Feature Projects

Profile articles exploring the background and traits of particular projects

Feature Project: Animal Control Facility in Medicine Hat

Existing Shop Transport and New Addition

The team at Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction (SWMW) are proud to have recently finished work on an animal control facility in Medicine Hat, Alberta for the City of Medicine Hat.

This project is an excellent example of how well the SWMW team collaborates with project owners and their teams. We had the opportunity to work closely with the City of Medicine Hat project management team, and this partnership was instrumental in us successfully completing the project on time and on budget!

Let’s dive into the details of this project and discuss how we made it happen for our valued client.

Project Details

Sector: Commercial
Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta
Timeline: Project began in April 2022 and completed in December 2022

The Animal Control Facility project involved relocating an existing wood framed building, 50 feet wide by 60 feet long, and creating a new 50 foot wide by 20 foot long addition, along with a new 1,014 sq/ft mezzanine.

The building now serves as a shelter for dogs, cats, and other small animals obtained by city bylaw. In addition to serving as a shelter, the building also features a medical room, a grooming room and a food preparation room. Due to the size and location of the building, our client hopes to collect and care for animals from the surrounding communities.

Project Considerations

Air Flow

One of our major considerations in the design of the building was the mechanical system. To maintain optimal air quality for the animals, the building was designed to have separate air flow systems in animal quarantine areas and in the regular areas.

We achieved this separate air flow through extensive ductwork, and implemented 48” diameter ducts.

Planning

Our Midwest Design and Construction team held a series of meetings with the City of Medicine Hat’s facility management team early in our planning process to help establish the initial design, budget and scope.

This early collaboration set the stage for our team working closely with the City of Medicine Hat’s Project Manager to ensure the project was completed successfully and in accordance with the predetermined criteria of time, budget and scope.

Building Transport Logistics

As noted, this project involved moving an existing building and constructing a new addition on the final site.

The existing building is a sizable 3,000 sq.ft. existing building, which involved careful planning to ensure safe transport to its new home!

We prepared the building for relocation by removing fixtures, furniture, fittings, and any other attached items. We then lifted the existing building off of its foundation and placed it on a flatbed trailer for transportation. The route to the new building’s destination is carefully planned to avoid heavy traffic, power lines, narrow roads, and power lines.

Once the building arrived safely at the new location, we reversed the above process. We lifted the building off of the trailer and placed the building on the new foundation designed to accommodate the weight of the transported building. We then reattached the building to necessary utilities such as water and electricity.

New Addition Build

After the relocation of the larger building, our team had the task of constructing a 1,000 sq.ft. addition, along with a large mezzanine. We completed several exterior and interior renovations to ensure the new building and the existing building function as one complete animal control facility.

Other scopes of work included all necessary site and civil work, which included grubbing and clearing of the building site, installation of deep and shallow utilities, grading and drainage, and demolition of existing buildings on the site.

Final Thoughts

We’re proud to say that this animal control facility was completed on time, on budget, and within scope.

Building relationships with our clients is key for our team at Southwest And Midwest Design & Construction. It’s how we’re able to collaborate effectively with our clients and deliver the top-tier results that we’ve become known for throughout Western Canada.

Connect With Southwest And Midwest Design & Construction

Customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we rely on our 40 plus years of experience and continued learning to get the job done right for our clients, every time.

Choose Southwest And Midwest Design & Construction for your next construction project. We’re experienced building contractors in Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and Grande Prairie.

Want to learn more about how we can help with your next design and construction project? Contact the team at SWMW with our convenient online quote request tool. A member of our team will be in touch to discuss project details and next steps.