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

[Monctonguy19]

Pomerleau's Regional VP confirmed on LinkedIn this morning that they've received the green light to move to the next phase of the project, which looks like it's the main building. Work is expected to start at then end of November.

[MonctonRad]

Tower crane???

[MonctonRad]

Moncton's $600M science centre will do important research: minister
Moncton centre now under construction will be home to scientists working for several gov't departments
Author of the article:Alan Cochrane
Published Nov 29, 2024 • Last updated 25 minutes ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/monctons-600m-science-centre-will-do-important-research-minister (paywall)


Another new rendering

The Moncton science centre was first announced in 2018 and construction began in 2023. It is expected to be operational by 2032, with construction costs estimated to exceed $300 million and employ more than 200 workers. When complete, the centre will bring together federal scientists from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Climate Change, the National Research Council and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The Canadian Space Agency will also be a partner. The centre’s priorities will include study and protection of coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, support Canada’s Blue Economy with new technologies to support sustainable fisheries and provide clients with access to research services.

They seem to be doing some drilling work along the north side of the foundation of the new wing of the building. It leads me to suspect they are preparing for the tower crane.

[MonctonRad]

Here is the press release from the news conference today:

Government of Canada marks significant milestone in Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre
From: Public Services and Procurement Canada
News release
November 29, 2024 - Moncton, New Brunswick

World-class science facility will be first Laboratories Canada project in Atlantic Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-services...-atlantic-science-enterprise-centre.html

As part of Laboratories Canada’s vision for collaborative, functional science infrastructure, ASEC will bring together federal scientists from 5 science-based departments and agencies working to protect and sustain Atlantic freshwater and coastal ecosystems. The centre will be equipped with modern laboratory spaces and technology tailored to scientists’ needs, as well as offices and workspaces for over 700 employees.

The post preceding this one mentions employing 200 people. These 200 people are construction workers. The 700 people will be permanent research employees and scientists.

[MonctonRad]

A few additional renderings and conceptual designs:

[zostera]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The post preceding this one mentions employing 200 people. These 200 people are construction workers. The 700 people will be permanent research employees and scientists.

Note that these aren't 700 new jobs, that number includes the approximately 400 current DFO employees based at the existing Gulf Fisheries Centre, and the relocation of other employees from the greater Moncton area (e.g. Transport Canada, ECCC, and NRC). A fair number (likely the majority) of these won't be strictly researchers or scientists.

The construction is being done in stages with two main buildings that will ultimately be attached. The first (which is currently being worked on) will contain mostly labs, while the second and larger building will include "offices" and related spaces, and will be built on a footprint including the existing building. First building is currently scheduled to be completed (I think) in 2027, at which point some DFO employees will move into the labs while the remainder move to a "swing space" in downtown Moncton. At that point, the existing building will be mostly dismantled while the second stage proceeds. Expected completion is now (I think) 2032.

(I might be wrong on some of the dates, as they keep shifting and it's hard to keep track)

[MonctonRad]

Any idea when they will put up the tower crane?

[zostera]

Not sure, I thought it was happening several times previously and was wrong, so I'm hesitant to make any predictions.

[Philbilly]

I work at the French hospital and it look like the crane is going up … I will confirm later as it the beginning of assembly it look

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A few additional renderings and conceptual designs:

Interesting how similar it looks to the NB Museum project in SJ, right down to the whale skeleton… same architectural firm I see.

[Leroy321]

Originally Posted by Philbilly

I work at the French hospital and it look like the crane is going up … I will confirm later as it the beginning of assembly it look

Just the base right now.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

Just the base right now.

Agreed. Just the base for now. I drove by and had a look. Still, this is real progress. I wonder if they will install the crane proper before the dead of winter arrives, or, will they wait for spring.

[Leroy321]

There is now a mobile crane on site, the tower crane will most likely be assembled tomorrow or Friday or sometime next week.

[MonctonRad]

Excellent news. If the tower crane goes up, I will snap a picture this weekend!

[MonctonRad]

They are very definitely putting up the tower crane. They didn't do much today (added a couple of segments to the base of the crane, with another few segments lined up for installation). Perhaps the weather today slowed them down. In any event, it is gratifying to see the crane finally going up.

[Leroy321]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

They are very definitely putting up the tower crane. They didn't do much today (added a couple of segments to the base of the crane, with another few segments lined up for installation). Perhaps the weather today slowed them down. In any event, it is gratifying to see the crane finally going up.

It looks like it will be quite a large tower crane

[MonctonRad]

I drove by ASEC again today and work is slowly progressing on the tower crane (key word being slowly).

This will be a very handsome crane, obviously brand new, with an impressively long boom. All the crane pieces are on the ground waiting for final assembly.

I wonder if they will keep working over the weekend? They might. The large mobile crane being used for assembly would be a rental.

[Leroy321]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I drove by ASEC again today and work is slowly progressing on the tower crane (key word being slowly).

This will be a very handsome crane, obviously brand new, with an impressively long boom. All the crane pieces are on the ground waiting for final assembly.

I wonder if they will keep working over the weekend? They might. The large mobile crane being used for assembly would be a rental.

It will be tower crane #6 in greater Moncton currently and if we get two more and we have a record

[MonctonRad]

Work on the tower crane is agonizingly slow. Of course, this is a government project, not expected for completion until 2032, so they have all the time in the world.......

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Work on the tower crane is agonizingly slow. Of course, this is a government project, not expected for completion until 2032, so they have all the time in the world.......

Work on the tower crane has now stopped entirely. Numerous pieces are on the ground waiting for assembly, but, nothing is being done.

WTF!?!? I know this is a government project, and, will not be complete until 2032. but still. Why erect the bottom half of the crane and then stop? What's the point of that???