A 40-year-old building with an aging brick veneer and leaky windows has been given a new lease on life at CFB Halifax, with an extensive building envelope upgrade guided by Defence Construction Canada.
Upgrades to the 3,365-m2 MARLANT building (Building D201) will improve energy performance, reduce operating costs, and increase its lifespan. They also give the important building an entirely new, modern aesthetic with smooth, dark aluminum composite panels that angle outwards on the hexagon-shaped exterior.
“The purpose of the panel being profiled like it is, is to mimic the bow of the new AOPS which are docked outside,” said Todd Osmond, Coordinator, Construction Services, about the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships that are stationed there and the unique new look of the building.
The upgrade included fully removing the old brick veneer, replacing with new panels and installing new doors and windows and associated interior reinstatements. Changes also included a new roof, landscaping and security upgrades to the project scope.
The project is impressive in more than just its final look though. The effort to coordinate construction on the building was also a notable feat. With a building full of working spaces, the work on the exterior was completed section by section, with staff inside moved temporarily to other areas of the building.
“That was one of the bigger challenges we had—coordinating with users to minimize the operational impacts,” said Todd.
The $9.7-million project, which started construction in August 2021, is about 90 per cent complete.
