U of M constructs big year for jobs
Construction garners 1,000 jobs
CHELSE MCKEE, STAFF
The past year has been the largest one yet for the University of Manitoba, that is, in terms of jobs.
This year, the university will boast 1,000 jobs for its construction and renovation projects. Last year, U of M construction employed 801 people.
However, despite the increase in jobs for the projects this year, the monetary amounts decreased from last year.
According to Ken Berman, construction manager for the University of Manitoba’s physical plant, there was a total of 94 million dollars of construction work last year, while this year, the total is 74 million dollars.
He explained the decrease in cost and the increase in work.
“I have a lot more active construction jobs but I have less in dollar value, and that’s probably because of the engineering building being complete. That was a very large job last year.”
There are varying degrees of completion for the projects around campus. Many are in the preliminary design stages where others are almost complete.
Berman said that a rough estimate of projects overlapping into next year should be between 30-40 per cent of the current ongoing projects.
Some of the current projects include the new pharmacy building, the Aboriginal Students Centre, the lecture theatre for St. John’s College, and the addition to the Elizabeth Dafoe library.
The addition to the Elizabeth Dafoe Library is expected to be completed in December of this year, while both St. John’s and the new pharmacy building on the Bannatyne campus will be completed in March and June of 2008 respectively.
Construction of a new Welcome Centre will begin in the spring. The new Welcome Centre will replace the current Visitor Centre on University Crescent.
Most of the current renovation work isn’t the construction of new buildings but rather the repairing of the old structures. A majority of the work is large renovation work and upgrades and retrofits.
As well, some classrooms on campus are also getting a facelift. Currently, six classrooms are getting upgraded.
