$23,000. No, that’s not for new stucco — that’s to study the stucco.
Consultants Read Jones Cristoffersen (RJC) beat out six other competitors to win the contract to evaluate the City Hall building envelope.
The issue? Slabs of stucco are falling off and the envelope needs replacing.
In 2010, city staff were getting ready to slap some external insulation on renowned architect C.B.K. Van Norman’s modernist gem when the Canadian Art Deco Society threw a wrench into the works with a letter of protest.
Society president Donald Luxton implored council to reconsider: “This modernist gem, one of the key designs of renowned architect C.B.K. Van Norman, would be thoroughly defaced by this proposed intervention. We urge you to reconsider any work undertaken to this recognized heritage site.”
Council halted the renovation and eventually ordered the study approved on Aug. 28.
The $23,000 assessment includes hazardous materials assessment, core sampling, “petrographic analysis,” energy efficiency testing and other steps deemed necessary to formulate a plan.
Council heard that RJC is well known for this type of work in B.C.
Also of note: Donald Luxton is listed as a subcontractor of RBC in the proposal.
“The heritage commission is completely on board with this,” said city planning director John Guenther.