Gagetown's 4 Engineering Support Regiment (4ESR) is a big group, with a big challenge. Their 450-person unit has been operating out of a disconnected group of aging buildings that simply can't meet their needs any longer.
"It's a lot of old infrastructure that wasn't purpose built for them," said Jamie Parker, DCC Coordinator, Construction Services at CFB Gagetown.
That problem now has a solution on the way–with construction starting in the fall on a new 20,640-m2 building that will bring together four sub-units into a single, purpose-built facility. It will include a maintenance area for vehicles and equipment with a 25-ton overhead crane, vehicle storage barn, various support shops, offices, classrooms, meetings rooms, storage areas and parking. The new facility will be built to LEED Silver standards, with a geothermal heating system.
The $73-million project is being a delivered as a Modified Design-Build (MDB), with the contractor working with DND and DCC to develop a design to suit their needs.
"I think it's a great process – it's fair for everyone at the table. With DND, DCC, the designer and the contractor all acting as partners is just better for all of us," said Parker about the design-build process. The design took roughly two years to complete, and construction – which started in October 2019 – will take two more. Once construction is finished, the project team will turn to demolition of five of the buildings currently in use, plus 10 outbuildings.
It's a big process for the group – but one that DCC's team will have guided from the very start. "It's nice to be able to be a part of this project from design through to implementation," said Parker.