government, university and private laboratories and offices where ideas and commerce can meet and grow across interior balconies and in the public space below.

Within the next three weeks, says innovation park president Zach Douglas, the exterior of the former Camco building will be fully enclosed, with interior construction wrapping up by February.

Yesterday, Burlington's Trivaris -- a company specializing in commercializing ideas -- signed the lease for the entire top floor of the new space.

By the end of 2009, Douglas said, the entire headquarters building, known as MIP-1, should be 90 per cent occupied, completing the first major stage of a 10- to 15-year development plan for the research park.

He said interest among prospective tenants has picked up considerably since the arrival of the building's first tenants, the United Nations University's International Network on Water, Environment and Health in April.

While work continues on the $17.5-million renovation at MIP-1, plans continue to take shape for a new hotel next door, alongside Highway 403, where Concord Hospitality Enterprises plans a 130-room long-stay hotel that will target visitors to the park.

Douglas said he expects construction there to start by June.

The research park is an arm's-length venture by McMaster to stimulate research and economic growth by creating partnerships between government, private and university sources.

The university bought the former Camco appliance plant site in 2005, planning a major brownfield redevelopment with low buildings that meet high environmental standards and integrate with the broader community.

The park is projected to extend eventually to Aberdeen Avenue along both sides of Longwood, with as many as 14 buildings, housing up to 3,000 employees in 1.7 million square feet of space.

The first of those new buildings is the new headquarters of the CANMET materials technology laboratory, a federal research facility for metals and materials fabrication, processing and evaluation, where about 100 researchers are expected to work.

The 155,000-square-foot, $60-million keystone project is to get under way when shovels go into the ground in November.

This week, a contingent of CANMET employees visited Hamilton to tour the city and take part in orientation meetings as they prepare for the lab's move from Ottawa. The new lab is expected to be complete by the summer of 2010.

[raisethehammer]

awesome news. couldn't have come at a better time too, with all the crap going on with Trinity.
THIS is why we need every square inch of land over there to be used properly...it has the potential to transform our economy. It would be one of Hamilton's greatest mistakes to allow a huge hunk of land in this area to be wasted on a big parking lot and some garbage box stores.

[DC83]

The Innovation Park is definitely going to positively impact Hamilton in a big way. News of the first tenants moving in is great, but they are still a few months off from occupancy. Is it my imagination or has the renovation taken longer than anticipated?

I think it's on track. In 3 years,they have torn down all the warehouse buildings, gutted the Camco H.O., and installed a giant skylight. This bldg, according to the article, should be done soon.

Great news! I especially love the 'lightning rod' comment. It's evident in that two companies (well 1 lab & 1 company) are moving to Hamilton for once instead of OUT of Hamilton.

This week, a contingent of CANMET employees visited Hamilton to tour the city and take part in orientation meetings as they prepare for the lab's move from Ottawa. The new lab is expected to be complete by the summer of 2010.

^^ Also great news! Can't wait to see this park transform! Hopefully they're connected to LRT somehow!

[markbarbera]

One of the reasons why the B-Line has been diverted along Main is to serve this area via the Main and Longwood stop

[SteelTown]

Does the city plan on fixing that Longwood bridge? I can't see where they'll add bicycle lanes when the sidewalk is tight enough, there's only one sidewalk on the west side of the bridge.

[raisethehammer]

One of the reasons why the B-Line has been diverted along Main is to serve this area via the Main and Longwood stop

let's just hope they add a westbound stop at Longwood at some point. Right now it's only eastbound.
Also, let's hope they put LRT onto the Mac campus like every other normal city on the planet.

[markbarbera]

B-Line has a stop at Main West and Longwood both both eastbound and westbound runs. It has been like this since the route was reconfigured to run along Main West. Eastbound is stop #1321 , westbound is stop #1193.

Main street is close enough for LRT service to McMaster. After all, Main West runs along the southern side of the campus. The tracks certainly don't need to cross through the campus. UofT does not have rapid transit intersecting its campus and they seem to be fine with that.

[adam]

By taking transit services off campus, students can no longer go downtown between classes. It takes 20 minutes to walk to Main St. from main campus and 20 mins. to walk back. 40 minutes of walking just to get to the bus? Sounds like they are trying to force students to spend money on campus between classes. I am sure prices in the cafeteria will go up if they haven't already.

[flar]

By taking transit services off campus, students can no longer go downtown between classes. It takes 20 minutes to walk to Main St. from main campus and 20 mins. to walk back. 40 minutes of walking just to get to the bus? Sounds like they are trying to force students to spend money on campus between classes. I am sure prices in the cafeteria will go up if they haven't already.

hmm...

[raisethehammer]

B-Line has a stop at Main West and Longwood both both eastbound and westbound runs. It has been like this since the route was reconfigured to run along Main West. Eastbound is stop #1321 , westbound is stop #1193.

Main street is close enough for LRT service to McMaster. After all, Main West runs along the southern side of the campus. The tracks certainly don't need to cross through the campus. UofT does not have rapid transit intersecting its campus and they seem to be fine with that.

I was at Main/Longwood the other day and couldn't find the westbound stop. I'll have to look again.
U of T isn't an isolated suburban-style business park removed from the city. They have a subway running along University Ave and streetcar lines along College/Queen/Spadina etc.... It's a proper urban university.
Mac needs LRT to run through campus, not on bloody Main St away from all the students. Easiest route would probably be to have it run up the street just east of campus (Forsythe??), cut it westbound through the little pedestrian plaza beside the student centre and then southbound right up the centre of campus to Main St/front entrance. it would only need 2 stops - Student Centre and central campus north of the hospital.
It's easy enough, but we'll see if the city will stand up to these thugs running the show over there.

[drpgq]

As an engineering alumnus, I'm cool with service on Main. When I was a grad student in the old CRL building, after the beeline was done running for the day, grabbing a bus on main meant a way shorter trip downtown.

[adam]

The CRL building was next to Main St though - far away from main campus. I did my thesis under Haykin... is the CRL building still there?

[markbarbera]

Sorry I disagree. B-Line LRT should be designed to serve the entire city, not just McMaster University. One stop at Mac for the rapid line is sufficient. Additional stops with winding routes down secondary streets like King (west of Paradise) or Sterling slows down the route, taking the 'R' out of LRT.

There are two other local bus routes that will continue along King to the Sterling entrance of Mac - the University and Delaware routes. Mac students that feel the walk from Main West to the northern part of the campus is too long for them can take those routes into campus.

[geoff's two cents]

The articulated 10 route now runs largely empty west of downtown because it is less convenient to take, while the non-articulated buses that make all stops and go through the campus are completely stuffed. The bus drivers seem to be more understanding than they used to be, to be sure - Most will let the entire front of the bus fill up with people standing. It's not safe, but I assume they know that otherwise, there simply wouldn't be enough room on the buses. Alternatively, it can be faster to walk downtown (I've done it several times, but, having just completed my term at Mac, I have more time than most, to say the least). Running giant, largely empty buses doesn't strike me as a wise expenditure of public dollars.

Last spring, I caught the 10 westbound every day from downtown - Almost every person on that bus from downtown to the campus was a student.

I agree that the system should not just cater to the university. Why can't the efficiency of the 10/LRT be increased by removing one of the Westdale stops on westbound trips, and even having no eastbound stop in Westdale at all?
The university is by far the most important stop on the B-line between downtown and Dundas (and, sorry, but with a student population larger than the city of Dundas, arguably more important), and should be better connected.

U of T has three subway stations accessing its campus (and streetcars as well, as raisethehammer points out), the Bee-line in Vancouver has been a staple of transportation to UBC for some time now (and the city is building a subway line to the university in the medium-term future), and McGill has two subway stops. What is particularly annoying about Hamilton is that the city (which is home to what is by many accounts Canada's fourth most important post-graduate university) seemed to have had their priorities largely in order in the first place - only then to change them drastically.

A well-planned transit system requires at least two things - that people make the commitment to switch from driving their cars to using public transit, and that the city make it convenient for these people. If the city and school is willing to do little to coax people out of their cars, this will not affect the committed few (like myself), but will surely discourage others from giving up their cars. This will likely have negative repercussions for the entire city.

I could partially understand if the city had plans to greatly densify the Main corridor west of the 403 - To abandon most of the university, however, as well as Westdale, in order to run the city's highly-anticipated LRT down a corridor of strip malls, car dealerships, parking lots, etc., with lower residential density and much less commercial activity south of that area, is simply not intuitive.

For most of the huge number of students and faculty who use the 10 to get to campus, the re-routing was a huge mistake. Given the conditions on campus in the winter (when the school is busiest), there will in effect be no "rapid transit" for those who work or study on the north side of McMaster at all (even for downtown-bound people from the hospital, apparently half the buses turn into the hospital itself, while the rest stop at Main and Emerson). Students like myself, who possess more than the average in the way of environmental conscience, will buck up and stand up on the enormously over-crowded buses downtown. What about the people who can afford to drive to campus, and have taken transit up to this time out of convenience?

The 10 is one thing - that can be changed (and I really hope they do change it). If the city/school botches the LRT, however, that isn't something that can be fixed overnight. If the LRT is not successful in convincing the otherwise reluctant that transit is a convenient way to get around the city, it will still be enormously expensive, still be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the city, but would in many important respects fail. Passenger revenue would be less on the Main route as well, making the LRT harder to keep up - This route makes little economic sense.

I still keep in touch with an old professor of mine in Vancouver. When I mentioned I chose Mac for a grad school, his response was that he thought Hamilton, by virtue of having a huge blue-collar, steel and manufacturing population, and a large cohort of white-collar healthcare and university types, would be an interesting city. My experience in Hamilton has been generally positive, particularly downtown. I have noticed quite a difference, however, between the eastern and western portions of the city. It has been quite common to hear from people who live in Westdale and environs that downtown Hamilton is dirty, dangerous, depressing, etc. On the other hand, to judge from some conversations I've had in the central and eastern part of the city, many people in downtown and environs don't realize how renowned their home-town university is. A typical response is "Couldn't you have studied that in Vancouver?".

The point of this is that it does not make any sense from the perspective of transit efficiency to not simply run the 10/LRT along its previous route, and to merely limit the number of stops it makes in Westdale (to keep students from riding rapid transit when they could just walk for five minutes). This would ensure better service for Dundas and other non-Mac residents over what it was before.

This re-routing makes perfect sense, however, from a political perspective. While I'm sure there are exceptions, based on what I've seen in this city, it is to be expected that the city (and its electorate east of, say, Bay St.), when planning the LRT route, would downgrade the importance of the university, while the university would probably see fit to ignore anybody east of Locke (perhaps even Longwood).

With the federal election just around the corner, perhaps people are thinking more politically than usual? :shrug:

It's a real shame, because a poorly-designed route could have the potential to derail (sorry!) the LRT funding entirely.

[geoff's two cents]

I wouldn't be offended if the mod moved my previous post for not even mentioning Innovation Park.

There was a map on this site or raisethehammer.org at some point in the last eight months that showed an LRT route branching from the A-line at Longwood and going east on Aberdeen (and presumably cycling through downtown again). Anybody know what I'm talking about, or where that map might be?

If anybody is concerned here about LRT's ability to service Innovation Park, I think this would be a good way to do so - Given that there is currently only one building functioning on site, this line could be done at a later date if need be.

[raisethehammer]

nobody is suggesting that LRT exclusively serve campus. But it needs to serve campus PROPERLY. University students are going to be huge riders of LRT (assuming it comes anywhere near them).
It can stay on Main, but come up into the middle of campus to properly serve the campus.

[flar]

The B-Line is currently a waste west of downtown. It doesn't properly service the most important areas for transit, which are McMaster and Dundas. It only serves McMaster if you're going to the Hospital--trust me, the walk from Main to the back of campus (everything except engineering and hospital) is prohibitive. It also doesn't serve Dundas. University Plaza is not a good spot for the terminus, it's barely used. There are many bus riders in Dundas (and could be many more) if the B Line went to the busiest transit stop in Dundas--at Ogilvie and Governeror's. If the B Line went to Ogilvie and Governors and through the University, its ridership would probably more than quadruple.

[adam]

If you don't care about the social aspect, then consider it in a cold strictly economical sense... ignoring 20,000 individuals with money to spend is just plain stupid.

[markbarbera]

nobody is suggesting that LRT exclusively serve campus. But it needs to serve campus PROPERLY. University students are going to be huge riders of LRT (assuming it comes anywhere near them).
It can stay on Main, but come up into the middle of campus to properly serve the campus.

Ok one last post here on this because we are once again way off topic and Mac Innovation Centre is getting lost in this side discussion...

When the LRT is constructed it simply cannot intersect the campus because the campus is private property. It is one thing for Mac to give approval for a city bus to use their private roads on campus. It is a completely different thing to expect the university to cede a swath of property to the city to accomodate the LRT's lines of track.

[markbarbera]

If you don't care about the social aspect, then consider it in a cold strictly economical sense... ignoring 20,000 individuals with money to spend is just plain stupid.

But they are not being ignored. Service is not being eliminated, just redirected. And, as pointed out, the University and Delaware buses continue to serve the university.

and from an economic point of view, I'd have to ask myself this: When investing significant capital on a new endeavor, will my target market be designed to cater to an existing market of significantly discounted fare structure, or will I try to open up the market to attract a demographic that will be paying full fare?

[drpgq]

The CRL building was next to Main St though - far away from main campus. I did my thesis under Haykin... is the CRL building still there?

I think the CRL building has been kind of debranded from what it was in the past, which is a shame considering all the signal processing types are still in the department. There's still some ECE in the building last I checked over a year ago (including Haykin's office), but they've moved some other stuff in (Eng Phys?).

[BCTed]

I was at Main/Longwood the other day and couldn't find the westbound stop. I'll have to look again.
U of T isn't an isolated suburban-style business park removed from the city. They have a subway running along University Ave and streetcar lines along College/Queen/Spadina etc.... It's a proper urban university.


I don't think that taking buses out of the campus is a very good idea, but I do very much like the way that McMaster is set up as its own self-contained world.

[BCTed]

But they are not being ignored. Service is not being eliminated, just redirected. And, as pointed out, the University and Delaware buses continue to serve the university.

and from an economic point of view, I'd have to ask myself this: When investing significant capital on a new endeavor, will my target market be designed to cater to an existing market of significantly discounted fare structure, or will I try to open up the market to attract a demographic that will be paying full fare?

I don't know that McMaster is of that discounted a fare structure. Students who make use of the HSR certainly pay much less than they would otherwise, but I believe that all undergrads pay for HSR service, whether they use it or not. I imagine that it adds up to a pretty big chunk of change.

[highwater]

I don't think that taking buses out of the campus is a very good idea, but I do very much like the way that McMaster is set up as its own self-contained world.

They behave as though they're a self-contained world, but of course they're not. No university is an island. They've simply downloaded their housing, policing, traffic, trucking, and parking problems onto the community. Must be nice running a large institution without having to worry about the consequences of your planning decisions.

[adam]

But they are not being ignored. Service is not being eliminated, just redirected. And, as pointed out, the University and Delaware buses continue to serve the university.

and from an economic point of view, I'd have to ask myself this: When investing significant capital on a new endeavor, will my target market be designed to cater to an existing market of significantly discounted fare structure, or will I try to open up the market to attract a demographic that will be paying full fare?

I agree with you, expanding service is great... BUT why take away service from a large demographic that spends money like its going out of style? .. even if its OSAP or parents' funds .. the city should be trying to get this demographic downtown, and the reduced fare is just one way to encourage it.

[raisethehammer]

every single student pays the discounted fare rate. And I can promise you that all 20,000 aren't using the HSR.
Of course with convenient, on-campus LRT, their fare rate would likely go up.
And yes, students are one of the most common demographic groups on any subway/light rail system that I've ever ridden. It's a no-brainer to run LRT onto campus.

[markbarbera]

This is becoming too circular an argument, but I'll try to make my point one last time. The city would not construct LRT traversing into Mac campus because the campus is private property. They will however construct a line abutting the campus. This is keeping with the manner in which private campuses are treated practically everywhere else. And, quite frankly, is more than sufficient an arrangement for serving the demographics of McMaster University. Service is not being taken away from the campus, it is simply being provided in a different manner. Those wishing the express line can catch it at Main West. Those who don't want to do the ten minute walk to Main West can catch the local University bus service to downtown. Or take the University westbound from the Sterling stop to Main and Emerson, then transfer onto the LRT there.

[flar]

All buses are being routed off campus in the next few years. McMaster is a daily destination for nearly 30,000 people. The fare structure is something for HSR's accountants to worry about, since the HSR's priority is transit service, not profit. Realistically, there are potential new riders west of McMaster, but that is a tiny pool compared to existing users and potential new users connected to Mac. After downtown, it's the largest destination for transit users by a wide margin. Mac, Dundas, and the medium density area on Main West where it turns toward Ancaster are the major centres of transit use west of downtown. As the largest of those, McMaster will be a major factor as to whether LRT is a success.

[geoff's two cents]

This is becoming too circular an argument, but I'll try to make my point one last time. The city would not construct LRT traversing into Mac campus because the campus is private property. They will however construct a line abutting the campus. This is keeping with the manner in which private campuses are treated practically everywhere else.

There's no arguing with this, I'm afraid, but I think what most of the people on this forum would like to see is some cooperation between the city and the school.

And, quite frankly, is more than sufficient an arrangement for serving the demographics of McMaster University. Service is not being taken away from the campus, it is simply being provided in a different manner. Those wishing the express line can catch it at main West. Those who don't want to do the ten minute walk to Main West can catch the local University bus service to downtown.

I wholeheartedly disagree with this. See my discussion of these issues at length above, in which I explain why the campus is being served less efficiently by the new route. I forgot to add in that section that, in addition to serving a student population higher than the city of Dundas, there are commuting faculty and staff to be considered.

I partially agree with what you say above regarding reaching a new demographic of transit riders on Main and south of Main. If the city had plans to re-zone and densify this corridor, thus making it a more transit-oriented community, this might make some sense. Otherwise, it does not. The city would run the risk of losing some substantial Westdale-to-downtown and downtown-to-campus ridership, in order to achieve the meagre gains of running rapid transit down what is by comparison a sparsely-populated and car-oriented corridor.

[markbarbera]

The city would run the risk of losing some substantial Westdale-to-downtown and downtown-to-campus ridership, in order to achieve the meagre gains of running rapid transit down what is by comparison a sparsely-populated and car-oriented corridor.

But that's the thing, they won't be losing this ridership. Rather, this ridership will be served by either the B-Line to the southern end of the campus, or by the local service to the northern end of the campus.A trip on the B-line from downtown to Mac takes 10 minutes. On the University bus, the same trip takes 14 minutes. Not a big deal at all. And those who wish to take the B-line to Mac from futher afield can always get off at Main and Emerson and transfer onto the eastbound University bus, which will drop them off at the Sterling Street entrance to the campus.

[SteelTown]

Direct all other LRT discussion here --> Rapid Transit (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=149161&page=25)

[SteelTown]

Not sure if this is the Camco building.

http://media.hamiltonspectator.com/images/0e/47/255059444dbdb2c9a86e6e343238.jpeg

[raisethehammer]

yup, it definitely appears to be, although it only looks like it's 2 floors, unless that's just the top atrium area. I thought that atrium section would run through the entire height of the building.

[SteelTown]

Now that the federal election is over you'll likely see a opening ground ceremony with shovels for CANMET soon.

[SteelTown]

Excavation begins any day now for CANMET.

[crhayes]

Excavation begins any day now for CANMET.

Awesome....every time I drive down to Mac I take Longwood just to see if it has started lol...I have been waiting a looong time.

MIP is going to be beautiful when all is said and done.

[markbarbera]

Not sure if this is the Camco building.

http://media.hamiltonspectator.com/images/0e/47/255059444dbdb2c9a86e6e343238.jpeg

Where did you find that photo? Looks more like the new HHS IT office...

[raisethehammer]

according to the caption that ran under it in the Spec, it is camco.

[crhayes]

Any news on groundbreaking for CAMNET?

[SteelTown]

Should be any day now. I have a letter from Peter George this week and he states....

".....CANMET's Materials Technology Laboratory to the McMaster Innovation Park; groundbreaking for the new MTL is anticipated this November."

[crhayes]

Should be any day now. I have a letter from Peter George this week and he states....

".....CANMET's Materials Technology Laboratory to the McMaster Innovation Park; groundbreaking for the new MTL is anticipated this November."

Man! MIP is going to look amazing when it's done... I can't wait :)

[SteelTown]

Innovation Park slow go (http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/473715)
Federal lab building proceeding, but hotel on hold

November 28, 2008
Wade Hemsworth
The Hamilton Spectator

It's two steps forward and one step back at McMaster Innovation Park.

Excavation for the $60-million federal laboratory next door to the research park's headquarters is expected to start in the next three weeks, and renovation work on the interior of the main building itself is about three-quarters done, with a major tenant preparing to move in.

Trivaris, which puts ideas and money together to create new businesses, is to move from Burlington in February. By then, the $17.5-million renovation of the former Camco headquarters building is expected to be complete, including a four-storey atrium cut through the thick concrete floors, illuminated by a skylight spanning much of the roof.

But plans for a hotel on the north side of the headquarters are on hold, based on the uncertain economy and a delay in environmental clearance for the former industrial site next to Highway 403.

Tenders close Tuesday for the excavation contract that will start the CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory project.

A contractor is expected to be selected by week's end, which will likely mean shovels in the ground within two weeks of that date, said Zach Douglas, president of McMaster Innovation Park.

The federal materials laboratory, which is relocating from Ottawa, is expected to be ready for occupancy by summer of 2010, when it will become home to about 100 researchers.

That's about the same time that a 130-room hotel was expected to open at the north side of the former Camco property.

That project was originally expected to be under way by next June, but is now some time off, Douglas said yesterday.

"It's a bit disappointing, but we're still very confident that it will proceed," he said. "It's just going to take a little longer to get it moving than we thought."

Douglas said he expects the delay to be a matter of months, though he could not be more specific.

The hotel site has yet to receive clearance for building from the Ministry of the Environment, Douglas said, describing the delay as a "process issue." While some remediation at the brownfield site is required, there is no major work to do, Douglas said.

Neither Hamilton hotelier Oscar Kichi nor Concord Hospitality Enterprises, partners in the hotel project, were available for comment yesterday.

Over the next 15 years, McMaster Innovation Park is expected to become a blend of academic, private and public tenants working in partnerships to turn research into commercial products and services. As many as 14 low-rise buildings are planned for the former Camco property on Longwood Road, between 403 and Aberdeen Avenue.

whemsworth@thespec.com

[SteelTown]

Tents are up at Innovation Park so the shovel ceremony should be happening tomorrow or early next week.

[crhayes]

Sweeeeet, just a little bit behind schedule :P

[SteelTown]

Raitt to signal start of work on materials lab

December 05, 2008
Wade Hemsworth
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/477291

A truly groundbreaking event is scheduled for 1 p.m. today when federal Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt puts a ceremonial shovel in the ground signalling the start of work on a new federal materials laboratory at McMaster Innovation Park.

The CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory, now located in Ottawa, is scheduled to move to the new Hamilton facility in 2010. About 100 researchers will work in the $60-million facility, which is expected to be a keystone for the park on Longwood Road South.

The interior and exterior designs for the building are expected to be revealed at the ceremony. The laboratory will be immediately south of the innovation park's headquarters, formerly part of an industrial complex belonging to appliance-maker Camco.

McMaster bought the sprawling property in 2005, and plans as many as 14 buildings where up to 3,000 people would work in collaboration between academic, government and private partners.

[SteelTown]

Natural Resources Canada : Minister Raitt Unveils Design of Government of Canada Research Lab in Hamilton

HAMILTON, ONTARIO, Dec 05, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, today unveiled the design and broke ground for the new building that will house the CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL), which is moving to McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton from Ottawa in 2010.

"Our Government is positioning CANMET-MTL to play a greater role in fostering research and innovation in Canada's industrial sector, particularly in our automotive and manufacturing industries," said Minister Raitt. "Innovation is the lifeblood of our manufacturing sector, essential to Canada's global competitiveness and the key to creating and maintaining high-quality jobs."

CANMET-MTL is Canada's leading research centre dedicated to structural metals and alloys, materials design, pilot-scale processing and performance evaluation. Scientific and technical staff are involved in research and development to provide materials solutions for Canadian industry in the energy, transportation and metals-manufacturing sectors.

Demonstrating the Government of Canada's commitment to energy efficiency, energy experts from Natural Resources Canada's CanmetENERGY were involved in the design of the new building, which will qualify for the Canada Green Building Council's Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) certification.

"We recognize that advances in science and technology are essential to strengthening the competitiveness of Canada's economy. By partnering with McMaster University, we're creating a world-class research facility that will draw on our country's best scientific and technological know-how to create innovative new technologies and industrial solutions," said Minister Raitt.

Minister Raitt was joined at today's announcement by Peter George, President of McMaster University. "CANMET is the jewel of McMaster Innovation Park," said Mr. George. "It holds boundless opportunities for growth and collaboration. We are also delighted with the design's LEED designation because McMaster is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility."

Announced in 2005, the CANMET-MTL relocation project reflects the strategic importance of the Canadian manufacturing sector and the challenging financial conditions and global competition it faces. Construction will begin this winter, and staff relocation will start in the summer of 2010.

The move will deepen Canada's technological capacity in the critical areas of new-materials research and help to create a world-leading materials innovation cluster to the benefit of Canada's manufacturing base.

[SteelTown]

http://www.900chml.com/Pics/mac.JPG

[flar]

Not bad looking, we knew it would be lowrise and I'm certainly glad they're not wasting space on a big front lawn. I drove by the site today and saw the dignitaries and what not standing around in the cold.

[matt602]

Looks good :)

[crhayes]

TBH I like the old design better, but this one is pretty nice so it will do lol.

[SteelTown]

CANMET lab sparks hope for Hamilton

December 05, 2008
Wade Hemsworth
The Hamilton Spectator

HAMILTON — A bitter wind scoured the field of rubble and frozen puddles where a factory used to stand.

But there was evidence of positive change today. A groundbreaking ceremony for a new federal research laboratory at McMaster Innovation Park — once the site of a Camco appliance factory — represented meaningful action in the long and often painful transformation of Hamilton’s economic base.

“Especially now, with the downturn in the economy, to have new construction and new employees coming is critically important,” said Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

The $60-million CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory — including an estimated $46 million in construction costs — is to be built to modern environmental standards, including extensive solar panels and radiant floor heating.

McMaster Innovation Park will own the building and lease it to the federal government. Full excavation is to start in the next few weeks, with construction to begin in March.

The laboratory will dominate the corner of Longwood Road South and Frid Street, once Frid is extended to Longwood. Starting in mid-2010, more than 100 scientists and technicians are to work there, developing new materials for uses ranging from cars to pipelines.

The CANMET laboratory — established during the Second World War for metals research — is moving from Ottawa to what federal Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt described today as a natural home in Hamilton.

“It builds on what Hamilton knows,” she said. “It knows steel. It knows metal. It knows how to work with them.”

The lab’s presence at McMaster Innovation Park is expected to act as a magnet for other private, government and academic partners involved in research, and to spur partnerships with the university itself, less than two kilometres away.

“Together we will provide the country, perhaps the world, with the best-educated, highly skilled workforce with a focus on industrially relevant research,” said McMaster president Peter George.

[crhayes]

What's happening here, anyone know? The groundbreaking was about a month ago but I haven't seen any progress since...

[SteelTown]

An excavation contract has been awarded. It's completely up to the excavation company now, not McMaster. McMaster has set a timelime and it's up to the construction company to complete the building on time.

We'll probably see action around the end of the month.

[SteelTown]

Equipments are starting to arrive for the CANMET site. You can see those digging out trucks parked on the site.

[coalminecanary]

nice!

i can't wait until this is done - and the rail trail is extended across the bridge. 2 big steps for the neighbourhood

[SteelTown]

Frid St extension should start in 2009. Though I don't know if that might be on hold until the OMB case (Trinity Development).

[realcity]

wow... it's almost 3-storeys. did we modify the height limit to allow this monster high rise?

Agreed at least we don't have wasted space on a landscaped buffer, shrubbery and little patch of grass for no reason.

we'll wait to see if that teepee gets built on the roof. otherwise it's as bland as the North Service Road.

I think I would expect this company to be selling windows and doors, perhaps even roofing, im not sure. Oi it's a high-tech, bio-tech company..... now i get it. Can I move to Hamilton?

[crhayes]

wow... it's almost 3-storeys. did we modify the height limit to allow this monster high rise?

Agreed at least we don't have wasted space on a landscaped buffer, shrubbery and little patch of grass for no reason.

we'll wait to see if that teepee gets built on the roof. otherwise it's as bland as the North Service Road.

I think I would expect this company to be selling windows and doors, perhaps even roofing, im not sure. Oi it's a high-tech, bio-tech company..... now i get it. Can I move to Hamilton?

What are you talking about? First of all there is nothing wrong with the design. Secondly, why would they build a giant high rise for a technology research lab; have you seen a high rise at any university doing the same thing.

Have you even looked at the site plan for MIP? The entire site is actually going to be really attractive...

Site Fly through: http://www.mcmasterinnovationpark.ca/plans/site-fly-through/

[adam]

Wow, the fly-through is so jerky. Maybe it was rendered on a Pentium I processor??!

[SteelTown]

That teepee is likely the penthouse. Large research facilities need a penthouse for filters, seperate water system, CO2 lines, etc.

I believe this will be the first LEED Platinum research building in Canada, perhaps North America's first maybe.

[SteelTown]

http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/images/CANMETgroundbreaking.jpg

[crhayes]

Wow, the fly-through is so jerky. Maybe it was rendered on a Pentium I processor??!

yeah I know eh lol... I checked it a long time ago and it wasn't like that... not sure what happened there

[flar]

yeah I know eh lol... I checked it a long time ago and it wasn't like that... not sure what happened there

It was slashdotted by SSP users :shrug:

[SteelTown]

January 14th is the first day of excavation. What a day to start haha.

Hamilton favourite construction company got the contract........Dufferin.

[SteelTown]

New metals and materials research lab under way in Hamilton

A team of architects and engineers has designed a new laboratory for research into metals and materials that broke ground in December. The CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory at McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton, Ontario, is a 15,400 square metre facility that will operate within the Minerals and Metals Sector of Natural Resources Canada.

The building is designed for certification as LEED Platinum. Even though laboratory buildings by their nature consume large volumes of energy and air for heating and cooling, this one is expected to consume 70% less energy than the rate in the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. A highly integrated design is used that takes into consideration all the site's passive energy, resource and waste reuse opportunities.

Diamond and Schmitt are the architects. Read Jones Christoffersen are the structural and building envelope consulting engineers; Cobalt Engineering is the mechanical, electrical and LEED consultant, and A.J. Clarke and Associates is civil engineer. Other firms involved are Nedlaw Living Wells (bio-filter); GSP Group (landscape); Aercoustics (acoustics); Paradigm Transportation Group (traffic), Curran McCabe Ravindran Ross (costing), and LMDG building Code Consultants (code).

[SteelTown]

Mac gets $30m to develop medical robots
Project hailed as sign of hope for city's economic future

March 05, 2009
By Joanna Frketich
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/524479

McMaster University is getting nearly $30 million to develop robots to do less invasive surgeries and medical interventions.

The university hopes its new Centre for Surgical Invention and Innovation will be a key driver of Hamilton’s economy starting with 20 new jobs now and the potential for hundreds more in the next two to five years.

Dr. Mehran Anvari has big plans to put surgical robotics developed and made in Hamilton into every hospital in Canada and eventually hospitals around the world.

“You’re going to see a very viable and multimillion-dollar industry created in Hamilton,” he said. “As it mourns the loss of some of the jobs in the steel sector, it’s nice to be able to celebrate the creation of new jobs in this high-tech innovative industry.”

Half of the money was handed out today by federal Minister of State for Science and Technology Gary Goodyear and the other half comes from private partner MDA, which will make the surgical robotics in Hamilton.

Goodyear said funding the centre was a “no-brainer” because it’s a “perfect marriage between industry and academia.”

“As this stuff moves to market, somebody is going to have to design it on a factory floor and someone is going to have to build it with machinery and then we can get it to market and start selling it and start creating that new economy we’re moving toward.”

The centre, which will be located in a new building at McMaster’s Innovation Park, ultimately aims to vastly improve surgical care.

The main goal is to create less invasive surgeries and medical procedures.

For patients, that would mean better results, less pain, fewer complications, quicker recovery and shorter hospital stays.

“We see a great thing for patients here,” said Goodyear. “We see an opportunity to decrease the costs of health care and have patients outcomes improve.”

The new technology also allows specialists in large urban areas such as Hamilton to assist doctors in small cities to perform surgeries so patients no longer have to travel long distances for care.

One day there is hope astronauts on long missions will be able to use it to provide medical care in space assisted by doctors on Earth.

“There is no other place in Canada that’s got this,” said Dr. John Kelton, dean and vice-president of health sciences at McMaster.

“Around this will be spin-off jobs and high paying jobs and great opportunities.”

Getting the centre was a long and tough process for McMaster.

Anvari’s proposal to commercialize surgical robotics was one of 34 applications from across Canada received by the Networks of Centres of Excellence in May 2008.

Each was peer reviewed and an independent panel chose 15 to submit more detailed proposals.

McMaster was one of six chosen this year to become a new Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research.

It’s the second year in a row McMaster has been picked. Last year, it got one of 11 new centres created across Canada.

McMaster’s Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization recently announced plans to study a new breast cancer screening test that has the potential to dramatically improve cancer detection.

“ For our city this is a very important signal of how things are changing,” said Kelton. “At a time when everything is only bad news, this is wonderful news. We’re going to see the effects of this in a few years.”

[urban_planner]

This is the kind of develpoment we need to focus on. I know this would be painful for Hamilton in the near term but in the long term we need this sort of thing and more.

[SteelTown]

Innovation Park on target

March 16, 2009
Wade Hemsworth
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/530821

The turmoil that has wounded other parts of Hamilton's economy has so far barely touched McMaster's new research park.

"Generally speaking, we're still quite optimistic about where we'll be at the end of the year," said Zach Douglas, president of McMaster Innovation Park at the former Camco appliance plant site on Longwood Road South.

With the site now prepared for a 156,000- square-foot federal materials research laboratory, construction tenders are due. Building could start as soon as the end of April if the bids come in on budget.

The building, which would be owned by McMaster and leased to the federal government, is expected to be open by late next year.

Crews were recently working around the clock compacting engineered landfill to support the foundation at the rear of the site. They were going non-stop so the material didn't freeze while they were working.

Around the same time that construction starts on the CANMET lab, $17.5 million in renovation work will be wrapping up next door at the McMaster Innovation Park's headquarters building. Trivaris, a Burlington firm that matches financing with innovation to create new businesses, has taken possession of the fourth floor.

The private hotel project to be built on the site has become a victim of the recession, Douglas explained, and will be delayed.

The 15-year master plan for the park calls for 14 buildings with a total of 1.7 million square feet of space and a total of 3,000 occupants. Douglas believes the balance of private, government and university tenants makes the park attractive even in a downturn.

"It's unique space that's quite attractive, because we're providing more than space," he said in an interview. "We're trying to create this environment in which innovation can happen

[markbarbera]

In today's Spec:


First tenants move into Innovation Park

Trivaris fits into McMaster's plan to create a place where research and ideas can create jobs

April 01, 2009
Wade Hemsworth
The Hamilton Spectator

The place where Mayor Fred Eisenberger says the "next Hamilton" will emerge has started to come to life with the arrival of its first major private occupant.

About 65 staff members at Trivaris Ltd. have started work in the top floor of the McMaster Innovation Park headquarters building on Longwood Road South.

The university plans to make the park home to a blend of academic, government and private tenants who will collaborate to turn research and ideas into new businesses that would generate jobs and transform the economy.

"This is an indication that the next Hamilton is actually happening," Eisenberger said as he toured the multi-use Trivaris facility yesterday.

The company -- which develops entrepreneurial ideas, mostly from the field of technology -- is planning to capitalize on its new location in the park, halfway between McMaster University and Mohawk College's main campuses.

"We can't imagine being anywhere else," said president Mark Chamberlain. "There is so much pent-up genius in the university and in the colleges, and all we do is help unleash that."

The park itself, set on the grounds of the former Camco appliance complex, is expected to become home to 14 buildings and a workplace for 3,000 people over the next 15 years.

Chamberlain said he doubts it will take that long. With a second building now under construction -- a major federal materials laboratory -- he expects the park could fill quickly. The park itself is meant as the gateway to a broader "innovation district" designated by the city and roughly bounded by Dundurn Street, Aberdeen Avenue, Longwood Road and Main Street West.

"Where else would we be?" asked Trivaris director of IT and facilities Ken Lowe.

"This is going to be, we think, the most exciting area of Hamilton for the next five, 10, 20 years."

Trivaris has moved from an industrial park in Burlington to renovated, stylish 23,000-square-foot space with tall windows that offer sweeping views of Hamilton.

When employees learned last week that their new furniture wouldn't be delivered in time, they voted to move anyway and work at temporary tables.

Trivaris's new home includes offices, collaboration spaces, production and research areas. In addition to its own operation, it is also home to five developing companies.

Co-founder and vice president Ty Shattuck explained that under the Trivaris model, the fledgling companies will stay until they graduate to their own spaces.

Ideally, he said, they will be replaced by other new companies built on ideas created by people working in the park.

"Like any business, you want to be close to your raw materials," Shattuck said. "Our raw materials are the researchers, the scientists, the entrepreneurs and all the people that support them."

50
What is Trivaris?
Trivaris Ltd. calls itself a commercialization firm. Its role is to be the business partner to people with new ideas. It provides financial resources, space and technology to develop those ideas into working businesses, making its profits from their success. The company has 150 employees across North America.

[SteelTown]

McMaster Innovation Park steps closer to completion

by Matt Terry
April 29, 2009
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=6119

With a number of tenants already in place and construction about to begin on a major materials laboratory, McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) is quickly taking shape.

Recently welcoming an initial 60 staff members from Trivaris Ltd., MIP President Zach Douglas says the Red Brick Building, the park's first, is expected to reach substantial completion in the near future and full occupancy by the end of the year.

"We are very pleased with the amount of interest so far," said Douglas. "The building is leasing up very quickly."

Trivaris joins organizations such as the McMaster Industry Liaison Office (MILO), which helps researchers ensure that their inventions and discoveries benefit society through commercialization, at the Longwood Avenue site.

Work is also set to begin on the new CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory, relocating to MIP from Ottawa. Approximately 75 per cent of the building will be lab space, supporting research activities in materials development and performance evaluation including pilot scale casting, rolling, forming and welding, corrosion, mechanical testing, and micro-structure evaluations. The building is targeted for LEED Platinum certification.

When complete the park will house laboratory, office, teaching, training and conference facilities in advanced manufacturing and materials, nanotechnology, bio-technology and other areas in which McMaster University has recognized research strengths. These facilities will accelerate the commercialization of research into new and marketable products and services, and create new companies that will provide high-paying, highly skilled jobs in Hamilton.

[SteelTown]

They are currently working on that green space facing south of the old Camco building. Looks like they are laying down a red brick path/trail.

[FairHamilton]

They are currently working on that green space facing south of the old Camco building. Looks like they are laying down a red brick path/trail.

My understanding is they are going to line the pathway with old machinery. The machinery will be arranged in such a way that they will serve as sculptures.

[oldcoote]

Anybody hear a rumbling about a sports complex (rink/indoor soccer) in the general vicinity of the MIP?

[Jon Dalton]

McMaster Innovation Park steps closer to completion
Work is also set to begin on the new CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory, relocating to MIP from Ottawa. Approximately 75 per cent of the building will be lab space, supporting research activities in materials development and performance evaluation including pilot scale casting, rolling, forming and welding, corrosion, mechanical testing, and micro-structure evaluations. The building is targeted for LEED Platinum certification.


This is probably my best chance to land a job in Hamilton (I graduated in mechanical engineering). Working at the MIP would be a dream compared to my current situation. I wonder if they will be hiring any new staff after moving and how many of their current staff will relocate.

[highwater]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. :)

[SteelTown]

This is probably my best chance to land a job in Hamilton (I graduated in mechanical engineering). Working at the MIP would be a dream compared to my current situation. I wonder if they will be hiring any new staff after moving and how many of their current staff will relocate.

Yep, they'll be hiring. Not all employees from Ottawa moved to Hamilton and some got an early retirement package. Probably 20 new hires needed, it'll be under the federal government employment listing not McMaster, they’re renting from McMaster.

[SteelTown]

Anybody hear a rumbling about a sports complex (rink/indoor soccer) in the general vicinity of the MIP?

Yep, it'll be offsite. Look out for the McMaster Marauders hockey team.

[Hamtown]

Work is also set to begin on the new CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory, relocating to MIP from Ottawa. Approximately 75 per cent of the building will be lab space, supporting research activities in materials development and performance evaluation including pilot scale casting, rolling, forming and welding, corrosion, mechanical testing, and micro-structure evaluations. The building is targeted for LEED Platinum certification.

Just thought I'd point out this little tid-bit. I believe this is the highest LEED standard, and is extremely stringent. I've heard from my schooling that it requires certain things to be done even during construction, such as no dirt deposited on any roads in the area by construction vehicles. I applaud them in going for this certification, and would be very happy if they achieved it. Check out this wikipedia article on LEED (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design). Under the certification heading, it shows the various categories and what is required to achieve the different levels.

P.S. New guy here, long time lurker.

[Jon Dalton]

Yep, they'll be hiring. Not all employees from Ottawa moved to Hamilton and some got an early retirement package. Probably 20 new hires needed, it'll be under the federal government employment listing not McMaster, they’re renting from McMaster.

Any idea where I could find more information on the jobs available? If I can find out what is specifically required that would give me a head start in preparing to qualify. Who knows, maybe they require a masters or PhD to work there. I'm sure they would have a higher academic standard than the place I work at.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. :)
Thanks!

[SteelTown]

Just thought I'd point out this little tid-bit. I believe this is the highest LEED standard, and is extremely stringent. I've heard from my schooling that it requires certain things to be done even during construction, such as no dirt deposited on any roads in the area by construction vehicles. I applaud them in going for this certification, and would be very happy if they achieved it. Check out this wikipedia article on LEED (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design). Under the certification heading, it shows the various categories and what is required to achieve the different levels.

P.S. New guy here, long time lurker.

Welcome!

McMaster takes the LEED

by Melyssa Morris
April 29, 2009
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=6120

When it comes to constructing and renovating sustainable buildings, McMaster is taking the LEED.

LEED which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a set of standards developed by the United States Green Building Council. In 2003, the Canada Green Building Council received permission to adopt its own version of the U.S. Green rating system. The system takes into consideration the national climate, local construction practices, regulations and the Canadian market through a process that incorporates stakeholders and experts from various sectors of industry.

McMaster has two buildings that are LEED certified: Les Prince Hall, one of the first student residences in Canada to be certified, and the David Braley Athletic Centre.

The University implemented a Sustainable Building policy in April 2005 that requires new buildings and renovations be constructed to minimum LEED silver standards. The new engineering building opening this fall is targeted for LEED gold. The newly renovated Burke Science Building and new Burlington campus will be built to silver standard.

"By implementing LEED certification standards on current and forthcoming renovations and new buildings on campus, McMaster continues to demonstrate a commitment towards sustainability and the environment," said Karen Belaire, vice-president of administration. LEED initiatives also result in reduced operating costs for the entire life of the building, so it is an investment worth making. Following McMaster's policy will typically result in a 35 per cent reduction in building operating cost versus a non-LEED building.

The LEED system addresses six major areas: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and the innovation and design process. Certification is based on the total points achieved following an independent review. Certification is granted solely by the Green Building Council and is based on the points received; buildings may achieve certified, silver, gold or platinum certification.

[SteelTown]

Any idea where I could find more information on the jobs available? If I can find out what is specifically required that would give me a head start in preparing to qualify. Who knows, maybe they require a masters or PhD to work there. I'm sure they would have a higher academic standard than the place I work at.

I'm guessing you should look at Natural Resources, it's their department that runs CANMET.

http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/carecarr/index-eng.php

[SteelTown]

Natural Resources Canada: Federal Government Delivers Nuclear Research Funding to Canadian Universities

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Natural-Resources-Canada-983074.html

HAMILTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 1, 2009) - Thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada, 23 research projects at universities across the country will receive funding to develop advanced nuclear energy systems. These projects will encourage technology innovation, create jobs and boost Canada's economy.

"Investing in clean-energy research in Canadian universities is a win-win," said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, who made the announcement at an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the McMaster University nuclear reactor. "By funding these university programs, we are training our future leaders in world-class research facilities, encouraging job creation and stimulating our economy."

Natural Resources Canada, in partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and in collaboration with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), will provide almost $6 million in grants over the next three years to fund the 23 Generation IV (Gen IV) research projects at universities from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.

Through support for the new program, the Government of Canada is fulfilling part of its commitments as a charter member of the Generation IV International Forum. The Forum is a multi-national research initiative aimed at developing the next generation of nuclear energy systems with a focus on improving safety, reducing waste, lowering costs and increasing resistance to proliferation.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt announced that the Government of Canada will provide almost $6 million for a new program to fund and coordinate Generation IV nuclear research at Canadian universities. Twenty universities will participate in research over the next three years aimed at developing the next generation of safe, nuclear reactors for clean energy generation.

[Greg A.]

The Canmet-MTL page (http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/mms-smm/mate-mate/index-eng.htm) even has a picture of the new labs on their link to jobs - look to the RH side.

I'd guess that would be the place to start.

[SteelTown]

EllisDon got the contract ($45 million) for the CANMET building.

[drpgq]

EllisDon got the contract ($45 million) for the CANMET building.

Wow $45 million, that seems like a lot. I wonder what that includes and how many square feet this building will have. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't have went into LEED certification. I am guessing it is ridiculously lucrative.

[SteelTown]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/Aallen396/MIP.jpg

[matt602]

Holy crap. Wow.

[SteelTown]

Crane Alert!!

[emge]

McMaser?

Looks good, though.

[SteelTown]

Make that Double Crane Alert!!

[coalminecanary]

this site is uplifting, i love passing by and seeing it actively being worked on!

the battle continues over the trinity development however

[highwater]

the battle continues over the trinity development however

any updates?

[coalminecanary]

endless delays. the next hearing is in august i think. the last hearing was simply apostponement of the hearing. they are playing the attrition game

[highwater]

Meeting to gather input on Trinity Big-Box Development

Greetings Neighbours!

A meeting will be held to gather ideas from members of the KNA about the proposed Big-Box store development on Aberdeen St.

As a participant in the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) Hearings into the zoning of the land that Trinity wants to build on, the KNA will have the opportunity to express our concerns about the proposal to the OMB. To that end, we’ve called this meeting to invite members to contribute their thoughts on how we should put our statement together. The meeting will be held at:

Stanley Ave. Baptist Church,

Thursday, June 25th, at 7 p.m.

Trinity’s plan is on the web (although it has changed in the past and is also subject to future changes).

Councillor McHattie’s website also has a page of information about the city’s intentions.

Members of the KNA executive will be available to provide an update on the latest information concerning the city’s plan to rezone the area and Trinity’s efforts to have the OMB stop the city from doing so. However, the purpose of the meeting is to invite member input into the KNA’s statement to the OMB.

[astroblaster]

i'd come, but i'm going to that creative catalyst thing already.

you have my virtual support!

[SteelTown]

It's great to see the cranes from the 403.