[Moncton] ASEC (Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre) | 6 Storeys | Under Construction

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonianSentinel01

Doesn't this have to do with research though? There is a ton of lab equipment going in there. Surely that can't be done from home.

Agreed. This is in large part a scientific research facility with hundreds of millions of dollars of specialized equipment. It's kinda hard to fit a mass spectrometer in your basement next to your entertainment unit.

[zostera]

Originally Posted by MonctonianSentinel01

Doesn't this have to do with research though? There is a ton of lab equipment going in there. Surely that can't be done from home.

This. Many people currently in the building only worked from home for a short period, lots of laboratory work has to be done on site. Others do lots of fieldwork that requires on-site preparations, so can only work from home at best half the time.

Also, there are several unions involved, and not all have new contracts yet. Unions aren't able to dictate place of work, that's the right of the employer. Current rules for all federal employees, regardless of contract status, is a minimum of 2 days per week on site (with some limited exceptions). The new contracts agreed with PSAC have a non-binding MOU on telework that doesn't mean much in practice, IMO.

[MonctonRad]

Well, the ASEC is now most definitely an active construction site.

Construction fencing is now up, and dozers are busy along the north side of the property (query land infill and levelling). No sign of the pad for the tower crane yet, but they will have to dig up the current parking lot first.

[MonctonRad]

Update on the ASEC from our friends at Infinity Aerials:





Site prep continues on the north side of the property. The tower crane was supposed to go in this fall. I see they are digging a hole there. Could this be for the base of the tower crane???

[MonctonRad]

I came across an interesting article on the ASEC in canada.constructconnect.com, including a few previously unseen renderings:
https://canada.constructconnect.com/...-new-brunswick

The new ASEC will occupy the former home of the Collège Notre-Dame-d’Acadie, the first institution of higher education for Acadian women, which opened in 1949 and was founded and run by the Sisters of Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur. The building was purchased by the Government of Canada in 1982 and reopened in 1985 as the Gulf Fisheries Centre.

“The design will interpret the building’s historical pavilion character and strive to commemorate its origins by integrating and adapting key elements and spaces into the site’s now expanded program,” states Diamond Schmitt’s website.

“The prominence of the Collège’s main west heritage façade will be retained and serve as a principal element in Diamond Schmitt’s scheme. It will be centrally positioned and anchor the new facility, with the existing main entrance remaining as the principal entry point.”

Diamond Schmitt – The centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory spaces and technology, as well as offices and workspaces for over 700 employees from four federal organizations.

Inside there will be a four-storey atrium and skylit galleria that will serve as an exhibition space to commemorate the Sisters, provide a place for science on display, recognize Indigenous communities and serve as a place for gathering. It will also create an architectural transition between the retained heritage façade and the new building.

“The atrium and galleria will act as the connective tissue between the building’s different programming components, while also establishing the importance of the public realm which includes a flexible multipurpose room, Mawiomi — an Indigenous Gathering space, informal and formal meeting spaces of varying sizes,” the website states.

Diamond Schmitt – The ASEC will be equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory spaces and technology, as well as offices and workspaces for over 700 employees from four federal organizations including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the National Research Council Canada. The Canadian Space Agency will participate in ASEC as a virtual partner.

In order to allow for the continued use of the existing building during construction, the centre is being built in three phases.

Site preparation work is currently underway as part of the first phase. Construction of the new science wing to the north of the existing building will begin in 2024.

The final phase, scheduled to begin in 2027, will see scientists moving into the newly built science wing, while the redevelopment of the Gulf Fisheries Centre and construction of the remainder of the centre begins.

This step will include rebuilding the façade to commemorate the history of the original building. The centre is expected to be fully occupied by 2031.

We should see the tower crane for this building in the springtime.

Just think - we might see five tower cranes in downtown Moncton alone by this fall. Who would ever have thought...........

1) - ASEC
2) - The Three Sisters Phase Three
3) - 1299 Main (the Tomato Building)
4) - Saint Bernard Place
5) - Infinity (if we are lucky)

There are currently two tower cranes in Dieppe, and potentially more if things start cooking along Dieppe Blvd.

Not to mention all the mini tower cranes around the metro area............

[DyAm00394]

There is also some more renderings on the architect's website: https://dsai.ca/projects/atlantic-sc...rprise-centre/

[MonctonRad]

Nice renders and videos. I lifted this one because it shows the site plan:

[new kid in town]

Still a long time to go, but I do feel this is a welcome addition and a step in the right direction. It's sad we don't have a lot of museums or galleries. It would definitely add to the city's culture.

[Leroy321]

Was there ever a confirmed height on this building?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

Was there ever a confirmed height on this building?

No

It is six floors (equivalent), and, as a science centre with a need for a lot of conduits and utilities, the individual floors might be 12-14 ft or so. The building might be 80-90 ft tall

[MonctonRad]

There is now some drilling equipment present at the ASEC construction site. This was not present last week. I expect the tower crane to go up this spring. Is this a harbinger of what is to come???

[zostera]

Was notified that "pile drilling, shoring activities, and mass excavation" is starting today and expected to run through August 2024. Can confirm based on noise!

[MonctonRad]

And, so it begins. Thanks!!!

Keep us informed of any updates.

[Leroy321]

I don’t know if someone said anything yet but there’s now a big crawler crane up at the site

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

I don’t know if someone said anything yet but there’s now a big boom crane up at the site

Maybe they’re getting ready to mount the tower crane.

[MonctonRad]

I drove by today, and it appears that current work is limited to excavation and the construction of a retaining wall. There is no sign of a base for a tower crane yet.

Progress on this project continues to be glacial. They only have about a year left before the next election and the anointment of Poillievre as our new PM. They had better get cracking so that they are far enough along on the construction of this building that Poillievre won't be able to cancel it.

It's gonna be a near thing..........

[MonctonRad]

Latest update from Infinity Aerials:



Excavation is progressing, and you can see they are installing large retaining walls. Something tells me we won't see a tower crane until the fall.

[MonctonRad]

Progress remains glacially slow. They are still working on the retaining wall.

I am getting more and more concerned. At most, Trudeau only has about 12 more months in office, and, perhaps a lot less now that his coalition with Singh has collapsed. If an election were to happen now, Poilievre would win, and, since this is a pet project of Dominic LeBlanc, I am certain it will be cancelled unless it is too far advanced to do so. We have certainly not reached that threshold yet, and I fear we will not, even by next fall.

The ASEC may be doomed...........

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Progress remains glacially slow. They are still working on the retaining wall.

I am getting more and more concerned. At most, Trudeau only has about 12 more months in office, and, perhaps a lot less now that his coalition with Singh has collapsed. If an election were to happen now, Poilievre would win, and, since this is a pet project of Dominic LeBlanc, I am certain it will be cancelled unless it is too far advanced to do so. We have certainly not reached that threshold yet, and I fear we will not, even by next fall.

The ASEC may be doomed...........

I don't know about that. If it was just on the drawing board, it definitely would be canceled. Shovels in the ground make that unlikely. Plus, it's not like a Maritimes caucus that's about to grow by at minimum six to as many as twelve members will be keen on stopping this. Especially if Moncton-Dieppe is a narrow flip.

[josh_cat_eyes]

I agree with Adam. It could even be something that the Conservatives try to take credit for, since it will be largely built under their administration. What better way to win voters in a largely Liberal area, but to promise to continue the largest federal investment in Atlantic Canada in a 1/4 century.