Whether to move ahead with construction on a $32.5-million transparent canopy for Windsor's Riverfront Festival Plaza was deferred during a Windsor City Council meeting on Monday morning.
A report to councillors asks for their endorsement and the go-ahead to move forward with public consultations. The project, if it is approved, will be referred to next year's capital budget.
While the plaza has become a premier location for outdoor events in the city since it opened in 2011, a review carried out eight years ago suggested the project wasn't complete. Landmark Engineers Inc. recommended completing some unfinished projects along the riverfront, including Festival Plaza.
Move ahead to May 2020, and the city issued a request for proposals for a detailed design. A total of five companies applied, and three met the minimum technical requirements.
Partisan Architects has completed the final design plan, and it includes the giant canopy.
Artist rendering of the canopy by Partisan Architects.
The report said it would cover a large portion of the stage roof and much of the audience area, protecting it from snow, rain, and cold winds. Being translucent, it will bring light to the audience area, while still allowing a view of the Detroit River. It could also improve acoustics.
Partisan Architects also provided a phasing plan. Under the first phase of the project, $3.8-million would pay for the installation of the canopy foundations. Phase two would be the most expensive stage with a price tag of $13.5-million but would include the construction of the actual canopy. In phase three, landscaping, washrooms, concessions, and an amenities building would cost $8.3-million.