Saskatoon’s city manager says design issues are at least partly to blame for another delay in the Remai Modern art gallery opening.
Murray Totland told city council Monday contractor EllisDon is running into constructability troubles with the plans, drawn up by an architect hired by the city.
He said the number of design issues with the gallery is high.
“There is an unusually high number on this project. That’s our view. I mean, we may have the contractor and architects argue with us on that, but our view is the number seems very high,” Totland said.
The gallery’s opening date has been pushed back several times since construction began in the summer of 2013. The latest target date for the gallery’s opening, September 2017, will also be missed.
The Remai Modern board expressed frustrations with the delays Monday. The board told council the gallery can’t begin moving into the new building until EllisDon says construction is substantially complete.
The board would need eight months to commission the building and prepare it for various art pieces once the keys are turned over.
A date for substantial completion is now estimated to land near the end of February, but board members were unable to provide council with a definite timeline for opening -- though they're hopeful the gallery can open by November.
