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Gibbson Block


Client intent
The Client engaged Boreas to develop a “roadmap” of repair, maintenance and capital improvement necessary to sustain the Gibson Block over the next ten years.  The roadmap provides the client with way to recognize and preserve historic features of this landmark building while incorporating modern standards and practices within a client budget.

Client Result
Boreas delivered a substantial report and program to the Client that assessed the existing condition of the building, identified areas to be addressed with a timetable of repair and intervention. This approach affords the opportunity for a client to “package” work into fundable packages, for fundraising purposes.

Assessment
The Client has a plan of action for future work at the Gibson Block, programmed in such a way as to provide a logical sequence of work that does not destroy previous work in order to proceed with this program of repair, maintenance and capital improvement.

Plan of Action


While this may sound like a facilities approach to a building program, understanding the building’s heritage and they way it was build was essential to creating the building program

Sidewalk Vaults
A feature of the Gibson Block are its sidewalk vaults:  the basement extends several feet beyond the building face under the public sidewalk. Consideration was given to the sorts of uses that sidewalk vaults have historically been used for, and that those principles could be applied to today’s requirements.


Load Bearing Masonry Construction
Seemingly becoming a lost art, the Gibson Block is constructed of external load bearing masonry walls.  Again, understanding heritage principles of this building’s construction, recommendations were made as to the type of mortar that should be used during simple repairs to this building.


Building Operation
While the Gibson Block is a heritage building, true to the heart of many Edmontonians, it runs on modern building systems. Recommendations were made as to energy and water conservation measures that could be employed through regular building maintenance, measures that would not alter the heritage nature of the Gibson Block.