THUNDER BAY — Contractors are shedding light on why a large part of the concrete floor in a brand-new commercial building in Thunder Bay has had to be removed.
Contrary to online speculation, it wasn't because someone had forgotten about water service, but rather it was the result of a deliberate decision by the client to have the floor poured, then go back later to hook up the water.
One part of the structure, being used for office space by a business, is already open, while the other part – which will house a coffee shop – is still unfinished.
Passers-by took notice recently when a large concrete cutter showed up at the construction site, and big chunks of concrete were taken out and stacked in front of the building.
This led to suggestions on social media that there had been a screw-up somewhere in the planning or construction process.
But Reg Galbraith, general manager of All Trades Contracting, said "Don't believe everything you see on the Internet."
His company was hired to open up the floor for water and sewer pipes.
In an interview at the construction site Monday, he explained "This was just the order of construction here. Tim Hortons supplied them [the general contractor] with drawings for the new operation here, and they came after the building was already built ... The concrete's been taken out for sewer and water to meet the standards for Tim Hortons. So my next job is to get this stuff out of here and get it put away."
Galbraith said a total of about nine yards of concrete that his company removed will be disposed of.
"The plumbers will be here this week doing their work, then the contractor will be in to fit the building up."
Brad Gibson of B. Gibson Mechanical expressed frustration with online comments about the situation, telling TBnewswatch he saw "all kinds of detrimental slander."
Every trade including his plumbing business "did an exceptional job and exceptional workmanship as always," he said. "Tim Hortons could not get their design for the plumbing in order during construction, so they opted to complete the building along with the concrete floor installed ... That's how they wanted to proceed."
In an online post of his own, Gibson said the companies involved in the project "Did quality work to deliver it as scheduled, on time, with zero deficiencies."
