Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch

The completed Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch

2010-10-08T11:19:00.001-04:00

October, 2010

double click on picture to enlarge

Symbolism; learn more...

2010-10-07T16:17:00.004-04:00

The centre blue panel on the Arch is Chinese characters saying "Ottawa Chinatown".

The Arch is rich in symbolism. For example, the tableau shown above is repeated on most of the nine roof corners. The dragon on the left represents the Emperor or government. The figure to the right is a civil servant or messenger riding a phoenix, sent out on state business. The three mythical monsters following him are to eat him up if he does not perform his duties to the highest standards.

The Chinatown business association has produced an informative booklet that explains some of the symbolism in the Gateway, allowing the viewer to "read" some of the stories on the Arch. It also explains some of the architectural features and traditions expressed in the gateway. The brochure will soon be available free at most merchants and restaurants in Chinatown.

Painting the Lion's Eyes

2010-10-07T16:00:00.001-04:00

To cap off the unveiling ceremonies, Mayor O'Brien and Liang Wei painted the Lion's eyes with water, washing them, and symbolically awakening the Lions to do their duty guarding the new Ottawa Chinatown Gateway.

Unveiling the lions

2010-10-07T15:20:00.002-04:00

At the base of the Arch there are two carved stone lions that guard the Gateway. Both were covered with red cloths, which were removed at the end of the ceremonies. Cloths were removed by representatives of the community:
Diane Holmes, Peter So, Larry Lee, Peter Yeung, Frank Ling, Bill Joe, Ron Tomlinson, and Marion Hum.

A traditional dragon dance followed the unveiling. There were two parent dragons and a baby dragon.

Some of the excitement and sounds of the opening ceremonies were captured in this CBC Morning show broadcast: http://www.ericdarwin.ca/downloads/CBC_Archway.mp3

Happy faces at the grand opening

2010-10-07T15:15:00.001-04:00

Assembled together for the opening ...

2010-10-07T15:00:00.001-04:00

People gather for the opening celebration. There were "invited guests" and VIP's in the seating area and crowds of people standing around the perimeter.

Councilor Diane Holmes (in gold dragon cape) and Mayor Larry O'Brien in the background.

L to R: Grace Xuexin of the Chinatown BIA; to the right of the Mountie is Lan Lijun, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China; John Baird representing the Government of Canada; Yasir Naqvi representing the Government of Ontario; Larry O'Brien Mayor of Ottawa; and Liang Wei representing Beijing.

October 7th 2010 was the fortieth anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and Canada.

Setting the stage, 2.30pm

2010-10-07T14:00:00.000-04:00

October 7, 2010: 2.30pm...

The stage is set, the chairs are ready to be warmed, but there is nary a dignitary in sight. The lions on the right and left are covered in red cloth for the official unveiling today at 3.58pm.

Scaffolding taking down

2010-10-02T15:34:00.000-04:00

On October 1st the contractors removed the scaffolding that has surrounded the Arch since construction started. For the first time, viewers could see the whole arch at once, and previously hidden elments such as the finial shown below.

The Mandarin language characters in the centre panel say Ottawa Chinatown. The removed scaffolding reveals the four mythical beasts -- two at the base of each column -- that guard the Arch. The beasts are a combination of lion and tiger and other ferocious animals. The two guardian lion sculptures have not yet been exposed, they are still covered with protective wood hoarding.

The electrical utility poles at the left are non-functional, ie they do not carry electricity. The electric service stops at the corner of Cambridge. These are left-over poles that haven't been removed because the city-owned utility wants too much money to remove them. Ottawa remains one of the more curious places in the world, in that it finds overhead wiring inoffensive and indeed features it on otherwise totally rebuilt and landscaped streets.

Decorative painting closeups

2010-09-23T15:53:00.000-04:00

There is a band of lacey filligree panels across the bottom of the arch spanning the street. In this picture the horizontal base is not yet painted, but if you see the Arch today, it being painted as beautifully as the other segments.

Phoenix, symbol of rebirth, fertility, the female.

The artisans painting the Arch must be finished by Friday, as they fly home to Beijing on Saturday. Next week, the last of the scaffolding will come down.

There is still a lot of prep work to do before the opening. There are the new-style Chinatown street lights, floodlights, uncrating the lions, etc.

Lions fighting

2010-09-16T14:48:00.000-04:00

detail of the panel with two lights fighting (or playing ...) over a golden ball. Double click to enlarge.

The roof, up close

2010-09-08T11:17:00.001-04:00

The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch is a royal arch because it has nine roofs, symbolizing eternal life and eternal reign of the emperor. The roofs are made of glazed roof tiles, as are the many figurative elements. These will not be visible in any detail from the ground, except with a telephoto lens.

It is now one month to official unveiling of the Arch, the long building process is drawing towards its culmination.

dragon motifs along the roof peak

the detailed story lines are intriguing, complex like the medieval cathedral stuatuary in Europe

The tiles are cemented together with red mortar. Double click to enlarge any picture to see more detail.

With a human in the picture, the scale of the pieces becomes more apparent

End of a "wooden" beam is capped with a glazed figure

Silhouetted against the sky, figures journey forever

Gold confetti

2010-08-31T21:34:00.000-04:00

As the gold foil is applied to the arch, the carrier strip of plain paper is discarded. The little strip of paper flutters away in the breeze.

Most of them flutter to land on the scaffolding underfoot. But a goodly number blow away in the breeze, leaving the downwind area lightly scattered with little strips of paper and tiny bits of gold leaf. Also shown on the scaffolding are pots of paint, solvents, tea infusions, cheesecloth, etc.

All the time I was on the Arch, one worker spent his time sweeping up the little pieces with a short broom. By time he was three quarters of his way along one side of the Arch, a fresh blizzard of paper bits was already descending onto the scaffolding behind him.

The workers draped large sheets of plastic over the area they were working in if they were on the up-wind side of the Arch, to prevent their gold foil from blowing away. Those on the down-wind side stuffed bits of cardboard in the nearby openings through the Arch to deflect the wind that funnelled through the gaps and blew away their bits of foil.

Gold Leaf

2010-08-25T21:50:00.000-04:00

Many of the elements of the Arch are decorated in real gold. The gold is applied in a foil format (not paint). The incredibly thin sheets of gold leaf come on carier sheets of heavier parchment. The artisan uses wooden tweezers to pick up 1" x 5" strips of gold. Each larger sheet is cut on site down to the smaller 1x5 size:

Artisan holds the sheet over the area to be foiled. He then rubs the backing to transfer the gold foil to the arch:

The carrier sheet flutters away in the breeze. Notice how the gold leaf covers too much area and is not yet the final shape:

Applying the gold foil to the scroll work on a piece of (concrete) bamboo:

After pressing the foil into place, the excess bits are wiped off with a piece of cheesecloth. I caught some of the bits waffing in the air, and ate them. Gold leaf (presumably in small quantities) is supposedly good for you, I learned that from a Vegas chef at a cooking lesson where we applied bits of gold leaf to our Japanese icecream deserts:

The finished scroll work. It should stay bright for about 100 years. Rain will wash over it and keep it clean:

Gold leaf sheets are available at craft and art supply stores for those who want to try this at home.

Close-up pictures, painting the Arch

2010-08-24T16:28:00.001-04:00

August 24, 2010

Painting is still in progress, and will be finished by the end of September. Here are some pictures of the painted sections "in progress". Some sections are still getting their first coats of paint, others are multicoloured with gold leaf.

Double click on any photo to enlarge it on your monitor screen.

gold leaf applied to upper panels but not yet trimmed

supporting decorative "woodwork" with its first coats of paint but not yet gold leafed

upper part has gold leaf but not trimmed, lower section has leaf that has been trimmed and outlined in white.

more pictures tomorrow !

Royal Treasure wall art

2010-08-23T22:13:00.000-04:00

Just a few blocks west of the Arch, this wall mural is in progress on the Royal Treasure wall at corner of LeBreton Street.

Some colour appears on the Arch

2010-08-12T15:19:00.001-04:00

Artisans have been in Ottawa for weeks now, preparing the Arch for the final decorative finishes.

Some bits of finish are now apparent, like the red and gray near the topmost roof section:

If you peer through the green netting that wraps the site, a bright yellow panel is visible on the north side:

Some paint on the eaves of the roof section. Double click to enlarge to see details:

Other Arches - Yokohama, Japan

2010-08-09T11:46:00.000-04:00

Shown above is the arch in Yokohama, Japan.

In Ottawa, the artisans who will paint the arch have arrived from Beijing and are applying the 13 undercoats of paint to make the cement structure smooth and ready for the four top coats of paint.

Other Arches - Philadelphia, USA

2010-08-02T08:05:00.003-04:00

This picture of the arch in Philadelphia USA gives some idea as to what the painting will look like on the concrete arch in Ottawa.

Somerset re-opens to car traffic

2010-07-30T12:13:00.001-04:00

July 29, 2010

On July 29 Somerset street was reopened to vehicular traffic again.

Scaffolding is still up around the Royal Arch for the use of the Chinese artisans who will soon start applying the seventeen coats of paint to the concrete work.

Sidewalks are open again too, with new concrete and inlaid bricks. The lions and dragons at the base of the columns are temporarily covered with wooden crating to protect them from damage during the remaining construction period.

Other Arches - London, England

2010-07-24T10:49:00.000-04:00

Red River of cement

2010-07-23T21:46:00.000-04:00

July 23, 2010, a truckload of red cement.

The square area around each the lamp post foundation is filled in with red cement.

A wood block with chinese characters is pressed into place.

Members of the BIA and fundraising community leave handprints.

The blocks have four wishes: Longevity, Prosperity, Luck, and Happiness.

Nothing like getting your hands dirty ...

Gathered fundraisers and members of the BIA.

Grace Xin, Exec.Dir. of the Somerset/Chinatown BIA photographing the group.

Sidewalks restored

2010-07-21T13:16:00.000-04:00

Work crews have laid the curbs for the restoration of Somerset Street under the arch. The picture shows some of the sidewalk paving being installed. The granite pavers right at the foot of the arch are visible at the base of the columns, which have been crated and wrapped to protect them from construction damage.

On each side of the arch will be pedestrian-scaled light fixtures. They will be the first of the new ones that will eventually be installed throughout Chinatown. In 2011, the section from Preston up to Booth will get the new sidewalks, landscaping, and light fixtures.

The Lions and Dragons Arrive

2010-07-18T12:50:00.000-04:00

The stone lion and dragons are installed at the base of the supporting pillars.

Preparing to install the stone paving around the base of the pillars.

Close up of lion and carved base. It is very hot and heavy work installing so much stone and concrete in plus 30 C weather.

Polished stone pavers cemented into place. With the final polishing of the pavers, the work of the Chinese artisans is almost finished. They return to China on Monday, before heading off to New Zealand for the next arch project.

Later, another cast of artisans arrive to apply 17 coats of paint to the exposed concrete parts of the arch. This will include paint with real gold in it.

Base of the arch

2010-07-13T16:22:00.000-04:00

The four pieces of stone put in place around the pillar. Liquid cement was then injected between the stone and the concrete column to firmly affix the stone base to the columns and support it at the base.

The next step is to install stone curbs around the base of the pillar. Shown to the immediate left is the pedestal for the stone lions.

The construction project is nearing completion for the Chinese artisans. They leave in a few days for their next project, an arch in Wellington NZ.

Decorative arts painters will soon arrive from China to start applying the 17 coats of paint, including gold leaf, to the Arch.

Base of the arch

2010-07-13T12:23:00.001-04:00

The carved stone bases for the pillars of the Arch are now being installed. Shown here is half of one base. Double click to enlarge to see the carving details.

Removing column forms

2010-07-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

The 130 ton arch is supported by two concrete columns. During the week of July 5th, the steel forms were removed, revealing the cement inside.

The pieces of steel forms are stacked on site and then sent off to be used on another job.

Filigree panels installed

2010-07-07T08:00:00.004-04:00

In the centre of the picture is an ornate pre-cast cement piece that is light as lace. Thinner than the surrounding concrete supports, it lets light through the arch and contributes to the ethereal thinness of the 130 ton arch.

Here is the big piece, along with several smaller sections,when they were cast two months ago on 5 May 2010.

Tile roofs installed

2010-07-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

July 5, 2010

The first view of the arch with some of the roof tiles installed.

Chinese artisan preparing a corner of roof to receive tiles.

The complexity of the underside of the roofs is now revealled. Double click to enlarge photo.

These artisans were working on the shaded side of the arch during some of the hottest days in the year, with temperatures +30 C.

Detail of the tiles installed on the roofs.

Other Arches - Los Angeles, USA

2010-07-05T11:27:00.000-04:00

Other Arches - Chicago, USA

2010-06-28T22:36:00.002-04:00

The saga of the Littlest Roof

2010-06-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

Shown above is the littlest roof section being lifted into place a week ago.

The little roof section is located just to the left of the crane. While put in place in this picture, it did not fit well, and was later tried on the similar location to the right of the crane. It did not fit well there either. It is a tiny bit too wide.

Closer view of the littlest roof section.

The littlest roof sections replaced onto the road. The choices: to make new roof sections ... but the forms have been taken apart. Or to make them smaller: the rebars were removed and the cement sides were cut slightly smaller. But it still did not fit.

The final decision: each of these little roof sections will be cut into four, and inserted carefully from the outside, positioned perfectly, and then glued together with grout, and cemented into place.

Proud work crews

2010-06-24T14:00:00.001-04:00

After the highest roof is put in place on June 23rd on the centre peak of the Arch, workers pause for celebratory photographs.

Awesome job

2010-06-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

The crane operator lifting the topmost roof sections onto the arch, pauses to take his own pictures of the ottawa chinatown royal arch.

Earth Trembles in Awe of New Royal Arch

2010-06-23T17:44:00.000-04:00

June 23, 2010

Just after one o'clock in the afternoon, as the top-most roof of the royal arch is being installed, the earth trembled in awe of the majesty and beauty of the royal arch being installed on Somerset Street.

Artisans install temporary word shoring that holds the roof sections steady until rebars are linked together and additional cement can be poured in place to lock all the pieces together.

The true height of the arch complex is now apparent to all. It is about 16' to the bottom of the arch, and 33' to the top of the arch. It weighs 130 tons.

This is a view into the foundation hole, taken some weeks ago. It shows the four corner locations where holes and anchors were drilled 28' deep into the bedrock to anchor the structure against earthquakes. Evidently, they work well.

First roof sections installed on the arch

2010-06-18T12:52:00.000-04:00

June 18, 2010

A crane positions a roof section atop the beam.

Worker uses a saw to cut off some rebar hanging down from the roof.

North roof section in place, south one being positioned.

Under the scaffolding, bottom of the arch

2010-06-16T13:00:00.002-04:00

This is a sidewalk view of the underside of the scaffolding holding up the arch during construction. Note the two short wooden sections in the centre, between the reddish colour long steel beams.

These decorative finials were precast on the Cambridge site, with rebars sticking out of their flat end. These rebars were then inserted up into the future concrete column in the centre of the arch, wired into place, and then the column was filled with cement from the top.

The decorative finials are shown in gold in this photoshop rendering of the arch. Double click to enlarge.

Tomorrow, the lowest six roof sections will be placed on the beam, and their rebars tied into the last bits of beam forms that haven't yet been filled with concrete. The result will be a beam and precast roof sections all locked together with rebar and poured concrete.

Top sections of the beam of the arch

2010-06-15T23:00:00.001-04:00

The beam that forms the backbone of the arch over Somerset Street is built up in several layers, corresponding to the eventual roof heights (there will be nine roofs, spread over three different elevations).

Workers construct rebars to reinforce the top most concrete beam. This section will get its concrete likely this Friday. Several of the lower roof sections will have been lifted into place by then, and the last beam pours will lock all the pieces together into a solid concrete element.

Rebar lifted into place by the crane.

Worker with grinder or saw cuts some rebar so it fits perfectly.

Moving the roof sections from Cambridge

2010-06-15T16:18:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

In the lot behind the Yangtze, a crane lifts up the roof sections by a chain attached to the rebar hooks built into the roof sections

Roof sections are put on the crane bed and on a trailer, ready to move to Somerset Street arch site

The crane backs out of the precast concrete site onto Cambridge Street.

Crane truck drives under the arch to the unloading site, on the Bronson side of the arch

The crane boom is extended, and chains attached to the roof sections.

Roof section lifted up.

Roof section descends over its temporary wooden cradle built on Somerset Street.

Work crews scramble to position it carefully on the cradle so it cannot tip over.

Workers ensure the cradle is doing its job and will hold the roof section securely until it is put up onto the arch, possibly as soon as this Thursday.

Roof sections completed

2010-06-14T21:52:00.000-04:00

A few posts ago there were close up pictures of the wooden forms for making the faux boards that appear to hold up each roof segment. The cement has been poured, and the forms removed, leaving the completed roof sections.

The entire cement casting site on Cambridge behind the Yangtze has now been tidied up, with many wooden forms and boards put into a dumpster.

It very much looks like the cement casting section of the project is rapidly nearing completion. Emphasis has shifted to the overhead beam of the arch out on Somerset. The main beam is in place, but still obscured from view by the wooden forms. The beams that hold up the upper sections of roof are now being poured.

Other Arches - Havana, Cuba

2010-06-14T08:45:00.000-04:00

Geo-caching IN the Arch

2010-06-11T09:57:00.000-04:00

The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch will have nine roofs, symbolizing eternal life. Under the roof tiles of the highest arch, cemented into the structure, some treasures will be secreted.

Shown above are the monetary treasures. The coin at the centre top is a current coin with the symbols of the zodiac around the perimeter. (Double click on the picture to enlarge it).

The coin at the top right is a coin made of real gold. While its face value is 10 yuan ($1.50 Cdn) it doesn't circulate as its gold value is much higher than its face value.

Each of the coins is made of a different metal. In addition to the gold coin, there are iron, copper, and tin coins. The two bottom right coins are from Ching Dynasty, about 200 years old.

The coin at the bottom left is from the Tang Dynasty, and is about 1000 years old.

The picture below shows the coins with the small skeins of wool that will be burried into the cement with the coins. They represent each colour.

Until the ceremonial installation of the coins in the cement, they reside in a Ottawa safety-deposit box.

Other Arches - Sidney, Australia

2010-06-09T08:47:00.001-04:00

Forms for the beam

2010-06-08T09:04:00.002-04:00

Wooden forms being built on site behind the Yangtze Restaurant.

Symbolic nine roofs

2010-06-07T10:15:00.005-04:00

The Ottawa Chinatown arch will have nine roof sections. Nine represents eternal life, a suitable wish for the Emperor, so his Royal Arch has nine roofs. This will be the only nine-roofed arch in North America.

A section of straight roof is to the right. A curved section is being built to the left. Small forms made of wood and wedges is being built into which concrete will be poured.

A section of right roof being formed. From such little wedges of wood, from scraps and off-cuts from the construction site, are the forms made. Once the concrete sets, the forms are knocked out leaving the appearance of wooden beams holding up the roof.

Forms being put in place for the cement roof end.

Supporting structure

2010-06-05T20:52:00.000-04:00

The forms for the columns are made of curved steel sections bolted together. Here, the far sides of the columns are in place but the near sides are still open while the steel workers install the rebars. Later, the columns will be completed by bolting on the remaining steel forms, and then filled with cement. When cured, the forms will be removed, revealling the finished concrete column.

Scaffolding has been erected around both columns, and temporary steel beams cross the street. A working platform is being built on top of the steel beams.

Close up of the working platform being constructed across Somerset Street.

Boston Chinatown Arch

2010-05-31T08:05:00.000-04:00

It is made of concrete, tile roofs, and wooden beams. There are lion pedestals on both sides of the arch, but only lions on one side the day I was there.

The street is open to cars on one side, and closed for about 200' on the other side, making a lovely plaza with great landscaping themes that will be subject of another post.

The lack of car traffic makes it easy to admire or photograph the arch.

The underside of the tile roofs are made of carved wooden supports.

The view from the side with an active vehicular road.

Large pieces being cast

2010-05-30T07:55:00.000-04:00

When the artisans first began casting concrete pieces, they were quite small and delicate, like the pieces shown in the photo below. But now they have moved on to casting much larger pieces, as shown above.

These large pieces will be lifted onto the arch beam using a crane.

Montreal Arches

2010-05-29T10:19:00.002-04:00

(Guest post by Charles Akben-Marchand of Images of Centretown)

This past Saturday, I went on a trip to Montreal to check out transit, cycling, and other features there that we can learn from in Ottawa (both in terms of what to do and what not to do). We also swung by Montreal's Chinatown to check out their arches.

This arch is one of two on Boul. Saint-Laurent, and faces South-East. The other one is a few blocks up. It spans four lanes of traffic, and like ours has two lions at the entrance.

This third one is at the start of a pedestrian zone perpendicular to Saint-Laurent, which Google Maps says is Boul. de la Gauchetière Est. It's noticeably smaller. Unfortunately, the white streaks are not runny paint, but pigeon poop.

While it was raining when I took this shot, you can see that pigeon netting covers the entire decorative roof tiles of the arch, which takes a lot away from it. It also looks like pigeon poop is clumping up under the pigeon net on top of the decorative element on top of the roof (which might be a dragon head, but it's obscured).

Hopefully the sculpted dragons on Ottawa's Royal Arch will scare away the pigeons. Or maybe they can include an owl design...

Somerset closed to car traffic

2010-05-28T07:49:00.002-04:00

warning signs have been put up to advise motorists and buses that Somerset will be closed to permit construction of the arch

while the closure is only for one short block, it will disrupt traffic along much of Somerset

It will be closed for two months.

The warning signs on the west side have a similar message, but had to be positioned to warn through traffic without discouraging local traffic that can still access side streets and Chinatown businesses.

Deep foundations for an eternal arch

2010-05-27T19:47:00.001-04:00

The holes were dug into the street for the foundations, and concrete poured in a large block. On top of this, a steel form has been put in place to hold the rebars and the poured cement that will form the column holding up the arch.

Looking into the hole, the size of the concrete block is apparent. It sits on bedrock. Notice the four holes in the block.

A boring machine drills through the four holes in the cement block, into the bedrock. The new holes go 28' down through the bedrock. Anchors will be installed to hold the block to the bedrock.

The anchors through the foundation into the bedrock will make the foundation earthquake (tremblor) proof, so the arch should really be eternal.

Tulip Arch

2010-05-17T09:13:00.002-04:00

Each year at Dow's Lake the NCC sets up this entry arch to the Tulip Festival tents and vendor area.

With the added awareness of arches in life caused by the construction of the celebrated Chinatown Arch on Somerset Street, I paused to look at this tulip arch. It is simple, a metal frame with canvas infill. It does work to create an entry point. And person after person stopped to take a picture of it. I was astounded how many photos were taken in the ten minutes I watched the arch.

It drove home how photographed and memorialized the new Chinatown Arch will be once it is finished and everyone will have to take a picture of it.

foundations

2010-05-14T09:03:00.000-04:00

The forms for the foundations of the Chinatown Royal Arch are being put in place on Somerset Street, just a few doors east of Cambridge. The current sidewalk will be widened, taking over a bit of one traffic lane on each side of the street.

The foundation hole was dug down to bedrock. The 130+ ton weight of the structure will be carried by foundations down to the bedrock. The visible part of the pillars are have already been made, and are in the yard behind the Yangtze Restaurant.

The same as for most construction projects, the preparation work seems to take forever; the actual assembly of the arch will be quick.

Other Arches - Busan, South Korea

2010-05-07T12:17:00.000-04:00

casting concrete pieces

2010-05-05T15:37:00.000-04:00

Some of the concrete pieces are cast very large. These complex dragon pieces are about 4' x 4' square.

Sea serpent.

casting concrete pieces

2010-05-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

small piece of decorative cast concrete that came out of the plastic-lined mold on the right

Casting in 3 steps: multiple pieces being cast in sequence on the casting table. The farthest mold has the rebar in it, the middle box has been filled with cement mix, the front piece has had its mold removed revealling the cement object

Many of the larger pieces are like three dimensional jig saw puzzle pieces into which a number of smaller pieces will insert and lock into place

Pieces are left draped in wet burlap to slow down the drying process so the cement can continue its curing (chemical process that hardens the materials and bonds them together)

Pieces of column cylinders left to cure

arch foundations

2010-04-30T20:55:00.001-04:00

Construction workers have dug the holes for the foundations of the arch. The foundation will come up through what is now the curb side lane of the street. When finished, this area will be a wider sidewalk zone.

While the hole does not appear very deep, it goes down to bedrock, providing a sound foundation for an arch to last forever.

casting concrete

2010-04-29T09:21:00.001-04:00

Multiple pieces of decorative concrete work are being made all at once on the flat concrete platform at the Cambridge Steet open-air atellier. The concrete pieces are representations of bamboo posts. There are rebars sticking out of the bottom (left) of the pieces which will be set in future pieces of concrete.

The artisans from China use a combination of modern tools (power cement mixer, trucks) and traditional wooden molds. The worker in the back left is sweeping dust off the platform using a short-handled whisk, which may be a traditional tool but also seems to me to be rather hard on the back.

Artisans from China

2010-04-28T09:22:00.002-04:00

The Chinatown Royal Arch is being built by a combination of Canadian contractors (Delcan, Tomlinson) and Chinese contractors employed by the Beijing Historical Relic and Construction Company (and no, Jim Watson is not their boss).

About 20 artisans are in Canada now. They are the concrete guys, busy casting the decorative elements and eventually the main beam that crosses Somerset Street. They are housed in several rented buildings near the site - appropriately above a chinese restaurant and in the old Bert's Bike repair house. They brought their own cook with them from China. Local restuarants in Chinatown have shown hospitality to the workers and are helping their cook acquire supplies the Canadian way.

On Sunday, someone donated 10 fresh caught fish to the workers, and it made their mid-day dinner on Monday.

The concrete workers will be here til mid-June, when all the casting is done and the arch installed over the street. Crews will be working seven days a week, then they will return to China. The workers do get time off - on Sunday past they had a tour of Parliament Hill and the downtown.

In June, crews of painting artisans will arrive to give the arch 17 coats of paint, including some gold paint.

Preparing for the gateway pillars

2010-04-27T09:14:00.003-04:00

The Arch will be located on Somerset between Bronson and Cambridge. One leg will be by the City parking lot (former Grad's tavern before it burned down) and the other in front of Sushi 88 - ~~Brown~~ Raw Sugar restuarant.

The sidewalks have already been removed in preparation for construction.

A large saw cut in the curb side lane on each side of Somerset marks where the pavement is to be removed. A "bulb out" will be constructed, permanently narrowing Somerset to two traffic lanes. The bulb out is where the supporting pillars of the Arch will be built, the lions on pedestals installed, and four decorative new style lamps. The pillars are expected to be in place by May 15th.

Casting concrete pieces

2010-04-24T07:39:00.003-04:00

In their Cambridge Street outdoor atellier the Chinese artisans have set up several tent shelters and work stations.

The long concrete pad shown running from the tent to the foreground has a uniform slope on its right edge. Looking closely, notice the forms are also curved to fit this casting bed. Presumably some parts of the arch require angled surfaces for the front or back of the pieces.

Some of the first cast pieces. Several different designs have now been cast. The arch is symmetrical front to back and side to side, so multiple pieces of each element is required.

Work shelter on the site.

Lions resting behind Yangtze

2010-04-23T07:33:00.001-04:00

There is a large vacant lot behind the Yangtze Restaurant at the corner of Somerset and Cambridge Streets. The lot is being used to cast the concrete elements for the Arch, and to store these stone pieces shipped from China.

Two lions in the background, a pair of small dragons in the left foreground.

Other Arches - Honalulu, Hawaii & Mexico City

2010-04-22T19:54:00.004-04:00

This is the gateway arch in Honalulu, Hawaii. The Chinatown there is famous, rated a must-see in the tourist guides. The roof is green -- Honalulu is no longer a national capital. The arch makes a nice door-like feature over the sidewalk crossing over a river on the edge of chinatown, which is visible in the background.

This is the Mexico City Royal Arch -- note the gold roof. It was inaugerated in 2008.

Groundbreaking Day 22 April 2010

2010-04-22T19:49:00.001-04:00

Official Groundbreaking: The Shovel Crew

2010-04-22T17:18:00.000-04:00

Hard hats await the dignitaries for the groundbreaking ceremony.

The dignitary work crew attacks the heaps of clay provided for the official groundbreaking. This soil was stacked earlier on Cambridge Street -- the arch itself will be nearby on Somerset Street.

Yasir Naqvi encourages the shovel brigade to get the photographers lined up to the left of the picture.

Mayor Larry OBrien and the real construction workers and artisans from China who will actually dig the real dirt and do the heavy lifting.

Official Groundbreaking: The Table

2010-04-22T17:17:00.002-04:00

Before a construction, owners and builders perform rituals to bless the land, bring safety to the workers, ask for good weather and ensure a smooth process in building the gateway.

Whole roast pig, roast chicken, fruit,rice, and ceremonial tea offerings.

Ceremonial offerings. On the left, Mr Joe holds folded paper envelopes for the burnt offering.

The paper offerings of money are burnt in a fire.

Official Groundbreaking: Who Came

2010-04-22T17:17:00.000-04:00

Grace Xin, Executive Director of the Somerset-Chinatown Business Association (CBIA) is interviewed by media at the groundbreaking ceremony held at the corner of Cambridge and Somerset Streets.

Mayor Larry OBrien greets guests.

Mr Joe (Cathay Restaurant); Mr Ling, Architect; Senator Vivian Poy, Hon John Baird, MP; Bob Chiarelli, MPP and former mayor

The Ambassador of People's Republic of China; Ottawa Mayor Larry OBrien; Councillor Diane Holmes; Yasir Naqvi, MPP.

on right: Councillor Maryanne Wilkinson

John Baird gives his remarks.

Councillor Diane Holmes gives her remarks.

Lions and pedestals arrive from China

2010-04-21T16:47:00.001-04:00

There will be two decorative lions on pedestals facing east at the base of the Royal Arch. Watawa Life covered the arrival of the lions:

http://www.robink.ca/blog/where-the-lions-are/

click on the above link to see the photos.

Site Preparation: electric lines

2010-04-09T16:31:00.000-04:00

Preparatory work is well underway for the Chinatown Arch. The Ottawa Hydro trucks shown here have been working all week to relocate the wiring on the south side of Somerset between Cambridge and Bronson.

The Chinatown arch groundbreaking will be in two weeks and the unaesthetic wiring needs to be out of the way. The cost of removing the wiring ... not cheap!... is being borne by the Chinatown BIA.

Invitation to Groundbreaking 22 April 2010

2010-04-08T16:27:00.001-04:00

The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch

2010-02-09T16:38:00.002-05:00

double click to enlarge picture

Construction of the Chinatown Royal Arch begins in April 2010. The whole structure will be precast concrete. The precasting of features will be done in a tented workshop behind Yangtze Restaurant using handcarved wooden molds, then put on the concrete main frame. It will take two months to cast, then painting will take two months, altogether five to six months.

The lowest point of the arch will be 16’ above the street; the top point will be about 33’ above the street. The main arch piece spanning the street will weigh 100 tons. When the decorative elements are added, 130 tons altogether. In preparation for the project, a gas main has to be moved; hydro lines on the south side must be relocated or buried.

The photoshop arch picture is not totally correct, as the piers supporting the arch will be located on bulb outs that will replace 2 parking spaces, that is to say the arch spans two traffic lanes, not four.

The arch will be completed for unveiling on October 13, the 40th anniversary of the modern Canada-China relationship so it is a tight deadline. The construction process should itself be a tourist attraction of considerable interest and well worth documenting.

The CBIA has hired a lighting consultant. Current plans are to add floodlights to the existing or new Chinatown decorative light fixtures and add two more light poles. There is also a move to upgrade the block from Cambridge to Bronson (perhaps as part of the Bronson reconstruction process) to the new Chinatown streetscaping design being developed this spring as part of the Somerset reconstruction process underway from Preston up to Booth.

The CBIA is also heading up a search process for the teams of workers from China who will build the arch. They are looking for accommodation for 16 to 46 workers at a time.