Demolition began this morning on old buildings at Regina’s Evraz Place in preparation for construction of the new International Trade Centre.
The numbered barns that house horses, sheep and goats during Canadian Western Agribition were among the first to go. Materials, seating and other equipment was salvaged for re-use where possible.
Mark Allan, chief executive officer of Evraz Place, said he was “turning cartwheels” now that park renewal was finally taking place. Plans have been in the works for years, but funding had to be secured.
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The new ITC will be 150,000 sq. feet and cost $37 million.
The square footage of the buildings being demolished is 265,000 sq. feet. However, much of the space was only used once a year for Agribition, and the new space will be more flexible.
Demolition of 10.5 of the buildings will be done by March, followed by construction through to October 2017.
However, the Harlton, Pasqua, Exhibition Stadium and north half of the Winter Fair building will be left standing to accommodate Agribition 2016. They will go down in January 2017.
Canada’s Farm Progress Show will see a different footprint this year, with events taking place on the east and west sides of the grounds and construction in the middle.
Barn 9 is the first to go at Regina’s Evraz Place. pic.twitter.com/Fwz2FhwDgM
— Karen Briere (@kjbriere) January 7, 2016
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
