Duane Hicks
The public will get a look at what the future Rainy Lake Market Square will look like during an open house on Thursday (June 2).
The open house, which will feature drawings by architecture firm Scatliff + Miller + Murray, will run from noon-4 p.m. at the future market square site on the 200 block of Scott Street (formerly the Rainy Lake Hotel).
The Civic Centre will be the alternate location if it’s raining that day.
“We’re looking forward to getting the drawings out there—the big reveal, so to speak,” Travis Rob, Chief Building Official and facilities/special projects co-ordinator, told the Times.
The architects will have displays there showcasing the market square design and explaining the process, he noted.
And the public will be able to ask them questions about its features.
Rob added the drawings already have been seen by the Rainy Lake Market Square Advisory Committee, which has provided feedback to the architects to make certain revisions.
However, the drawings are not yet final.
“You’re not going to be able to see all aspects of the design,” noted Rob.
“The fine details on lighting or the fine details on some of the architectural pieces will not be there because that’s the stuff that comes out in the construction drawings,” he explained.
“But you will be able to see the gist of everything and the features of the site.”
Rob said the timing of the open house is meant to coincide with “Market Thursdays.”
“Hopefully, we get a good turnout on June 2,” he remarked.
“This is going to be a market space so the architects kind of wanted to jump on ‘Market Thursdays’ . . . so we’re hoping that helps bring some additional people down there, as well,” Rob added.
The Winnipeg-based architecture firm will have tender-ready construction drawings set to go by early July.
The town then will tender a contractor to build the market square, with the intent to begin construction in late summer and completed before winter.
