Site inspection

 

The project Principle Investigator, Dr. Neal Ferris, and Spriet Associates architectural Project Manager Amanda Bettridge, check out the progress on the new facility. They are standing on the east side of the artifact repository, the warehouse where collections will be stored on mobile shelving units. Picture 21carriages that extend the length of this room, 15 shelves high and full of standard sized boxes. 

Next week, the building will be fully enclosed. In March, the heaters will be brought out to thaw the ground in preparation for the first pour of concrete. While that is being done, the mechanical and electrical fittings will be installed and the interior will start to be finished. By April, the floor should be ready to start installing the shelving.

Muddy situation

 

Hints of spring are all around us! The temperatures this week have been warm, the birds are singing in the woods behind us, the snow is rapidly retreating - and unfortunately we've got a parking lot full of mud. As you can see in the latest progress photo, the roof is now on the facility and the walls are going up. It should be enclosed by the end of the month. To further fuel the excitement in the change of seasons, we're starting to talk landscaping details on site, as we envision what the museum and archaeology facility will look like with grass, bushes and trees.

Radio Frequency Identification Tags - Request for Proposals

The Sustainable Archaeology facilities at the University of Western Ontario and McMaster University are seeking bids from vendors for the supply and install of a RFID tracking system. The Request for Proposals has been published on the WEsternBUYs website, UWORFPAL-01103 and MERX. The Senior Buyer contact for this proposal is Andrew Lazarito - alazarit @ uwo.ca. Proposals close at noon EDT on 25 Feb 2011.

Colours

 

Considering the colour options for the stone veneer on the outside of the building (prefer the darker colour, closer to the photographer) and the mobile shelving (colour swatches) at the bi-weekly project meeting.

Archival storage boxes - Request for Proposals

The Sustainable Archaeology facilities at the University of Western Ontario and McMaster University are seeking bids from vendors for archival corrugated plastic storage boxes. The Request for Proposals has been published on the WEsternBUYs website, UWORFPSR-01053 and MERX. The Senior Buyer contact for this proposal is Scott Roth - sroth6 @ uwo.ca. Proposals close at noon EDT on 22 Feb 2011.

Enclosure

 

The Object Conversion and Digital Imaging laboratories have been enclosed. Half of the new facility's roof is now up. It's starting to look like a functional building.

New Equipment: Magnetic Gradiometer

A new piece of geophysical field equipment has arrived - a magnetic gradiometer from Bartington Instruments. It will be used in the field to locate underground archaeological features, such as foundation walls or fire hearths, and artifacts with magnetic properties.

Pre-cast slab delivery

 

The pre-cast slabs for the masonry walls were delivered today after a brief delay due to snow-fall. This month, the walls go up and the roof goes on.