British Columbia Wall & Ceiling Association member, Ron's Drywall, recently completed work on Salish Lelum, a LEED-Silver certified housing project that kicked off the first of five similar projects coming soon to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
Construction was completed in June 2011 and provided the City with 18 supportive housing units for Aboriginal Youth and Elders located at 479 Tenth Street. Salish Lelum is the first project that came about after the 2008 decision between the province and the City of Nanaimo that approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build up to 160 new supportive housing units on five properties for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The Salish Lelum project cost $3.08 million and was funded by the province, with the City of Nanaimo waiving the development cost of $115,906.
“These projects are an exciting addition to Nanaimo’s affordable housing stock, and are a significant step forward in Nanaimo’s housing strategy,” says Mayor John Ruttan, City of Nanaimo. “The youth and elders housing represents a unique intergenerational approach that is a fantastic model for our community and others.”
At the time of its grand opening, Grace Elliott-Nielsen, Tillicum Lelum executive director, told local papers that the idea behind putting elders and youth together is so that youth have access to the mentorship and cultural knowledge the elders have to offer, adding that Salish Lelum will house youth who are in school or just starting their first job, but still need support while they find their feet.
Salish Lelum combines apartments for elders, which include a kitchen and living area, bedroom and private bathroom, while youth live in studio apartments with cooking and sleeping area in one room, along with a private bathroom in each unit.
Ron's Drywall, which installed the gyp-rock on the building, was an ideal choice since the company has been serving both the commercial and residential needs of the Nanaimo area since 1974.
“All of the work went smoothly,” says Ron Einarsen, president of Ron's Drywall. “The builder [Windley Contracting] had everything ready to go on schedule as they always do. We easily met our deadlines and we are very proud of doing so. The builder is known for being one of the best on the Island. We put our bid in on this one and because Windley likes the way we do things, we got it. We've worked with them a lot on past projects.”
Along with gyp-rock, Ron's Drywall specializes in T-Bar ceilings, exterior and interior steel studs, demountables, and structural steel studs. Past projects in Ron's portfolio have varied from eateries, recreation centres, retirement homes, and multi-unit residential properties, including Pipers Pub, Nanaimo Ice Center, Blackcomb Lodge, Queen Charlotte School, Galaxy Motors, Oliver Wood Community Center, and the Lakeside Gardens Community Center.
In recent years the company has expanded into the insulation field by starting TCL Insulation Ltd, a division of Ron's Drywall Ltd. As with its parent company, TCL Insulation Ltd. works both commercial and residential projects with the emphasis on the commercial side.
Windley Contracting Ltd. was the general contractor on the project. Windley is widely recognized as a developer in Nanaimo providing affordable homes as well as more elaborate custom homes. With a history dating back to 1949, Windley Contracting executes every project successfully because they plan ahead and believe in doing things right the first time.
Along with Salish Lelum, Windley's notable projects in the area include Black Press Publications, Dover Point Shopping Centre, Nanaimo Harbourfront Library, The Gatehouse at Blackcomb Lodge, and select properties for Vancouver Island University.
Dave Rozzano and his crew at West Coast Exterior Contracting installed the building's cedar exterior siding. The company has been serving Nanaimo since 1988. Rozzano says their time spent on the project went perfectly, as is always the case when working with Windley Contracting.
In October 2011, construction of an eight-bedroom safe house adjacent to the housing units will commence and involve the same key players as Salish Leleum, including Ron's Drywall. Funding for this secondary building came by way of a $375,000 grant from the Ministry of Children and Family Development and a $100,000 grant from the Vancouver Island Health Authority. The City of Nanaimo will also waive development fees for this project. Once complete the safe house will offer temporary emergency shelter for up to eight youth between the ages of 14 and 19.
“The new safe house will provide a safe haven for youth and is an important element in our response to the emergency housing needs of young people experiencing difficulties. We are pleased and honoured to provide support to these projects,” says Mayor Ruttan.
Who's Who?
The following is a list of subtrades who worked on Salish Lelum as they relate to the wall and ceiling industry:
- Complete Concrete & Framing
- Atlas Engineered Products
- Silverwood Construction
- Island Timberframe
- West Coast Exterior Contracting
- G & G Roofing
- Vanberg Interior Painting
- Ron’s Drywall
- Van Roc Interiors
- Waywest Mechanical
- Mitchel Electric
Also Worth Knowing
Over the last decade, the province has invested $2.8 billion towards providing affordable housing for low income individuals, seniors, and families. In 2011, more than 93,000 BC households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.
