Site work has begun on a new 8,350 m2, two-storey building at CFB Kingston. This $98-million facility will meet the unique needs of the 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment.
The unit’s Reserve and Regular Force members provide tactical electronic warfare support to other units of the Canadian Armed Forces on international operations.
The facility will serve several purposes, including training, planning, recruitment and the storage and maintenance of armoured support vehicles. It will also provide the Department of National Defence (DND) with the space needed for incoming armoured vehicles.
DCC worked closely with the Director Construction Project Delivery (DCPD), the design consultant and the Regiment to understand the flow and function of its day-to-day operations, then helped tailor the building’s layout.
“It’s completely designed around the requirements of the Regiment,” says Abby Morkem, DCC Technical Specialist, Project Management in Kingston.
The $5.1 million contract for the site preparation now underway was awarded to a joint venture with an Indigenous firm. As well, the project aims to achieve the Green Building Initiative’s Two Green Globes level of certification. A ground-mounted photovoltaic array capable of generating 120kW of power will offset electricity from the grid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The heating and cooling systems will be high efficiency.
The building contract is expected to be awarded later this year, with construction taking up to 24 months. The building is expected to be operational in 2028.
Meanwhile, DCC, DCPD, local Real Property Operations and the Regiment “really are working as a team,” says Abby. “It’s been really positive.”
