Roof sections completed

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.

Symbolic nine roofs

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.