Refinishing pool tables, installing bar taps and planning for proper flow of patrons on a patio. It might sound like the commercial construction and design work of a downtown business聽鈥 but this time, it was the task of 糖心视频鈥檚 team in Esquimalt as they coordinated the renovation of an old building into the new Junior Ranks Mess and Pacific Fleet Club.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 had a project where colour mattered,鈥 jokes Chris Mills, 糖心视频 Coordinator, Construction Services in Esquimalt.
When it was found that the previous mess facility required significant repairs, the Naden聽40 building was selected as the preferred new location. Renovations on the century-old building, to turn it from an office to a mess, gave the team a few surprises including rodents, an original heritage window concealed in the wall, hidden hazardous materials and a dirt crawl space that had to be corrected.
Those kinds of things are just to be expected though when working on a building this age. What really stood out about this project was the focus on comfort.
鈥淭his is their home-away-from-home,鈥 said Mills about the importance of the facility. 鈥淚t鈥檚 key to morale for members and it鈥檚 necessary to make them feel welcome.鈥
The reno included creating a casual, pub-like space, with garage doors opening onto an outside seating area. The bar, lighting, seating, games, paint, flooring was all considered with the overall feel in mind.
Despite the hurdles of an aging building, and COVID-19 (which impacted progress on site and material orders), the building officially opened for business in July 2021, completing the $3.4 million, two-year project.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 one of the nicest looking interiors on base,鈥 said Mills. 鈥淲e really wanted to make it feel like a home.鈥
