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

[MonctonRad]

Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC)

T&T article regarding the ASEC, based on the public presentation the other evening:
https://tj.news/times-and-transcript/102002155 (paywall)

A few renderings were included in the article:


Panoramic rendering as seen from the NW


Exterior rendering of the northern part of the front of the building (new annex)


Interior atrium featuring the whale skeleton hanging from the rafters

Although listed as a $700M project, the actual building itself will cost $300M (still 2.5x the cost of the Avenir Centre).

Initial site prep starts "before the end of the year" and will focus on realigning roadways around the site. Major construction will begin next year.

Final building design is not expected to be completed until next summer, when final tenders are issued.

Construction will occur in three phases:

- Phase one consists of initial site prep, starting this fall.
- Phase two is the construction of the annex to the north of the current building, and this will start next summer.
- Phase three will be deconstruction of the current Gulf Fisheries Centre, and it's replacement by the remainder of the science complex, and ultimately the restoration of the original historic facade. This will begin in 2027. This phase will continue until completion in 2031.

The building will house 700 employees, and will contain the following federal offices:

- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Gulf Fisheries Centre
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- National Research Council of Canada
- Canadian Space Agency (virtual partner)

This building represents the largest federal investment in Atlantic Canada since the construction of the Confederation Bridge 25 years ago.

This Youtube video gives an excellent overview of what the completed building will be like.

• Video Link

[MonctonRad]

OK, OK, this project is technically not under construction (yet), but site prep will start in about three weeks time, so cut me a break.........

[MonctonRad]

The 6 storey height of the building might be up for a little debate. The facade of the original Gulf Fisheries Centre is 6 floors, but the main part of the new building in behind appears to only have four oversized floors. The north annex however, when you include the upper level mechanical floor, and the exposed basement level along the north flank of the building gives this part of the building 6 floors.

[HanSoloCup]

You stated that the project is still listed at $700 million but the building itself is listed at $300 million. I remember the $700 million price tag and just read the $300 million building price tag (all incredible numbers) is there a reduction in the overall amount or is the $400 million discrepancy allocated to something else related to the project?

P.S. It's fun to talk about these kind of numbers

[MonctonRad]

I find the discrepancy between the $300M & &700M cost of the project interesting too.

This is a scientific research centre (at least in large part), and, equipment costs and final fit up could be extremely expensive. $400M in equipment still seems like a lot however.

I know that the accounting of equipment purchase price often factors in the costs of lifetime upgrades, as well as service, maintenance and repair contracts, which can effectively double (or more) the expense of the equipment assuming an operating lifetime of 20 years or so. For example, a new mass spectrometer or NMR spectrometer that might cost $3M might go on the ledger for $7.5M. Costs therefore can get inflated quite quickly based on this alone.

In addition, depending on the accounting practices that are employed, it could be fair game to consider new ongoing operating costs in the overall project too (in addition to the capital costs). If for example, a fancy new piece of equipment is purchased, you may need new technicians to operate it (beyond the pre-existing staffing levels) , and then there is also the cost of powering and supplying the equipment, and the ongoing educational expenses for the (new) operators. I have no idea how the accountants are spinning this............

[MonctonRad]

Here is a recent GoC press release regarding the construction of ASEC:

Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC), Moncton, New Brunswick.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is proposing to construct an Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC) at the site of the existing Gulf Fisheries Center (GFC) in Moncton, New Brunswick. The proposed project is a keystone project in the renewal of federal science infrastructure, under the Laboratories Canada strategy of PSPC, which will create a multi-disciplinary research and science facility and address functional limitations of the existing GFC building and site.

The completed ASEC building will consist of multiple levels, and include laboratory facilities, office space, public areas, an underground parking facility, and shipping and receiving areas. New site landscaping will also be included.

The final ASEC building footprint will comprise an approximate 95% increase over the existing GFC building footprint. The building footprint will be limited to the existing GFC building property. Preliminary site preparation work may also be carried out on adjacent properties not owned by the Government of Canada.

Construction will be conducted in two major phases to allow for continued use of the existing GFC building prior to deconstruction and subsequent full construction of the new ASEC building. Phase 1 of construction will include a new science annex to the north of the existing building. Following this, Phase 2 will include the deconstruction of the existing GFC building and the construction of the remainder of the ASEC facility and site work.

Minor enabling works are expected to begin in November 2022, followed by phased construction and deconstruction activities, culminating in 2031.Construction activities include the following:
- Site preparation (e.g., site work including removal of asphalt/concrete and landscaping materials, earthwork, paving, relocation of utilities, and installation of hoarding fencing and temporary facilities);
- Construction of the ASEC building, in phases, including excavation, installation of building foundations, erection of building structure (including an underground parking structure), installation of exterior and interior finishes, mechanical, electrical systems and all furniture and equipment;
- Deconstruction of the existing GFC building (including disposal of demolition waste), construction of access road(s) / ramp(s) (partially on non-federal property) that will provide access to Vitalité Heath Network's parking lots for Vitalité Health Network staff; and
- Final site work including asphalt paving, landscaping and site clean-up.

No mapped sensitive ecological habitat (e.g. wetlands) exist within the Project footprint or surrounding area. The surrounding lands are comprised of the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre and associated parking facilities (part of the Vitalité Health Network and/or Government of New Brunswick lands), Université de Moncton, Route 15 Highway, and a residential neighborhood. A strategy has been developed to commemorate the sociocultural significance and memory of the GFC.

[MonctonRad]

I came across another couple of renderings of the ASEC building:

[MonctonRad]

There is now a Pomerleau construction trailer on site, and some fencing. Things appear to be underway.

[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.

[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............

[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.