Canada Science & Technology Museum | Completed

[DEWLine]

Why not Lebreton as the new home for the Sci-Tech Museum?

[DEWLine]

Originally Posted by hwy418

... and that would most likely mean the Museum would move to Gatineau.

As if we don't have de facto integration of the populations of Ottawa and Gatineau already?

[rocketphish]

Science and Technology Museum closed until 2015

Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: September 23, 2014, Last Updated: September 23, 2014 6:56 PM EDT

The news keeps getting worse for the Canada Science and Technology Museum, which will remain closed for repairs until next year — months longer than officials had hoped.

January is the earliest possible date for reopening the former bakery warehouse, which was converted to a museum as a Centennial project 47 years ago.

The problem is that airborne levels of mould are too high for safety. The mould was discovered spreading from the building’s south wall during routine maintenance early this month.

On Tuesday, the museum issued a statement, saying that “An initial assessment showed that the work required would take at least several weeks to perform, and it is now clear that the CSTM will not be ready to reopen before January 2015.”

Staff are now contacting groups that had plans or reservations for events through the fall and early winter. The statement says the museum “plans to fulfil its commitments to members, sponsors and partners through a variety of activities and opportunities over the coming months,” but details weren’t immediately available.

Staff members themselves are all at other sites, including the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.

The building has always been considered a temporary site for the museum, in part because only two per cent of the museum’s collection can fit into it for display. MP John Baird, who represents this area in cabinet, has said he would like to see a new building but at the moment there’s no money for it.

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[Temperance]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Science and Technology Museum closed until 2015

Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: September 23, 2014, Last Updated: September 23, 2014 6:56 PM EDT

The building has always been considered a temporary site for the museum, in part because only two per cent of the museum’s collection can fit into it for display. MP John Baird, who represents this area in cabinet, has said he would like to see a new building but at the moment there’s no money for it.

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Nothing will get done until the Conservatives are out of power.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Temperance

Nothing will get done until the Conservatives are out of power.

Considering it moved into its current "temporary" location in the Pearson administration and none of Pearson, Trudeau, Clark, Turner, Mulroney, Campbell, Chrétien, Martin and Harper did f*** all (not counting various studies) about building a "permanent" location I think the most likely outcome is "Nothing will get done."

[Ted]

With Baird saying there is no funding for a new museum - really he is confirming there is no vision for a new museum. If someone with his role in gov't had a vision for the museum, funding would be found. Not only government funding, but being a technology museum there could be significant industry partnership. Think the rail companies (CN,CP, Bombardier) Telecom (Bell, Telus, Blackberry), Aerospace, Engineering (Golder, Stantec, SNC) etc etc.

Originally Posted by acottawa

Considering it moved into its current "temporary" location in the Pearson administration and none of Pearson, Trudeau, Clark, Turner, Mulroney, Campbell, Chrétien, Martin and Harper did f*** all (not counting various studies) about building a "permanent" location I think the most likely outcome is "Nothing will get done."

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by hwy418

... and that would most likely mean the Museum would move to Gatineau.

Caaaan you feeeel the looooove toniiiiight!

[Kitchissippi]

Looks like the mouldy bread factory is way past its best before date.

[c_speed3108]

This reminds me of when the south side lower deck at Lansdowne failed it's structural inspection.

One plus with these PR disasters is that they tend to force the issue forward. The status quo is a really easy answer for politicians sometimes. When something removes that from the options on the table it forces things to happen.

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

This reminds me of when the south side lower deck at Lansdowne failed it's structural inspection.

One plus with these PR disasters is that they tend to force the issue forward. The status quo is a really easy answer for politicians sometimes. When something removes that from the options on the table it forces things to happen.

Sadly that's how it often works. Action is only taken when there's no more option of 'do nothing'.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Ted

With Baird saying there is no funding for a new museum - really he is confirming there is no vision for a new museum. If someone with his role in gov't had a vision for the museum, funding would be found. Not only government funding, but being a technology museum there could be significant industry partnership. Think the rail companies (CN,CP, Bombardier) Telecom (Bell, Telus, Blackberry), Aerospace, Engineering (Golder, Stantec, SNC) etc etc.

All those "economic action plan" ads aren't gonna pay for themselves, peasant.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Ted

With Baird saying there is no funding for a new museum - really he is confirming there is no vision for a new museum. If someone with his role in gov't had a vision for the museum, funding would be found. Not only government funding, but being a technology museum there could be significant industry partnership. Think the rail companies (CN,CP, Bombardier) Telecom (Bell, Telus, Blackberry), Aerospace, Engineering (Golder, Stantec, SNC) etc etc.

I agree, but I'm just saying no Liberal or Conservative government for 50 years has had a vision for a new museum, so it is unclear that a change of government would lead to a willingness to spend a large amount of money.

It is a political loser: relatively small number of visitors, no national lobby, not the kind of thing that will attract big $$$ philanthropists, more costly that other museum projects, and the selection process would pit different parts of the NCR against each other (and probably against other cities) which leaves one happy riding and many pissed off ridings. It was a political loser under Liberal governments, it is a political loser under a tory government and it would probably be a political loser if the NDP ever wins.

If this is going to get anywhere then something has to change (billionaire willing to pony up, a rethink by the corporation that results in a much smaller ask, a national lobby movement, consensus on a location, etc).

[J.OT13]

First off, the NDP's chance of forming a government died with Jack Layton.

In terms of location, the Conservatives would have no problem pinning province against province, city against city, as they did with the Portrait Gallery (killed by Calgary's lack of an organized bid).

The Liberals would either build it in central Ottawa-Gatineau. Other than a few bitter individuals, I don't think either site would result in too much of a angry response.

I could see Trudeau building the Science and Tech museum as a sesquicentennial project. No, it wouldn't be done by 2017, but keep in mind that the NAC, one of Pearson's centennial projects, was completed in 69'.

[eternallyme]

Is there a new "temporary" location available so they can abandon that bread factory?

[MaxHeadroom]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Is there a new "temporary" location available so they can abandon that bread factory?

Just build a brand new building on the huge front lawn, either closing or straddling over Gladwin Crescent. Then demolish the old building and build another storage building, phase construction additional exhibit space, or even more parking.

The vast majority of their collection are in the back warehouses. Moving all that to a new site would be an epic undertaking. And what about those locomotives...

[IntoTheCore]

Originally Posted by MaxHeadroom

And what about those locomotives...

I'd support shutting down every street in Ottawa for a week if that's what it takes to get the trains into a central site.

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by IntoTheCore

I'd support shutting down every street in Ottawa for a week if that's what it takes to get the trains into a central site.

It wouldn't take a week. Perhaps one or two weekends.

A company like Mammoet (http://www.mammoet.com/) would eat that sort of publicity up and it would great publicity for the musium as well as you would be using cutting edge tech. A parade of locomotives on on heavy lift crawlers through the streets of Ottawa would be attract tons of spectators.

I know there was a big crowd back when Queens university was moving a series of large historic homes to make room for their new library. They had to take quite a long route through kingston, but hay when was the last time you saw a parade of houses:

These were some photos of the convoy:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14781822@N00/211957001

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14781822@N00/211925340

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14781822@N00/215950585

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14781822@N00/215950584

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14781822@N00/215950580

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14781822@N00/215950587

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14781822@N00/215950582


and they arrived:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14781822@N00/212625240


A special by-law to do the big ones. A 9 Kilometer route. (closing some of the most major streets in Kingston): https://www.cityofkingston.ca/cok/by.../doc914501.PDF

http://cdsmovers.com/services/special-projects/

[c_speed3108]

From the NCC Lebretton request for qualifications thingy this morning:

Joanne Chianello ‏@jchianello 2m37 seconds ago
We all have own ideas for what we'd like to see at LeBreton, although @HonJohnBaird say new museum of science and tech an "obvious" choice.

[rocketphish]

Science and Tech Museum silent as asbestos report surfaces

Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: October 7, 2014, Last Updated: October 7, 2014 5:07 PM EDT

A new report says asbestos, not just mould, is the problem at the Canada Science and Technology Museum — but officials aren’t discussing the problem publicly.

The museum closed Sept. 11 because of mould inside its south wall. It will remain closed at least until January.

But on Tuesday the local riding’s MP, Liberal David McGuinty, told the Citizen he has learned the mouldy wall is supporting a roof that contains asbestos, complicating the repairs.

Museum officials won’t discuss the situation.

The Citizen has been asking since the closing was announced on Sept. 11 for basic information about the nature of the problem, what needs to be done to fix it and the estimated cost.

But the museum has said repeatedly it doesn’t know enough to answer. On Tuesday its vice-president, Yves St-Onge, sent the Citizen an email saying that management won’t discuss the situation “as our assessments and plans remain incomplete at this time.”

The museum has turned down all requests for interviews.

The museum falls under the direction of Heritage Minister Shelly Glover. But her office said this week, also by email, that the minister isn’t really responsible: “With regards to our discussion on the phone this morning, I can tell you that like all museums, the Science and Technology Museum is responsible for its own operations, including its media relations activities. Any requests for interviews must be directed to the Museum’s staff. Have a good afternoon.”

And the Public Service Alliance of Canada says it knows what is going on but won’t tell. More email from a media officer: “I checked with the local at the Museum. They have been kept informed about the situation with the mould and have had positive relations with the museum’s management since this issue emerged. In view of this, we do not believe that it’s our position to be offering details to the media about the mould issue. The Museum should provide that information to the media and public directly. Sorry I can’t be of more help.”

We asked whether PSAC could simply share what its members have been told. Another email: “I’m afraid not.”

The federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation calls the situation “a complete abdication of responsibility” by authorities. The public owns the building and deserves to know what’s being down with it, said Gregory Thomas.

“Not only should we have this information, but we’re going to get this information sooner or later,” he said. “It doesn’t look good on the government or the minister or the union to be stonewalling like this.

“Ultimately the minister will be accountable to Parliament. Let’s hope the opposition does its job.”

“It’s completely unacceptable and it speaks to, I think, a complete abdication of responsibility on behalf of the government and the minister. They need to give their heads a shake and come clean to Canadians about what happened at the museum.”

At Carleton University, communications professor Mary Francoli notes that Canada was one of the first countries to join the Open Government movement, and its goal is “to make information available to the public by default.” The action plan around this hasn’t been completed.

The reality, she adds, “hasn’t always jived” with the intent. “We’re not there yet.”

“You can see information commissioner after information commissioner just talking about how dire things are in Canada.”

Francoli said she doesn’t understand the desire to keep quiet on this topic. She said it reminds her of the case a few years ago when the National Research Council refused to talk about its research on falling snow.

“Why isn’t anybody biting? It’s mould. It happens,” she said. “So I don’t know what they would be trying to hide about it, really. Maybe the cost, the extent. Maybe people are worried about the long-term health impact on the employees. I don’t know. It’s strange.”

McGuinty said the government has ignored the aging museum while pouring large amounts into renaming the Museum of History and commemorating the War of 1812.

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[rocketphish]

Science museum on LeBreton Flats: an aging bride settling on a bad suitor?

Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: October 17, 2014, Last Updated: October 19, 2014 7:35 PM EDT

Our national science museum has grown mouldy — a runaway Petri dish experiment — and is now forcibly mothballed.

LeBreton Flats, meanwhile, is saddled on a fresh horse, mid-Crusades, in the centuries-long quest for a saviour.

Could this be the perfect fit, putting the museum just off the ceremonial route, forming a holy cultural trinity with the National Gallery and the Canadian Museum of History? Or a terrible idea?

I’m leaning toward terrible idea.

If you look at the National Capital Commission’s request for proposals for the Flats, it includes a map that divides the available land into four big pieces. Now look at the footprint of the Canadian War Museum. It’s huge. An equivalent building would certainly fill the so-called south parcel that is now under discussion, at 3.6 hectares, or would pretty much eat up the north parcel’s 5.7 hectares.

[IMG][/IMG]

And — though it is all guesswork at this point — a new science museum would likely be even bigger. (For whatever reasons, museums tend to spread out, not up.)

So what of it? Well, it means the most prestigious parts of the Flats could be dominated by two national museums, separated by the Bluesfest site. For some, like tourists, this would make a great coupling.

But for us locals, is it really a grand opportunity?

Do you go to a museum once a month? Once a year? Ever? I have no quarrel with the war museum but haven’t been there in, like, ages. It has, more or less, become a neat building to cycle around.

Absent children of the right age, how often would most of us go to a science museum? Would it, too, be this hulking giant that just seems to be in the way of daily activity, part of a museum ghetto that goes dark after 5 p.m.?

It makes you wonder.

This much, though, is clear: It will only take one big, wrong move to mess up the Flats permanently. It looks like a vast empty space with limitless potential. But if you hive off the existing residential part, make way for the LRT tunnel, leave out the skinny corridors that are unsuitable for a big footprint, you’re left with one or two opportunities to get it right.

Part of the debate we need to have is answering this question: What are museums for, anyway? If they exist primarily to attract and enlighten tourists and educate schoolchildren, then it probably doesn’t much matter where it goes, as long as access is decent.

But if museums are to be wonderful architectural statements, with theatres and planetariums and restaurants and everyday uses that can animate neighbourhoods — help build a city — then it matters a great deal where you put them.

Why is the Canadian Museum of History the most popular, by far, of our national ones? They basically put a giant kids playground in the middle of it. Seriously, it’s a stroke of genius, but is that children’s area really a “museum”, or just a clever attraction?

The science and tech museum attracted about 290,000 people in 2013, including some 60,000 schoolchildren, and the annual total was in its fourth year of decline. (It was 326,000 in 2010-11.)

This ranks it fifth among the major museums in town, behind: History (1.1 million, with 500,000 in children’s museum), War (410,000), Nature (381,000) and Aviation (360,000), according to 2013 figures from Ottawa Tourism. (The National Gallery brought up the rear, at 241,000, after an alarming drop in numbers from the year before.)

Certainly location and “experience” are key. Science and tech does look like an oversized dollar store where they charge for parking. (And how many of us have told visitors: “Don’t miss the Crazy Kitchen!” which is not so much advice, perhaps, but an indictment.)

One has to ask too whether our changing relationships with museums is part of the equation. I, for one, blame the Internet, which is slowly going about its work to destroy civilization as we knew it. An evil side, it truly has.

We need a new science museum. It seems wasteful to spend large sums of money anymore on the old bun factory off St. Laurent Boulevard. Maybe a change in government in Ottawa, not to mention the end of budgetary deficits, are the beginning of ducks lining up.

And the central area may indeed be the right place. But think hard about the Flats: exhausted with delay and inaction, we may be “settling” for anything, killing the space in our attempt to revive it.

To contact Kelly Egan, please call 613-726-5896 or email kegan@ottawacitizen.com

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