Windsor's Community Museum Expansion
Project 2014/2015
Telling our stories. Sharing yours.
The Recreation and Culture Department of the City of Windsor is moving forward with improvements to the City's Community Museum. This project includes storage and exhibit space improvements at the Francois Baby House (254 Pitt Street West) and expansion of the museum to occupy the first floor of 401 Riverside Drive West, formerly occupied by the Art Gallery of Windsor (AGW). The AGW does and will continue to occupy the second and third floors of 401 Riverside Drive West.
Project Highlights
Some improvements expected for 401 Riverside Drive West include:
A new, permanent, engaging exhibit on Windsor
Exhibition/programming space with a proposed theme of First Nations/Original Peoples
Efficient auditorium/programming/temporary gallery space
A new Children's Gallery with dynamic exhibits and interactivity created from the former gift shop and art rental and sales space
Development of exhibition/display space in the Concourse
Development of retail space in the southwest area of the Concourse
Development of temporary exhibit/programming space in the former restaurant area
Modification of the entrance way
Improvements to the infrastructure to preserve and protect the collections, including, but not limited to HVAC system improvements; security system updates; IT and telephone system upgrades; and conversion to LED lighting
Creation of additional storage space through restructuring the mezzanine, and repurposing the former gift shop storage room into artefact storage
Some improvements expected for the François Baby House include:
Converting the children's activity area to visible storage space
Development of a permanent gallery on Francophone Heritage
Development of a permanent gallery on the War of 1812, the Battle of Windsor, and the history of the Baby House
Expansion of space in the Francois Baby House to showcase the Museum's archives
Steering Committee
City Councillor R. Bortolin
City Councillor F. Francis
City Councillor J Gignac (Chair)
Arbitrator - Chief Administrative Officer Helga Reidel
Executive Committee
Jelena Payne, Community Development & Health Services Commissioner and Project Sponsor
Jan Wilson, Executive Director of Recreation & Culture
France Isabelle-Tunks, Senior Manager of Development & Geomatics
Shelby Askin-Hager, City Solicitor
Tom Graziano, Manager of Facility Operations
Onorio Colucci, City Treasurer
Working Team
Colleen Middaugh, Project Administrator; Project Manager
Madelyn DellaValle, Curator, Windsor's Community Museum; Project Manager (Exhibitions)
Cathy Masterson, Manager of Cultural Affairs
Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA), Architect
Lord Cultural Resources, Exhibit Consultant
Josie Gualtieri (Liza Webb), Financial Planning Administrator, Finance
Jill Braido, Communications and Customer Service
Matt Caplin, IT
Cheryl Glassford, Legal
Administrative Resource: Leslie Prieur (Working Team and Executive Committee; Karen Kadour (Steering Committee)
Sandra Bradt, Executive Initiatives Coordinator
Mike Smithson, Facilities
Elaine Castellan, Purchasing
Important Documents
Council Reports / Meeting Agendas / Meeting Minutes
Completed Project Steps
Project Management & Design
Finalization and submission of the grant application.
Striking Committee approval for Steering Committee.
Finalization of the Project Charter - approved June 30, 2014 by M284-2014.
Site visit to Waterloo Regional Museum to discuss their museum development project.
Award of contract for Architectural Consulting Services and Exhibition Planning Services (RFP39-14) - Hariri Pontarini Architects and Lord Cultural Resources.
Ongoing Consulting/Design services, including:
Visioning sessions with project team members.
Development and presentation of conceptual design plans and exterior renderings.
Consultation with the Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor Accessibility & Advisory Committee, members of the Aboriginal and Francophone Communities, various stakeholders and the public.
Architectural, mechanical, structural and electrical design development.
Exhibit development, based on the approved Interpretive Plan and Concept Design for the exhibitions.
Ongoing internal project management of design/construction works.
Building Construction
Completed security system upgrades at 401 Riverside Drive West.
Issued a Request for Pre-Qualification of Contractors and reviewed submissions.
Finalized the Tender Drawings and Specifications for the building renovation works.
Issued a Request for Tender (No. 108-14) to the Pre-Qualified Contractors for the building renovation work and awarded the contract to Oscar Construction Company Limited.
Hosted the Construction Kick-off Ceremony (Friday October 17, 2014).
Construction Progress Includes:
Completion of interior demolition.
Completion of mechanical and electrical building system improvements (including HVAC improvements, and new lighting upgrades).
Completion of interior work (finishes, flooring, millwork, framing, etc.).
Completion of exterior work (canopy painting, door painting, etc.).
Completion of new passenger elevator installation.
Removal of interior and exterior hoarding.
Ongoing work on finalizing As-Built Drawings, Maintenance Manuals and addressing remaining outstanding deficiencies.
Exhibit Fabrication
Issued a Request for Pre-Qualification of Exhibition Fabricators and reviewed submissions.
Finalized the Tender Drawings and Specifications for the exhibition fabrication works.
Issued a Request for Tender (No. 3-15) to the Pre-Qualified Contractors for the exhibition fabrication work and awarded the contract to Holman Exhibits.
Site visit to Holman's office/warehouse to review prototypes and fabrication progress.
Ongoing exhibit development, including content and design review.
Next Project Steps
Summer 2015 - Building renovations complete.
Late 2015 - Exhibit fabrication and installation complete.
Winter 2016 - Start of Chimczuk Museum Operations, including exhibits.
Winter 2016 - Grand Opening of Chimczuk Museum.
Note: The Francois Baby House will be closed for exhibit installation beginning Friday September 25, 2015. It will reopen late in 2015.
Museum Expansion Project in the News
Chimczuk museum dream finally approved 24 years later, The Windsor Star, June 2015.
Chimczuk museum becomes reality at Windsor art gallery, CBCNews Windsor, June 2015.
Project Key Stakeholders and Partners
Mayor and City Council
The Corporation of the City of Windsor
Recreation and Culture Department
Art Gallery of Windsor
Windsor's Community Museum
Construction and Trades Industry
Windsor Historic Sites Association
Project Partners - Consultant Team
Project Partners - Construction Team
Building Renovations
Exhibit Fabrication/Installation
Project Contacts
Committee Chair
Jelena Payne
Project Sponsor, Community Development & Health Services Commissioner
Madelyn Della Valle
Project Manager, Exhibitions; Curator, Windsor's Community Museum
Phone: 519-253-1812. Email: mdellavalle@citywindsor.ca
(Including French interviews)