The coordination of a nearly three-year facility building project at CFB Kingston isn't wrapping up this spring with a simple clean up – instead it's bookended by one of the biggest logistical challenges of the project: moving the Logistics Support Squadron at CFB Kingston into their new 9,910-m2 facility.
"For logistics planning, it's going to be quite an undertaking," said Paula Simpson, DCC Coordinator, Construction Services at Kingston.
The new facility—which includes a two-storey building with warehouse, covered loading dock, car wash and paint spray booth, vehicle maintenance garages, paved parking lot and fenced gravel compound and unheated cold storage building—will be the new home of the unit that is currently housed in seven different buildings on the base.
"This project was to merge them all into one cohesive unit. For functionality, it will be better to have them all together," said Simpson about the $27.6 million project.
While the build has been relatively straightforward, Simpson said they came across some hiccups, including hitting a rare patch of granite in the "City of Limestone" and having to add blasting to the project plan. As well, the project team had to deal with contaminated soils found during the environmental assessment.
With all that work now largely complete, the focus is on the challenge to come: the move that's scheduled for summer of 2019. The coming few months have tight schedules, including the transfer of large equipment such as hoists and a crane. All that while not disrupting the service of the unit which is responsible for supply, transport and maintenance support for the entire Base.
Simpson said they have a good course set for the final stretch.