Survey Camp update: November construction progress

A November 2020 view of the MacGillivray Common Room (centre with workers) and washrooms structure (left). U of T Survey Camp at Gull Lake, near Minden, Ont., began construction of its new facilities, including the HCAT Bunkhouse, during spring 2020. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Bennett, CivE 6T9)

The University of Toronto’s Survey Camp, on Gull Lake near Minden, Ont., has seen a great deal of transformation since the spring. The pandemic necessitated the cancellation of the in-person course CME358, Civil and Mineral Practicals (CAMP), at Survey Camp this year. The upside, however, has been the unfettered progress to construct new facilities with a new bunkhouse, washroom and student lounge.

The HCAT Bunkhouse and MacGillivray Common Room, as well as the washroom facilities, are well underway and slated to be completed by summer 2021.

Engineering alumnus Wayne Bennett (CivE 6T9) visited the construction site mid-November and provided a progress report to CivMin:

Heather and I were in Haliburton and dropped in on the Survey Camp, which was well under construction. There was a lot of activity with about 8 – 10 staff on site getting the buildings completed and they were almost ready for roof trusses. They hoped to have that done by Dec. 10 so the winter work could be done inside the enclosed buildings. I was really impressed with the size of the new accommodation and hopefully it will be ready for summer 2021 when this COVID time is over. We will be back in the area in late January and will drop in again to see how they are getting on.

A November 2020 front view of the HCAT Bunkhouse construction. U of T Survey Camp at Gull Lake, near Minden, Ont., began construction of its new facilities, including the MacGillivray Common Room and washrooms, during spring 2020. The goal is for completion summer 2021. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Bennett, CivE 6T9)

A November 2020 side view of the HCAT Bunkhouse construction. U of T Survey Camp at Gull Lake, near Minden, Ont., began construction of its new facilities, including the MacGillivray Common Room and washrooms, during spring 2020. The goal is for completion summer 2021. (Photo courtesy of Wayne Bennett, CivE 6T9)

Previous stories from Survey Camp:

Survey Camp Centennial celebration and ceremonial groundbreaking on Saturday, September 7, 2019.

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the upcoming new construction of the HCAT Bunkhouse and MacGillivray Common Room. (Photo by Phill Snel)

Plans and illustrations for the facilities from 2019.

Rendering of the HCAT Bunkhouse and MacGillivray Common Room (Credit: V+A Architects)

~CivMin