$103 million Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus on track for December completion

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By Robin MacLennan

Special to Ontario Construction News

Despite a nine-week strike by unionized sheet metal workers and a short job action by plumbers and pipefitters, the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus is progressing on schedule and city police are planning to move into the new digs next January.

“Major site construction is ongoing and has been progressing well,” said Jessica Liefl, facility planning and development manager at the City of Barrie. “Project staff have effectively focused their efforts on critical path areas of work to remain on schedule during the labour disruption.”

The Ontario Pipe Trades Council reached a collective bargaining agreement with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario in June, ending their week-long strike.

Sheet metal workers ratified a deal in early July.

Four trades, out of 25, have yet to settle contracts: boilermakers, ironworkers, tile and terrazzo and painters. None of those groups would impact the Barrie site.

“None of them are crucial to that facility,” said Wayne Peterson, executive director at the Construction Employers Co-ordinating Council of Ontario (CECCO).

“We don’t expect any of the four remaining to strike.”

The emergency services campus – now approximately 65-per-cent completed – is a partnership between the City of Barrie and County of Simcoe. The modern facility will house the Barrie Police Service, Simcoe County Paramedic Services and Barrie Fire and Emergency Service backup dispatch communications in one location at 110 Fairview Road in Barrie.

Participants in the Integrated Project Design (IPD) initiative include: Architects LETT Architects Inc., and AECOM Canada Architects Limited; designersAECOM Canada Limited; and general contractorsGillam Group Inc. and Chandos Construction.

Key trades include: Alliance Forming Limited, BMG, Cesaroni Contracting Inc., Geo. A. Kelson, Ontario Fox Corp., Vipond Fire Protection, and Wallwin Electric Service Ltd.

Work is expected to be complete by December.

Here’s where the construction stands today:

  • Exterior earthworks and underground service installation re-commenced in May;
  • Building A architectural siding is substantially complete and exterior brick installation has commenced;
  • The atrium steel structure and roofing has been installed;
  • Buildings A and C roofing is substantially complete;
  • Steel stud installation in Building A is substantially complete;
  • Painting has commenced in Building A on Level 4, and progressing throughout the building;
  • Building C underground and overhead services have been installed;
  • All rooftop air handling units have been delivered and installed;
  • Move management consultant has been selected; and
  • Fixtures, Furniture and Equipment (FF&E) selection is complete and orders have been placed. This includes all office furniture and specialty police communications equipment.

The average daily labour force has numbered approximately 110 workers, but was reduced by approximately 40 per cent during construction union labour negotiations and strike action.

Budget update:

Hard construction costs are currently forecast to be under budgeted figures by about three per cent. Based on terms of the project contract, half of the savings are directed to the project team to share and the other half will go to the owner group with the City of Barrie receiving about 76 per cent of surplus funds.

The first phase of the campus is expected to cost more than $103 million. The campus will include a 179,200-sq. ft. administrative centre and a separate garage for repairing police vehicles.

The second phase, which includes a 48,500 sq. ft. firearms range and police and fire training centre, was postponed indefinitely by city council as a cost-saving measure last year.

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