June 25, 2007

ROM Crystal

Vanbots celebrates opening at ROM

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

TORONTO

Vanbots Construction Corp. celebrated the opening of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at the Royal Ontario Museum at sunset last Wednesday with clients and the local design and construction community.

“It’s been an incredible voyage,” said company president Matt Ainley, whose firm was retained as the construction manager on the Renaissance ROM project in 2002.

“We are very proud of our team. They met the challenge laid down by (architect) Daniel Libeskind.” The one-of-a-kind structure is considered one of the most complex projects every undertaken by a Canadian construction company.

The steel skeleton and crystal cladding is a labyrinth of structural gymnastics.

The building interior contains no straight walls, grid lines or columns. The famous nodes are recognized as one of the most complex structural intersections ever constructed.

“We will use this project to mark our moment in time as we go forward and build increasingly complex projects,” Vanbots chair and chief executive officer Keith Gillam told Daily Commercial News.

The project team included Studio Daniel Libeskind in joint venture with Toronto’s Bregman Hamann Architects, as well as local engineering consultants Halsall Associates, Mulvey & Banani International Inc. and The Mitchell Partnership.

Hamilton-based Walters Inc. detailed, fabricated and erected approximately 2,700 tons of steel that support the crystal, comprised of five interlocking prismatic forms.

Privately owned Vanbots was retained as construction managers even before the architects were selected in an international design competition.

“We weren’t just choosing a partnership,” said William Thorsell, ROM director and chief executive officer. “We also were choosing a relationship.” Vanbots’ onsite team was headed by project director John Martin.

“Standing here tonight, I know I am one lucky person to have had the privilege to work on this magnificent structure, to be part of building a Canadian landmark,” Martin said. Martin said the Crystal is unique “not only architecturally, but also from a construction point of view.

“Normal rules of construction did not apply and novel construction techniques were required to build it.”

Martin said access was a major challenge, and nowhere more so than when it came to the installation of the cladding system.

“You have heard about the ironworkers going for abseiling instruction so they could safely descend the crystal faces,” he said. “But the strangest sight I saw was ironworkers in bosun chairs pulling themselves up the crystal faces using old-fashioned block and tackles.”

Martin paid tribute to ROM project director Al Shaikoli, whom he described as an “educated” owner, as well as the Vanbots team, its subcontractors and “all of the tradespeople.

“Their creativity and hard work allowed us to realize the ROM’s vision,” he said. “Even with all the complex access issues, they built it safely, with only one lost-time accident in 1.5 million hours of work.” The Crystal is the centerpiece of a $237 million expansion that also includes renovations and restoration of existing facilities.

Some 600 guests attended the Vanbots reception, held three days after the opening weekend. Some 40,000 were at the opening ceremonies and concert while 25,000 toured the ROM.

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