Report to: General Committee                                                 Report Date: December 8, 2008

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Varley Art Gallery Expansion

PREPARED BY:               John Ryerson, Acting Director, Culture Services

                                            Michael Shatil, Manager, Facility Assets

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

THAT the report entitled “Varley Art Gallery Expansion” be received;

 

AND that staff be authorized retain an Architectural firm as a lead consultant for the expansion, following an RFP process;

 

AND that the selected Architect be authorized to work with Staff on the preliminary design;

 

AND that as part of the preliminary design, Staff and the selected Architect convene a public meeting to seek input and feedback regarding the design concepts;

 

AND that as part of the preliminary design, the selected Architect be directed to research the possibility of designing the expansion so as to meet LEED standards;

 

AND that staff report back to Council with the outcomes of the preliminary design and the public information meeting, prior to proceeding to detailed design;

 

AND that the estimated cost of this project, $2.58M be funded as follows:

 

  Wallace Joyce-Varley McKay Art Foundation (including interest)    

      $1.56M                     

   Infrastructure Grant

$0.92M

   Varley Foundation fundraising

$0.10M

   Total

$2.58M

 

And that generous gift by Mr. Wallace Joyce to the Varley McKay Art Foundation of Markham be recognized;

 

AND that the stewardship and efforts of the Varley McKay Art Foundation be acknowledged with thanks;

 

AND that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PURPOSE:

 

The purpose of this report is to recommend an expansion of 3,000 to 3,500 square ft. to the Varley Art Gallery and to update Council regarding the work done to date by the Varley McKay Art Foundation (VMAF) with respect to this expansion

BACKGROUND:

 

In 2006 and 2007 the Varley McKay Art Foundation (VMAF) received two gifts totaling $1,491,083 (Dec. 31/07) from Mr. Wallace Joyce.

The donor (Wallace Joyce) requested that his gift be used for an addition to the Gallery. 

 'The Foundation had already identified the need for gallery expansion and was pleased that the donor, Wally Joyce, wished to see his funds used for this purpose.  The Foundation, in recognition of the Town of Markham's generous support for the gallery, chose to direct these funds towards this building project.

 

Mr. Wallace Joyce’s family connections to Markham trace back to his Pennsylvania German ancestors (Bartholomew) who joined the Berczy settlers at the end of the 18thth century.  Kathleen Gormley (McKay) grew up on a farm near Unionville  and as a little girl often played in the home of Mary Armitage on Main St., Unionville with Mary’s two younger daughters Ethel and Nellie. The eldest daughter, Edith Armitage, later married James Joyce and became Wallace Joyce’s mother. Edith was an elementary school teacher in Markham between 1904 and 1908 and in 1906 had Kathleen in her class. Although Mr. Joyce himself never lived in Markham, he said “I think before the war I was related to half the people of Markham.” His affection for the Varley Gallery serves both his love for art and community as well as a tribute to his mother’s childhood playmate Kathleen Gormley. As a young man at University Mr. Joyce, because of his Unionville family connections, had the opportunity to meet Kathleen McKay and Fred Varley on several occasions. Mr. Joyce’s love of art was featured in the Gallery’s 2005 exhibition Peaks and Totems that was accompanied by a publication written by Varley Gallery curator Katerina Atanassova.

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

 

1) Expansion Business Case

The reasons for the expansion are as follows:

 ·       Increase the exhibition space to provide for continuous exhibit of Fred Varley and to thereby allow more options in exhibitions in the main gallery that will engage our communities

·       Increase capacity for community and public programming which now has registration frequently exceeding 100% and includes regular use of the lobby for programming.  Program space will be increased to provide a room for up to 50 persons or a class of 30 participants.

·      Move the offices out of the prime courtyard frontage area and into a back second floor of the new expanded space thereby reducing the “giftshop” area now used for programming to meet the demand for programming services while still providing for a small shop for Varley products and publications

The expansion will be of modest scale.  The ground floor will house 1500 sf of exhibition space and the second floor will contain new staff offices at the same scale now provided.  The existing staff offices and previous gift shop will be converted into a new, medium size community rental and instructional/programming space. A small gift shop will be provided off the lobby. Staff and the Architect will research the possibility of building the extension to LEED standards. Due to the relatively small size of the expansion, obtaining LEED designation may not be possible.  The preliminary design work done to date complements the adjacent heritage designated church on Main Street.  The Galley is within the Heritage District.  The addition will not be visible from the street nor higher than the existing building.

2) Preliminary Design Completed to Date

The VMAF has already committed $40,000 for a preliminary feasibility study including a cost report.

The Foundation has enlisted the support of Jerome Markson, the original building Architect, for preliminary study with preliminary structural, mechanical and cost analysis. Landscape architect Kenneth J Hoyle was also engaged to address site conditions and restoration post construction.  TRCA has reviewed and provided conditions to be incorporated into the project proposal. 

The structural engineer recommends support be added to the N.E. corner of the heritage-designated church to prevent it from further deterioration due to the unstable embankment and possible vibration from Gallery construction. The cost of this work is included in the structural budget.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

 

The total project cost is estimated at $2.58M, as detailed in the table below, based on a cost consultant estimate and allowing for LEED Silver features in construction.

 

The donation including interest will provide funding of approximately $1.56M to the project. 

 

 

The Town of Markham received a $9,426,345 infrastructure grant authorized through the “Investing in Ontario Act, 2008”. As per the guidelines, the funds are to be used for capital purposes and each municipality has the flexibility and discretion to allocate the funds towards its own capital priorities. Staff recommend that $923,917 from the grant be used for the Varley Art Gallery Expansion.

 

On November 24, 2008 the Varley Foundation Board adopted a resolution agreeing to use its best efforts to contribute a further amount towards the expansion project equal to 10% of the actual expansion cost over $1.5 million to be paid over the next ten years up to a maximum further contribution of $100,000.

 

Expenditures

 

Construction

$1,850,000

LEED (10% of the construction cost):

$   185,000

Fees and Internal Costs including Architect and Project

Management costs (15% of Construction/LEED)

$   305,000

Contingency (10% of Construction/LEED)

$   205,000

Cost balance of Study (2008)

$     40,000

Total Expenditure

$2,585,000

 

 

Funding

 

Wallace Joyce-Varley McKay Art Foundation                  

$1,491,083

Interest (2008 estimated) –Varley McKay Art Foundation

$     70,000

Infrastructure Grant

$   923,917

Varley Foundation fundraising

$   100,000

Total  Funding

$2,585,000

 

Operating costs of approximately $13,000 for heat, light, and hydro on a larger building will be offset by earned program revenue.

 

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable.

 

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Growth Management:  The Gallery expansion will allow for creative partnerships to expand services and programming 60% of the total cost including LEEDs covered privately.

Diversity:  Increased space enables the Gallery to continue to tell the core story of Varley while freeing space to increase programming and exhibitions that reflect the interests of the communities the gallery serves e.g.  exhibitions such as “The Sacred Image of the Icon” “Bhudda Composed”, “Canadian Artists without Borders” “William Berczy” “FH Varley Portraits”

Environment:  The Gallery addition will be constructed to comply with Unionville Heritage Conservation District Plan and be built to the LEED standard bylaw for Silver or equivalent for energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly design.  The project will stabilize the slope and provide extensive planting that will also enhance the view for visitors to the Gallery and in the trail along the creek.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Heritage Planning, Asset Management, Town Architect, Finance

 

RECOMMENDED BY:                              

 

 

 

________________________          _______________________

Steve Andrews, P. Eng             Brenda Librecz

Director, Asset Management                 Commissioner, Community and Fire Services

 

 

            ________________________

            John Ryerson

            Acting Director, Culture Services

 

 

 

 

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