RASC Calgary Centre
50th Anniversary Project - WCO Roll-Off Roof Observatory Building
By: Larry McNish
July 15, 2010Calgary RASC 50th Anniversary Project
direct link to construction photo gallery
direct link to Grand Opening photo gallery
A Roll-Off Roof Observatory Building for the Wilson Coulee Observatory
Background:
- The Calgary Centre of the RASC was established in January, 1958
- The Wilson Coulee Observatory was established in January 1983
- As part of our organization's 50th anniversary and the WCO site's 25th anniversary in 2008 I proposed (as President in 2007), that our organization fund and build a "roll-off" roof observatory building on the WCO site as an addition to the other 2 buildings.
- After due process involving seeking other project proposals, approval by membership vote, and approval of a budget, the project got underway. I volunteered my time to design the building and manage the construction.
Larry McNish and his original design model of the Roll-Off Building (and a telescope model).
(The triangular wooden roof was subsequently redesigned as a sloped curved metal roof.) Photo by Brian Fenerty.
Benefits:
- a "Club Sized" Roll-Off allows up to 4 members to use it simultaneously, rather than just one as per standard commercial products
- full 8 foot high walls offer:
- protection from the wind - especially important to astrophotographers, but nice for tours and anyone who has braved a cold and windy night at the WCO
- protection from car headlights from "late-arrivers"
- the upper half of the South wall is comprised of four fold-down sections that can be used with or without rolling off the roof to provide a southern horizon view
- a snow-free level concrete slab for setting up tripods, dobsonians, tables, etc.
- lots of power connections for scopes and accessories, and two internal red lights on dimmers for setup/takedown
- members can set up their own scopes and lock them up overnight in the building ready to observe the next day or night (e.g. allows night alignment for a daytime event).
- we could permanently place the large dob (currently in the clubhouse and not used) in the roll-off for ease of use by any member
- we could also rotate some of the scopes in the "Scopes for Rent" program through it for members to evaluate.
- allows polar alignments from within the building even though the walls are 8 feet high
- is far away from the usual observing locations along the "cliff" thereby providing additional powered sites not replacing them
- is close enough that trenching and running power was not a large expense
- does not require hours of shoveling snow to get to it for observing or tours
- is shown below with the roll-off roof area to the North and the "cliff" shown as a dark black line
Details:
- Position South of the Sid Lee Building
- Size 18x8 ft (144 sq. ft)
- Brown vinyl siding to closely match the observatory dome building
- Orientation - long axis E-W
- North of main observing area
- Roof rolloff to North
- Power connection to Sid Lee building breaker panel (GFI)
- Lockable - same key as WCO
- Electrical only - no water, sewer or gas
- Based on building our own - not a "kit" (no kit that would accommodate multiple scopes could be found)
- Volunteer labour to put it up, contracted concrete, siding and roof
- Trench the electrical ourselves
- The building will include "drop down" south wall sections for better low southern viewing
Additional 50th anniversary project options approved by the membership: (shown in gray above)
- Option 1 - added a second 18x8 ft concrete pad immediately to the south east for "open air" viewing
- Option 2 - replaced the old network of patio blocks with a poured concrete sidewalk system. The old "sidewalks" were impossible to shovel during the winter and a hazard to walk on anytime.
Suggested Options: (not shown, only discussed, not approved by the membership)
- Option 3 - Add a second roll-off building in the future
- Option 4 - Add a SkyShed SkyPod in the future
Project Timeline Summary: (consult the Council Meeting and General Meeting minutes for 2007-2008 for more information)
| Date | Who | Item |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 17, 2008 | Membership | A Roll-Off Observatory Building Project approved by the membership at the General Meeting |
| Feb, 2008 | Council | Discuss motion for a possible addition of a 2nd roll-off observatory for more space - suggested at Jan 17 General Meeting. It was decided to wait until we see the utilization of the first building before going ahead with a second. |
| Feb, 2008 | Council | discuss motion for a possible addition of a SkyShed SkyPod - suggested at Jan 17 General Meeting. It was decided to wait until we see the utilization of the first building before going ahead with any additional building. |
| Feb, 2008 | Larry | investigate whether a powered roof motor is viable and at what cost, present to Council. Not a standard offering from SkyShed - would have to design and build it ourselves. |
| Feb, 2008 | Council Site Director Observing Group Chair NOVA Director | decide on which direction the roof should roll off - decision was to roll off to the North |
| Feb, 2008 | Council Site Director Observing Group Chair NOVA Director | approve final location on the site - decision was immediately South of the Sid Lee building accessible from the South door of the Sid Lee building. At this time a comparison of a 10x14 and an 18x8 building was made. The 18x8 design offers better space utilization. |
| Apr, 2008 | Council Site Director Observing Group Chair NOVA Director | It was determined that a "kit" was too small, and that we could build a larger one at less cost than scaling up a commercial product to that size . |
| Jun, 2008 | Council | Larry reviewed the status of the roll-off building and showed the design he had developed and a scale model he built. Council approved the design. The model and plans were displayed at the Members BBQ in June. |
| Sep, 2008 | Council | Approved funding from the 50th anniversary approved funds for the sidewalk upgrade and the open-air pad |
| Oct, 2008 | Larry | After a delay in contracting a concrete company (due to the building boom in Calgary), construction began with the removal of the old stepping-stone sidewalks, trenching for electrical, and forming and pouring the new sidewalks and two 18x8 foot concrete pads |
| Oct/Nov, 2008 | Larry and Jim Fyke | Building construction began atop the concrete pad and framing and sheeting was completed up to the roofline in time for New Members' Night |
| Nov 2008 | Larry | Snow! Construction virtually halted due to the longest, coldest, snowiest Winter and Spring in years, with no major chinooks. A temporary roof was constructed from 2x4s and plastic to protect the building at the first snowfall in November. It remained in place until Summer 2009! |
| Apr 2009 | Larry | With the snow finally gone (except the snowfalls in April, May and June!) construction resumed with the application of the vinyl siding, followed by the mechanisms to open and close the roof. |
| May 2009 | Larry | It was determined that the only viable roof that could span 18 feet without internal support, and take the anticipated snow load would be a curved, sloped metal infrastructure. Plans were drawn up and a pipe welder was contracted. The Roll-Off with its powered temporary roof was used at the May NOVA and OG meetings. |
| Jun 2009 | Larry | The newly fabricated metal roof was installed with the help of a large crane. |
| Jun 27, 2009 | All | The Grand Opening and building dedication |
Calgary RASC 50th Anniversary Project Photo Gallery
Photos by Larry McNish
(just some of the dozens of photos I took during construction)
Click a photo, hit your Backspace, click a photo, hit your Backspace.....
 IMG_4636.jpg 2008/10/07 13:18:05 October 7, 2008 - Construction starts |
 IMG_4641.jpg 2008/10/07 15:37:11 excavation for the two 18x8 concrete pads |
 IMG_4642.jpg 2008/10/07 15:37:17 and replacement sidewalks |
 IMG_4655.jpg 2008/10/10 14:48:23 October 10, 2008 - Forming for the concrete |
 IMG_4743.jpg 2008/10/14 11:03:39 was interrupted by snow |
 IMG_4760.jpg 2008/10/16 12:54:24 October 16, 2008 - concrete pour |
 IMG_4774.jpg 2008/10/16 13:57:45 |
 IMG_4794.jpg 2008/10/22 14:47:50 October 22, 2008 - Wall construction under way |
 IMG_4799.jpg 2008/10/23 09:12:42 |
 IMG_4802.jpg 2008/10/23 16:40:20 |
 IMG_4810.jpg 2008/10/30 14:35:11 October 30, 2008 - Ext. roof supports completed |
 IMG_4820.jpg 2008/10/30 17:25:00 |
 IMG_4836.jpg 2008/11/02 15:53:43 Nov 2, 2008 - getting ready for Member's night |
 IMG_4837.jpg 2008/11/02 15:53:49 |
 IMG_4838.jpg 2008/11/02 16:13:03 |
 IMG_4856.jpg 2008/11/03 15:25:12 Including a protective coat of paint |
 IMG_4857.jpg 2008/11/03 15:25:15 |
 IMG_4858.jpg 2008/11/03 16:00:09 |
 IMG_4859.jpg 2008/11/03 16:00:36 |
 IMG_4860.jpg 2008/11/03 16:02:15 |
 IMG_4861.jpg 2008/11/04 18:12:00 The base for the rolling roof installed |
 IMG_4867.jpg 2008/11/04 20:15:32 "Temporary" roof due to November snow |
 IMG_4868.jpg 2008/11/04 20:15:42 |
 IMG_4870.jpg 2008/11/04 20:16:07 |
 IMG_4872.jpg 2008/11/04 20:16:32 |
 IMG_4886.jpg 2008/11/08 17:41:30 As it was on New Members' Night |
 IMG_5010.jpg 2008/11/24 17:55:14 The fold down wall and electrical |
 IMG_5010_4581.jpg 2008/11/29 18:46:01 Roof manually rolled back |
 IMG_5010_4587.jpg 2008/11/29 18:53:23 for November observing |
 IMG_5048.jpg 2008/12/07 18:32:31 Lots more snow |
 IMG_5053.jpg 2008/12/07 18:33:48 |
 IMG_5057.jpg 2008/12/07 18:35:04 |
 IMG_5061.jpg 2008/12/07 20:24:49 |
 IMG_5319.jpg 2009/01/18 17:31:25 Roof manually rolled back |
 IMG_5349.jpg 2009/01/18 18:33:03 for January observing |
 IMG_5351.jpg 2009/01/18 18:34:09 |
 IMG_5355.jpg 2009/01/18 23:45:05 |
 IMG_5661.jpg 2009/03/13 14:45:30 March 2009 - still lots of snow |
 IMG_6064.jpg 2009/04/21 10:00:42 April 2009, installation of siding |
 IMG_6066.jpg 2009/04/21 12:39:25 |
 IMG_6070.jpg 2009/04/21 14:03:04 |
 IMG_6077.jpg 2009/04/21 20:34:12 |
 IMG_6088.jpg 2009/04/23 07:24:15 was interrupted by April snow |
 IMG_6090.jpg 2009/04/23 07:24:38 |
 IMG_6092.jpg 2009/04/23 07:25:23 |
 IMG_6095.jpg 2009/04/23 07:33:44 |
 IMG_6106.jpg 2009/04/26 19:07:21 Installation of roof mechanism |
 IMG_6107.jpg 2009/04/26 19:07:43 |
 IMG_6113.jpg 2009/04/27 13:27:07 |
 IMG_6116.jpg 2009/04/27 20:49:07 Motorized roof at last |
 IMG_6118.jpg 2009/04/27 21:26:14 |
 IMG_6124.jpg 2009/04/29 15:43:09 |
 IMG_6127.jpg 2009/04/30 13:22:47 Completion of siding |
 IMG_6129.jpg 2009/04/30 14:07:38 |
 IMG_6134.jpg 2009/04/30 14:19:08 Made it look like a cold war bunker |
 IMG_6135.jpg 2009/04/30 14:22:29 |
 IMG_6230.jpg 2009/05/22 20:20:13 May NOVA meeting |
 IMG_6300_6422.jpg 2009/06/09 14:21:28 June 2009, New roof construction |
 IMG_6300_6423.jpg 2009/06/09 14:21:36 |
 IMG_6300_6434.jpg 2009/06/09 15:12:53 It's VERY strong (to handle snow load) |
 IMG_6300_6444.jpg 2009/06/09 16:12:02 and painting |
 IMG_6300_6449.jpg 2009/06/09 16:29:52 |
 IMG_6300_6487.jpg 2009/06/11 10:10:58 |
 IMG_6300_6506.jpg 2009/06/11 11:46:31 and delivery |
 IMG_6300_6512.jpg 2009/06/11 13:23:36 Roof onsite waiting for |
 IMG_6336.jpg 2009/06/12 15:10:02 installation by crane |
 IMG_6348.jpg 2009/06/12 15:12:52 |
 IMG_6300_6609.jpg 2009/06/12 17:21:25 |
 IMG_6391.jpg 2009/06/15 11:23:52 Adding the metal skirting |
 IMG_6395.jpg 2009/06/15 11:25:10 |
 IMG_6398.jpg 2009/06/15 14:07:18 Roof Closed |
 IMG_6402.jpg 2009/06/15 14:13:11 Roof Open |
 IMG_6407.jpg 2009/06/15 14:20:23 Underneath the open roof - East view |
 IMG_6408.jpg 2009/06/15 14:20:34 Underneath the open roof - West view |
 IMG_7382.jpg 2009/10/02 15:40:01 |
 IMG_7385.jpg 2009/10/02 17:57:11 |
To be done: The top "gaps" will be covered with curved vinyl siding strips, perhaps including air vents. Sealing the vertical edges where the metal back meets the metal sides. It is usable now - Contact Larry for Access. |
I'd like to thank the following companies for their help with this project:
| Excavation and concrete | Frandome Developments Ltd. | |
| Siding installation | ||
| Roof Mechanical Parts | ||
| Roof construction | 4e Welding and Design | http://www.4eweldinganddesign.com/ |
| Roof Installation | L.B. Crane Services |