Progress Report: Pinnguaq’s New Office & Makerspace!
By purchasing the building at 12 Peel Street, in the Kawartha Lakes, Pinnguaq has tripled its facilities, and created a new hub for science, technology, art and math activities catering to educators, students, and creators alike. But first some renovations are required!
Work so far…
Since taking possession of the former Public Works building, we’ve been focused on getting the 4,500 sq ft Makerspace ready for the public. This is where our science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education and skill-building programs for all ages will take place, and a lot of STEAM has gone into the work so far. In the bottom floor of the building we will feature three Makerspaces, each with its own unique functionality. Our Go-Teams and STEAM kit building teams will have a separate space to ensure we can continue to serve every school, library and interested community across Treaty 20 land.
Before:
After:
O’Neil and Carrol, the Lindsay based construction team, had been getting down and dirty to get the building in shape, but shortly after taking things down – we found the older portion of the building contained asbestos. Two months later it has all been removed, plans are drawn up and we have entered the “permit waiting” phase of construction. Architects, engineers and City officials are poring over our plans and once we get their stamp of approval, we can shift from destruction to construction!
Fenelon-based designers, Homes by Tim and Chris have helped us craft plans that we are excited to share. With their support we are focusing on ensuring that the building is a truly public, dynamic, accessible and welcoming space for STEAM-interested and STEAM-curious people of all ages. We look forward to having school groups, families and community organizations in the space and ensuring it meets their needs.
Thinking ahead!
What we can share today is a sneak preview of what the finished product will look like. The team at Homes by Tim and Chris are working diligently with our staff to ensure this building is a landmark in Lindsay. Here are just a few shots from our current stage of planning (and one nifty video).
What’s next?
Dozens of people across the Kawartha Lakes are busy at work on the building in one way or another, but each day brings us closer to completion. Soon we will begin framing the walls – a major milestone in shaping the physical space. In September, we aim to install a state of the art HVAC system that will guarantee comfort for our future occupants. And of course, we’re working with the relevant authorities to obtain all necessary permits, ensuring progress without any hiccups.
At the same time we are actively fundraising to help shape this building into an open public space for Lindsay. We estimate that opening this building will represent an investment of over $2.5 million in Lindsay’s downtown.
Do you want to help? Feel free to make a charitable donation at Canada Helps.
Stay tuned for further updates on our progress – we can’t wait for you to see what we have in store!
