Article content

Officials behind the Zibi development are moving ahead with a seven-storey tall shipping container structure, which will be used as a sales center for the development and contain an observation deck on its roof.

According to Cédric Tessier, Gatineau city councillor for the Hull-Wright District where Zibi is being built, the construction required special permission from City Hall to allow it to progress.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Zibi to erect observation deck atop shipping container tower Back to video

Gatineau does not normally allow temporary structures made from the shipping containers to be erected within the city’s boundaries. However, Tessier said the vision for the sales centre and the way it is being incorporated into the area makes the building more like a temporary art installation.

“That’s why the city agreed and city council agreed to allow it to be built,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing.”

The structure, which has been constructed from several shipping containers stacked on top of one another, will contain stair cases, an elevator and meeting space for sales people to help sell residential units in Zibi. It will incorporate large glass panels to bring light into the containers. Artists’ renderings show the building will be painted a single colour, making the exterior look more like aluminum siding than shipping container steel.