KAGAWONG—Construction has started on the new Billings Township fire hall.
“It is going to be a reconstruction of what was there,” said Todd Gordon, Billings municipal project manager. He noted Quinan Construction Limited is building the new fire hall building.
The Billings fire hall is being replaced after the complete demolition and asbestos abatement of the deteriorated block structure right down to the foundation completed by Continental Insulation from Sudbury. The work, being overseen by Tulloch Engineering from Sault Ste. Marie, involves the construction of new exterior foundation walls by McCann Concrete Forming and Finishing, new wood frame walls and truss roof supplied by Pat Noble Lumber and Northern Truss respectively. The interior will feature new electrical distribution with high efficiency LED lighting provided by Dave Hall Electric, a new propane fired radiant heating system CO2 evacuation system and furnace by Campbell Heating Inc. There will be new plumbing and drainage, connection to septic and fixtures all by Strain’s Plumbing of Gore Bay.
The building will feature new Dutch hip roof style with asphalt shingle roofing and new Vic West steel siding. New insulated high R value overhead doors are being provided by Garage Door Store of Barrie.
“The building will be the same footprint size (as the former fire hall), but instead of masonry block it will be a wood frame with a sloped roof,” said Mr. Gordon. “The building will provide for the same square footage and layout, with two bays.”
Mr. Gordon said the construction is expected to take approximately 26 weeks, so it will be late fall or early winter when the building is complete.
The tender cost of the building is $1,563,000 to complete. The township has forwarded funding applications for the project costs to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund which, if approved, will provide for a substantial part of the construction project.
