[Chad]

SRA Member Shares Twelve-Eighty Plans

A lot has happened since the initial revealing of the 1280 TwelvEighty restaurant logo. Discussions became heated, and students felt left out of the branding process as their opinions fell on closed ears.

To date, the MSU has updated students via a 1280 Updates page, which provided weekly photos of the construction project and snippets of details about what to expect from the new restaurant. Anticipation builds as we get closer to September and the opening of the new restaurant is only a few weeks away.

Details with regards to the branding of the establishment, however, have been scarce after students were asked to participate in a name poll which took place on the MSU website. Some have felt that students haven't been properly consulted on the planning of the project as the timeline has been rushed, and the SRA are not in session over the summer, thus the Executive Board have been the ones steering the project. A logo was decided on just last week by the Executive Board, and it has just recently been posted on the MSU website as 'preliminary' (however, we've been told the logo isn't the latest one, as there have been changes to the 'E').

Ben Taunton, SRA Science, is trying to help fill us in. He has released on MacInsiders the details that were provided to the SRA with regards to where the money has been allotted and plans for certain features of the new establishment (see attached). The document was never marked "confidential", and the SRA weren't told to keep it to themselves, so we feel it's worth posting. Also, note that the document refers to an email sent to the SRA on May 6, 2009, which has also been included below. It's great to see a member of the SRA sharing what they know.

Check back for updates.

Hey SRA,

I just wanted to relay a quick update on the Quarter’s renovations. After weighing proposals from three different companies, the decision was made last Thursday to select Ira Mcdonald Construction Ltd. as the company to proceed with the renovations. In addition, they will be working with Nelson Hofer Associates who will be responsible for the design and plans.

For a little bit of context, this particular company has completed a diverse grouping of projects which include Harbour Sixty in downtown Toronto, a casino in Windsor and Bridges Cafe here on campus. Their experience in dealing with the University and the City of Hamilton, as well as their impressive history of past projects were only a couple of the reasons for our decision. For more information on the company visit their website at http://www.iramcdonald.com/. In addition, if anyone is interested in learning more about the company or the reason for the decision, feel free to drop by and I can show you the proposal submitted.

With this being said, we have already begun meeting with Nelson Hofer Associates and Ira Mcdonald to begin planning and design. We will be meeting on a weekly basis to confirm the designs will be completed in the next 2-3 weeks and ensure that we will have enough time to complete construction of the project. We value any input that any of you have regarding the design or concepts that you and your constituents have expressed they would like to see, feel free to email myself or Vishal with these ideas and we will bring them to the design team.

Finally, we need to continue brainstorming an appropriate name. It is important that the name and the design work together as a cooperative branding strategy so I will continue to send regular updates regarding the refinement of the designs in order to inspire some more names.

If you have any more questions about the company, process, designs or anything at all, please feel free to contact myself or Vishal.


Andrew Caterine
Vice-President Finance
McMaster Students Union
[email protected] r.ca

[micadjems]

Jesus! 14k to paint? You have got to be kidding me.

[Phoenix]

given the size of the place im not that surprised that the painting is costing that much. Plus it depends on the paint they are using, labour costs, how they apply it. Im sure they have to prime the entire place up, probably get 2-3 coats, and then seal it. Ceilings and roofs are a pain in the butt to paint, I'm pretty sure they have to scaffold and lie down on it to paint it.

[Alex McColl]

lol go Chad, way to take over the MSU's forum with Macinsiders links.

[huzaifa47]

wow finally!

The Documents are posted on August 3rd.

They were first released May 6th/June 10th.

It took more then 40-50 days since I first requested the plans(On three threads at a minimum) after the speaker resignation issue in June. It was only after I(and another person) asked AGAIN today for the Renovation Plans that Ben released them; that were easily lying around on the harddrives of the BOD/SRA members all this time. Why it takes one honest SRA member to post them up on his own accord is clearly beyond me, especially since people were arguing for weeks about 1280.

Plus if anyone from the BOD is reading it I think it would also be fair to ask for the electronic Blueprint presentation that Ben mentioned was shown on the June 13th Meeting. Also I'm sure there must be much more detailed documents that were originally sent by IRA to you guys, If you could forward all that it would clear more stuff I hope and solve the allegation that the whole 1280 affair was mismanaged and unplanned! If people know more about what you are doing behind the scenes, I'm assuming we might have less blatant accusations that the 1280 plan consists solely of having manatees picking balls with words like "Synergy", "Communication", "IRA MacDonald" on it!

Alternatively any SRA member could obtain these documents and release them!

[Taunton]

Originally Posted by huzaifa47

Plus if anyone from the BOD is reading it I think it would also be fair to ask for the electronic Blueprint presentation that Ben mentioned was shown on the June 13th Meeting.

I think you may have misread what I posted. In our June 13th meeting, the blueprints were passed around for everyone to look at on-paper. I don't have access to a digital copy of those plans, nor can I confirm that the BoD has a digital copy (as I have not see one).

The BoD intends to keep the full plans and blueprints away from the media for the reason that they want 1280's final appearance and all that to be a surprise, and allow for some building of anticipation. Releasing the full, detailed blueprint and final plan for everything would go against that, and I agree.

You're welcome to contact the BoD to ask them if you can see the blueprints/plans if you want though.

[temara.brown]

Originally Posted by micadjems

Jesus! 14k to paint? You have got to be kidding me.

LOL I could have done it and I'm a professional... a "college pro"fessional... NEVER EVER EVER EVER TAKE THAT JOB.. that was the weirdest summer ever. Even my stalking job was less sketchy.

[ferreinm]

@Temara: That's where you met me though

As for paint, I can see it costing a lot of money. We wanted to paint murals in Whidden's Cave this year but it got rejected because apparently we'd be depriving Facilities of their job. And I wouldn't expect McMaster to do painting for a cheap price.

[Geek]

Originally Posted by temara.brown

Even my stalking job was less sketchy.

You had a stalking job? Creeeeeeppppyyyyy.... ..

[dauphijd]

What a lacking document.

The document outlines the process followed and a very lacking budget but doesn't have ANY supporting documentation. Once again, and more importantly, no business plan released, no marketing plan, no vision document. Nothing.

The document makes mention of developing design concepts but lacks any indication of the basic vision or mission statement for the new bar. What's the point in spending $400,000 if there is no business plan outlining HOW the MSU plans to turn the bar around? Making it "look cool" is no certain plan for a turn-around.

[Taunton]

Originally Posted by dauphijd

What a lacking document.

The document outlines the process followed and a very lacking budget but doesn't have ANY supporting documentation. Once again, and more importantly, no business plan released, no marketing plan, no vision document. Nothing.

The document makes mention of developing design concepts but lacks any indication of the basic vision or mission statement for the new bar. What's the point in spending $400,000 if there is no business plan outlining HOW the MSU plans to turn the bar around? Making it "look cool" is no certain plan for a turn-around.

I've provided what I can. More detailed documents, budgets and plans are at the BoD's disposal, and they will not make them available to the media for reasons I have outlined already. If you want to visit them in their offices, they would be more than willing to discuss this issue with you personally.

[dauphijd]

Taunton, have you seen a business plan for the new bar or are aware of one having been written?

[Taunton]

Originally Posted by dauphijd

Taunton, have you seen a business plan for the new bar or are aware of one having been written?

I haven't seen the full business plan (I assume you mean a plan for how the operation will run day-to-day and incur a profit?)

I am aware that regular meetings have been taking place between BoD and Ismael Viegas (Food & Beverage Manager) and LeRoy Douglas (Service Manager) to work this sort of thing out.

If you're interested, here's the minutes from the June 13 meeting where the expense vote took place:

http://www.msumcmaster.ca/content/do.../SRA%2009D.pdf

[huzaifa47]

Originally Posted by Taunton

I think you may have misread what I posted. In our June 13th meeting, the blueprints were passed around for everyone to look at on-paper. I don't have access to a digital copy of those plans, nor can I confirm that the BoD has a digital copy (as I have not see one).

The BoD intends to keep the full plans and blueprints away from the media for the reason that they want 1280's final appearance and all that to be a surprise, and allow for some building of anticipation. Releasing the full, detailed blueprint and final plan for everything would go against that, and I agree.

You're welcome to contact the BoD to ask them if you can see the blueprints/plans if you want though.

Oh Okay I see, I inferred from a post by another SRA member on the Speaker thread that the VP Finace did the whole impressive Ms Office/projector presentation and more documents/blue plans were passed around to everyone.

I mean you guys had to vote and everything on it that day right, it would make sense to assume that the BOD suitably "impressed" you with the eligibilty of IRA therefore you guys voted in favour!

But I really think they should have provided you guys with the actual tender from IRA(no matter how long it is, those things tend to be LONG) and any supporting documents that IRA representatives might have distributed to the BOD during their meetings.

I'll try seeing if there is a copy of that tommorow, but the only reason I have refrained and instead ask for it over here is because it goes against the ideal notion that I have 5 Reps from my faculty who should be doing this for me instead of me having to ask for it!