Progress on restoration
Workers finish a west window and south brick replacement on the Michener Centre administration building on Thursday: fire destroyed much of the building after a lightning strike in 2003.
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Work is about 70 per cent complete on a $12.7-million project to rebuild a historic Michener building and make it into the corporate centre for David Thompson Health Region.
Reconstruction of the former Michener South Administration Building began in 2006 after a lightning strike and fire in 2003 destroyed the roof and most of the upper floor.
Some of the 156 staff who are slated to relocate from several DTHR departments will start moving in this summer. Work is expected to be complete by fall.
DTHR spokeswoman Elaine McFadden said the move is going forward despite the elimination in May of Alberta’s regional health boards, including DTHR, and the amalgamation of all nine health regions by next spring.
“Plans are still in the works to move as scheduled,” McFadden said.
Alberta Health Services spokeswoman Leslie Beard said the new Alberta Health Services Board, which replaced the regional health boards, is still getting organized and is not even close to making any staffing decisions.
The new board is responsible for health services delivery for the entire province, along with replacing the Alberta Mental Health Board, Alberta Cancer Board and Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.
DTHR staff from finance, corporate services, communications, material management, capital planning and project development will relocate to the Michener building.
Work on drywall in the building is being completed and flooring, painting and fixtures are next on the list.
The Michener building was constructed in 1911 by the Presbyterian Church as the Alberta Ladies College and then purchased by the government in 1918 for First World War veterans suffering mental health problems.
In 1923, it became a provincial training school for persons with developmental disabilities. In 1984, it was designated a municipal historic site.
DTHR staff moving to the building currently work in space leased by the health region. They include 120 staff at Centre 5010, 15 staff at the Provincial Building and 21 at Red Deer Hospital’s South Complex.
Contact Susan Zielinski at szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
