The new steel structure at Oak Hammock Marsh houses a giant water tank for a fire suppression system and will be a workshop and storage room for maintenance. (HANDOUT)
A new steel structure at Oak Hammock Marsh‘s Discovery Centre has been completed, designed to bolster fire safety and provide much-needed storage and workspace for maintenance.
The 3,200-square-foot building, standing 16 feet tall at its peak, houses a 12,500-gallon steel water tank as the centrepiece of the facility’s fire suppression system. The tank, which weighs more than 104,000 pounds when full, ensures the fire sprinkler system has a reliable water source in emergencies. This setup is essential for non-municipally supplied facilities, meeting stringent fire safety codes.
Constructed on 12 concrete piles to prevent shifting over time, the steel structure includes a thickened edge concrete slab, interior curbs for mechanical equipment, and a 12-foot roll-up garage door. Approximately one-third of the space serves as a mechanical room, housing the water tank, a fire pump, and two 12-inch wells that both maintain the tank’s water levels and support the facility’s geothermal system in summer.
The remaining space serves as a warehouse for tools, snow blowers, and other equipment, streamlining storage and operational efficiency. The project was completed with the metal framework erected in just over a week.
The Oak Hammock Marsh wetland and wildlife management area is located approximately 35 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
The new building is located just south of the staff parking lot at Oak Hammock Marsh. (HANDOUT)
