“It was originally planned that the first event in the new Convention Cen- tre Expansion would be held in March 2016, however when the Grey Cup game was announced to be in Win- nipeg during November 2015, meet- ings took place between the Grey Cup stakeholders, WCC, Stuart Olson, and the trades and consultants to deter- mine the requirements for the Grey Cup festival, and to see how those re- quirements could be met with an ac- celerated schedule.” Ultimately, McInnis says, all parties worked together to reprioritize work and provide additional resources, making the centre available for the Grey Cup Gala on Nov. 28. He says it was the largest attendance at any gala dinner in Winnipeg’s history. “In large part due to the clear, open, and honest communication that took place during the numerous proj- ect meetings, all stakeholder groups gained an understanding of the chal- lenges faced by the other parties in the group, and the stakeholders worked together to collectively miti- gate these challenges.” These open discussions, he says, also allowed the group to identify op- portunities, resulting in the project re- maining on schedule and on budget, while meeting the convention centre’s operational needs. Winnipeg based Allmar Inc. sup- plied the hollow metal doors and pressed steel frames, wood doors, mechanical and electrical hardware, toilet partitions, washroom acces- sories, and a full networked locking system. Aaron Redekopp, Allmar operations manager said the company provided a total opening solution. “Our ability to provide the mechanical and electrical hardware and manage the installation reduces the potential co-ordination er- rors, especially when multiple trades are involved. We provide a single point of accountability.” He says the company conducted its own advanced planning to ensure a positive contribution to the project’s success. At the outset, Allmar aims to plan for any eventualities and try to an- ticipate changes throughout the proj- ect, he said. “Partnering with an experienced and professional general contractor like Stuart Olson makes this type of project much easier to facili- tate.” Fortunately, he says, Allmar is expe- rienced in challenging projects. “Con- tractors know the potential for changes and the challenging require- ments, and they trust our team to de- liver. Our company has been built on our value added service and consult- ing expertise and that is especially demonstrated on projects such as this. We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for the owner and the occupants, for the life of the building.” Branko Demolition & Disposal Ltd. provided its waste management ex- pertise, including providing roll off containers for waste and recycled ma- terials. Owner and president Zelko Majetic says locating and removing bins at the downtown location created challenges. “There was no set sched- ule for removal or replacement but when the bin was full, it was taken, dumped and returned in a timely man- ner. This meant at some times, work had to happen during more congested periods of traffic.” The new construction used white The Canadian Design and Construction Report — May-June 2016 – 33