Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( May 31/00) - After a short hiatus, work on the Super 8 Motel site between Tim Hortons and Wal-Mart began last Friday.

The joint-project between Yellowknife-based Inuvialuit Projects Inc. and Calgary-based Omni hit a minor snag in the planning stage.

"We had to make some changes to the floor plan," said Steve Waser, IPC's general manager.

"We are 98 per cent complete as far as design is concerned. We're a little behind schedule, but things will be meeting the expected time table."

The four-storey, 66-room hotel is expected to be completed by December.

"We've been planning this for one season," said Waser.

"Winter hit and we had to wait, that's why it seems so long."

The foundation is expected to be finished by the third week in June.

The project is privately funded by various parties in both the North and south, which are working under the banner of the Yellowknife's Motel 8 Partnership.

Some friction developed between the southern and Northern planners over the design.

"There were differing opinions on what the structure should look like in order to function properly in the Northern climate," said Waser.

The original design of the motel was created by Park Sanders Adam Vikse Architects Ltd. in Yellowknife, which is no longer involved with the project.

"We thought, and still think it's a good project. There are reasons we are no longer involved," said Darrell Vikse, architect with Park Sanders Adam Vikse Architects Ltd.

Conroy Dykhuizen, an employee with IPC, is positive about the project.

"It's a pretty good location, close to downtown, Tim Hortons, Wal-Mart," said Dykhuizen. "It'll make other hotels tighten up their service now that there's new competition."

"This project shows that with a lot of effort Northern companies can compete," said Waser.

"We can be competitive with companies down south."