Post-flood Update: Progress continues on campus clean-up

Updated: Thursday, January 15, 2015

All UWinnipeg campus buildings affected by flooding on August 21, 2014 will be fully restored to their pre-flood condition by the end of April 2015.  The final restoration work is now under way in accordance with insurance processes, and will be largely performed during evenings and weekends to minimize impact on the UWinnipeg community.  While a 2014 project conclusion was intended, the full impact on University facilities and equipment was not wholly assessed and finalized by the adjusters until December.  Individual departments have been purchasing replacement equipment and supplies damaged by flood. The RFP process is now complete and renovations commenced this week.

The mitigation and restoration work will exceed $1.3 million  — including carpet installation, floor tiling, patching,  painting, and some specialized fixes, including computer services and other technology replacements — and will ensure all damaged areas meet their pre-flood condition. The following campus buildings are part of the project: Duckworth Centre, Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex, Bryce Hall, Asper Centre for Theatre and Film, Bulman Centre, AnX, Wesley Hall, 480 Portage, Centennial Hall, Sparling Hall, Manitoba Hall, and 510 Portage.

Laurel Repski, VP – Human Resources, Audit & Sustainability said that the mitigation and insurance claim process went extremely well under the circumstances – and noted that UWinnipeg faculty, staff and contract partners (particularly Bee Clean, Securitas and Priority Restoration) did an excellent job responding to the flood situation. “Everyone really came together and worked hard to deal with it quickly and efficiently; we are very thankful for their response. It made a huge difference.”

Further updates will be shared as progress continues. Questions may be sent to communications@uwinnipeg.ca.

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Updated: Thursday, September 4

At this time, the campus is once again fully operational in all of the flood-damaged areas. Mitigation and removal of damaged goods is 100% complete in all affected buildings, as are the certified drying and the boarding stages. The formal restoration stage of the process is under way and ranges from 25 – 75% complete in different buildings, as per the updated chart below. While all affected areas are once again operational, the remainder of the formal restoration (including re-installation of carpets and painting) will continue in line with the insurance process.

Further updates will be shared as progress continues. Questions may be sent to communications@uwinnipeg.ca.

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Updated: Friday, August 29

As per the updated (1:00pm, August 29) chart below, the second stage of the process (certified drying) has been completed — or is nearly completed — in all affected buildings.

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Updated: Thursday, August 28

Progress continues on the remediation of flood damage to buildings on the UWinnipeg campus.

As per the updated (1:00pm, August 28) chart below, the first stage of the process (sanitization and/or removal of wet materials) has been completed in all affected buildings.

The subsequent drying stage is 100% complete in a number of buildings and is 75-95% complete in remaining areas.

Work has also begun on third stage of flood remediation.  Damaged drywall is being replaced on a priority basis, beginning with Classroom, lab and office space.  (This work included drywall replacement only, with the taping and painting of affected areas to occur at a later date).

Except for parts of the Duckworth Centre, including the change rooms, the Athletic Therapy Clinic/lab and women’s sauna, it is business as usual on campus.

At this time, we anticipate few, if any labs or classes may need to be relocated on a temporary basis. Students affected by any necessary classroom changes will be notified by e-mail and postings outside of classrooms/labs. This information will also be posted on the University website.

More communication updates will be shared in the coming days as progress continues. Questions may be sent to communications@uwinnipeg.ca.

Note: A communiqué was sent directly to all Duckworth facility members earlier this week requesting that their lockers be emptied due to the flooding, and associated health and safety concerns.  The contents of all lockers have now been removed.

If you did not pick up the message to remove your belongings, or did not have the opportunity to clear out you locker, please present to the member’s desk at the Bill Wedlake Fitness Centre in Duckworth to claim and retrieve your belongings.

Locker-related inquires respecting any personal loss related to flooding may be directed to the General Manager of Athletic and Wellness Facilities at d.melvie@uwinnipeg.ca.

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Updated: Wednesday, August 27

Progress continues on the remediation of flood damage to buildings on the UWinnipeg campus. As per the updated (12:00pm, August 27) chart below , the first stage of the process (sanitization and/or removal of wet materials) is complete in all affected buildings and the subsequent drying stage is 75 – 100% complete in all areas.

More communication updates will be shared in the coming days as progress continues. Questions may be sent to communications@uwinnipeg.ca.

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Posted: Monday, August 25

Clean-up and remediation continues swiftly following flooding impact to multiple buildings on UWinnipeg’s campus as a result of heavy rains on Thursday, August 21^st. Priority Restoration, Bee-Clean Building Maintenance, and UWinnipeg personnel have been hard at work since Thursday ensuring that affected areas and equipment are assessed and remediated. More than 300 pieces of drying equipment and more than 130 staff (2,250-plus person-hours) have been involved in the process.

All materials affected by contaminated water have been removed and/or sanitized (or will be, as indicated in the table below), inventoried for insurance, and suitably disposed of. Except for parts of the hardest-hit buildings (such as the Duckworth Centre change rooms and some labs in Richardson College for the Environment & Science Complex), it is business as usual on campus, and no interruptions to classes in the coming weeks are anticipated.

Three major stages characterize the overall process aimed at returning the UWinnipeg campus to its pre-flood condition:
1) Sanitization/removal of wet materials
2) Drying
3) Restoration/repair

Stage 1 is well under way and anticipated to be complete by Tuesday evening (August 26); the drying stage will continue for 48 hours beyond, as a further precaution. The following chart highlights Stage 1 progress across the affected campus buildings — as of Monday morning, August 25.

More communication updates will be shared in the coming days as progress continues. Questions may be sent to communications@uwinnipeg.ca.

Note: a communiqué has been sent directly to all Duckworth facility members, requesting that they empty their lockers, both with respect to any personal loss related to the flooding and start-of-year housekeeping. Locker-related inquires may be directed to the General Manager of Athletic and Wellness Facilities at d.melvie@uwinnipeg.ca.