Peace Garden unveils tower design winner

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/08/2016 (3535 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Described as inspiring, creative and provocative, the International Peace Garden has chosen a new tower design to take the place of the crumbling Peace Tower.

The winning entry came from Winnipeg firm GPP Architecture, entitled “Interwoven.”

“Designing a peace tower — a true peace tower in a garden like the International Peace Garden — is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Guy Préfontaine, principal architect with GPP Architecture.

The Peace Tower, built in 1982, was expected to last a century. Unfortunately the 120-foot-tall monument started falling apart in 2011. Due to the concrete columns being penetrated by moisture and its failing foundation, the International Peace Garden had no choice but to take it down. Demolition is slated for this fall.

The tower’s four columns represent people arriving from the four corners of the world to form two distinct-but-similar nations with a common base in democracy.

The IPG board invited 23 architecture firms across Canada and the United States to submit design ideas for the new tower.

Six entries were received, and went through a judging process with a jury of seven experts.

“We were impressed with a number of the ideas,” said Charlie Thomsen, International Peace Garden board president. “We clearly came up with the No. 1 winner — I think it was unanimous.”

Thomsen said they hope the new tower will become a new icon for future generations.

“The tower is probably the most iconic symbol for the Peace Garden itself,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of features of the garden that are memorable, but I think the tower stands out above all … it certainly is your focus of attention once you drive through the gate into the garden, and I think the new tower will be much the same thing.”

Demolition is expected to get underway this fall, and continue through the winter months.

As the new tower is in the early stages, and is dependent on fundraising, it is unclear when construction might begin. Thomsen said he hopes significant progress is made within the next five years.

The estimated cost was reported at $8 million to $10 million, but Thomsen said it may be in excess of that figure. The government of North Dakota has dedicated $1.5 million to the project, but it is contingent on matching funds from another source.

“We have initiated a fundraising program,” Thomsen said, adding they plan to seek support from private corporations, government grants, individual donations, etc.

“That’s in the spirit of the garden, this has to be supported by a number of different people and abilities.”

The Brandon Sun requested in interview with a Manitoba government representative on the topic on Monday. Rochelle Squires, Manitoba’s minister of sport, culture and heritage responded with an emailed statement.

“Since 1932, the International Peace Gardens has been dedicated as a pledge of peace between Canada and the United States and we are proud of the Manitoba government’s support of this important work. We look forward to connecting with the board to learn more about the proposed monument and to work with them to continue to make the Peace Gardens a space where people can come together,” Squires stated.

In response to critics questioning the need for a costly new tower, rather than using the funds in a humanitarian way, Thomsen said it is important to have physical symbols to represent IPG’s message.

“I think this new tower does well at getting the message across, for peaceful co-existence between peoples,” he said. “It has great legibility, imagery. I think it brings up images in the public’s minds for many different things … it’s provocative, and that’s what I think we’re looking for, something that will provoke some responses in the minds of the people that are visiting the garden.”

Préfontaine said his team put a lot of work into the design — studying the garden, it’s mission, what they represent, etc.

“It’s a very natural and amorphic shape that is quite soft, it speaks to the softness of the human spirit, the rising of the emotions,” he said. “It has two large panels which are the only opaque ones, which actually symbolize each of the countries. They start from each of the nations and they twist together.”

They hit a finite point at the top, which is “the height of human aspiration.”

The design includes an interior elevator and staircase, for visitors to view the gardens from above. The plan is to build the tower slightly taller than the existing structure.

“We didn’t want it to be anything less than the current structure, we want it to be that and more,” Préfontaine said.

All entries will be on display at the IPG interpretive centre.

» jaustin@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @jillianaustin

Wardens on Wheels set for IPG

Wardens on Wheels will mark its 10th annual rally this weekend at the International Peace Garden.

Fifty motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to attend the milestone fundraiser, bringing together game wardens, retired officers and others from the conservation field.

“We have riders that come from the western provinces and we have quite a few that come from the States, from as far away as Mississippi and Texas,” Manitoba conservation officer Paul Hopkins said.

Since the event was launched, more than $20,000 has been raised for the North American Game Warden Museum at the IPG.

The first phase of the museum is complete, and is open all summer. It offers programming, rotating exhibits and interpretive trails. It also houses a memorial for all of the fallen game wardens throughout the years. The second phase of fundraising will go toward expanded display areas.

Participants will start the event on Friday at Lake Metigoshe, followed by a gathering at the IPG and a poker derby on Saturday.

“It’s quite good because … it gets a lot of people that wouldn’t otherwise have come to the game warden museum, to come out and see the museum,” Hopkins said. “It promotes the whole idea of the museum being there because a lot of people aren’t even aware of it.”

» The Brandon Sun