[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

I'm reposting this info from the main Moncton thread here in the downtown thread to see if it generates any discussion. This is a HUGE announcement which seems to be flying under the radar of the news media.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There was an announcement at the DFO Gulf Fisheries Centre on Universite Avenue this morning regarding a $500m investment over the next 7-8 years in support of the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre, based here in Moncton.

from the news release from the press conference:

MONCTON, NB, Aug. 9, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada understands that federal scientists play an important role in the lives of Canadians; scientific research and discovery improves our health, environment, communities and economy. Providing our scientists with modern and fully accessible facilities that promote collaborative research is just one way the government can support them in the important work that they do.

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, on behalf of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, along with the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, announced the Government of Canada is renewing the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC) in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Federal investments will help transform the ASEC into a world-class centre for ocean science research. To support the renewal of the ASEC, as well as other federal laboratories across Canada, the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to Framework, a joint venture between Stantec, Merrick and Dialog, for architectural and engineering laboratory design services to develop lab standards, functional programming and concept designs. This will help transform the ASEC into an environmentally sustainable collaboration facility, featuring state-of-the-art information technology capacity and connectivity.

The renewal of the ASEC will provide a modern facility for federal scientists to carry out their work, ensuring we have the best available science to protect and manage Canada's precious aquatic resources. Furthermore, it will lead to job creation and economic growth in the Moncton region for many years to come.

Quick facts:

- Since 2016, the Government of Canada has invested more than $10 billion in science research.
- The renewal of the ASEC will focus on improving sustainability of Atlantic fresh and saltwater resources as well as monitoring and protecting the health of coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic Ocean regions.
- Significant progress has been made at the ASEC with partnerships that have been formed with universities, Indigenous communities, the fishing industry, non-governmental organizations and other federal government departments to create interpretive spaces to engage Canadians in marine science and promote ocean literacy.

The contract with Framework is valued at up to $100 million.

Some additional details from the T&T today (amazingly from page 3, not page 1)

- The initial $100m contract with Framework is only for the design phase of the project (albeit this is for all the Science Enterprise Centres across Canada).
- The contract is to "set lab standards, functional programming and concept designs" for all the labs across Canada.
- The first beneficiary of the design process will be the ASEC in the DFO Building across from the GDH on Universite Avenue.
- The historic nature of the building will be preserved, but substantial renovations and an expansion to the back of the building is planned.
- The actual construction phase won't begin for five years
- The footprint of the building will be expanded "considerably", mostly for the laboratory wing at the back.
- The expansion is designed to centralize federal offices in the city for the Canada Food Inspection Agency, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the National Research Council in addition to DFO.
- There will almost certainly be a parking structure for the renovated building as they are well aware of parking issues in the neighbourhood with the nearby GDH.

So, just how big is this project?

- We're talking about $500 million freaking dollars!!!!!
- Dominic LeBlanc stated in the press conference that this will be the largest federal capital project ever undertaken in New Brunswick.
- $500m is 4x the amount of money spent to build the Avenir Centre!!!
- The current DFO building has 300 employees, including 128 scientists. With the relocation of the other federal offices, and the expanded research facilities for the ASEC, I wouldn't be surprised to see about 1,000 employees working out of this building.
- This will be a world class research centre. With ACRI right next door at the GDH, there will be quite a high tech cluster developing on Universite Avenue.

This is a huge news story that everyone is ignoring. Is it because we're in the doldrums of summer?????

I wonder what will happen to the existing NRC building on the UdeM campus?