The saga of the Littlest Roof

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

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

 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

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

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

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.

Moving the roof sections from Cambridge

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.