Page 19 - BOMA Spring 2017 Insider

hundreds of thousands of visitors it
welcomes, Ferguson’s role is indeed a
critical one. Sure, he’s a professional
groundskeeper, tasked with keeping
every inch of a prominent 3+ acre
‘lawn’ in pristine condition. He’s also
Shaw Park’s electrician, plumber, head
custodian, maintenance man, and
general contractor when needed.
Some facility management types focus
entirely on building-specific issues,
and some specialize in groundskeeping
tasks, (including grass, trees and plants,
flower beds, etc.). ‘Fergie’, as he’s
affectionately known around Shaw Park,
does it all.

‘3 Seasons’ (but really 4)

“Most of the ballpark is a three-season
building,” says Ferguson, “but of course
our front office staff is here year-round.”
Add to that Clay Oven’s 250-seat
restaurant on the building’s third floor
and a large tenant space leased by
Pattison Outdoor Advertising at ground
level, and the reality is that Ferguson
looks after a multi-use facility that
operates year-round. Services for Shaw Park’s HVAC needs. “They treat us well,” says Ferguson. “The LOWE
Built in 1999 and expanded in 2000 guys are very reliable and dependable”
and 2003, Shaw Park’s occupied space LOWE Mechanical now looks after maintenance inspections on all of the ballpark’s
now spans 100,000 sq. ft., including heating equipment, its fall fire inspection and heating start up, as well as a spring
offices, multiple locker rooms, workout check-up and pressure washing of all air conditioning units. And they’re also on call for
area, public and private washrooms, emergency situations.
restaurant and foodservice areas, and of
course 30 luxury suites. “It’s a baseball stadium, so the business and the facility are quite unique,” says John
Warnica, Vice President of Sales and Operations with LOWE. “And there’s obviously
With all of those heating and cooling the critical nature of some of the service calls. We know that, on game days, we have
zones comes a host of mechanical to get any troubleshooting issues taken care, and the equipment operating right away,
equipment, and a maintenance sheet a whether it’s air conditioning for a suite or ventilation for a food kiosk.”
mile long.
Warnica notes that, with the Goldeyes’ 50+ home games packed into a short Winnipeg
“We’ve got just about 50 units on summer, “the games must go on. So we need to do our part to ensure Shaw Park can
the roof that provide the heating and provide the best possible experience for spectators, vendors, and staff.”
cooling,” says Ferguson. “Basically all of
the conditioned space depends on those LOWE’s diverse roster of refrigeration technicians, plumbers, gas fitters, electricians
units: the press box, the restaurant, the and sheet metal workers have been tasked with new installations at Shaw Park as well.
skysuites, offices and tenant space.” That work has included ductless split air conditioning in the ballparks’ main kitchen,
The building, a BOMA Principal member new electrical heating units and a wiring upgrade in the home team locker room and
firm since 2011, also has two furnaces gym, and new ceiling fans to improve air circulation in the workout area.
and electric ‘boosters’ to ensure that the Having LOWE handle the building’s mechanical system needs is a relief for Ferguson,
critical first floor space is fully functional whose own task list on the facility management side can be daunting.
year-round.
“In preparation for winter, we drain the water lines for three-quarters of the building,”
For just over a year now, Ferguson says Ferguson. “It takes 3 days to drain the system - one day to drain, two days to blow
has worked closely with fellow BOMA out the lines with a compressor.” It takes another full day to bring the water back online
member firm LOWE Mechanical in the spring, which includes Ferguson fixing leaks, replacing toilet seals, diaphragms

BOMA MANITOBA INSIDER | ISSUE 7 | SPRING 2017 18