Ontario Construction News staff writer
Bird Construction Group Ltd. has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $404.9 million to advance construction of a federal science facility in Ottawa that will support transportation safety research and defence-related work.
The Government of Canada announced it has exercised the full construction management services option with Bird for the Transportation Safety and Technology Science (TSTS) project, moving the development into its next phase.
Public Services and Procurement Canada is delivering the facility on the National Research Council of Canada’s (NRC) Montréal Road campus. The building will bring together approximately 260 employees from the NRC and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
The facility will include modern laboratories, specialized scientific capabilities and collaborative workspaces to support transportation research, testing and innovation.
The laboratories will help scientists and investigators develop safety technologies, improve accident investigation techniques and strengthen transportation safety standards across the aviation, marine, rail, road and pipeline sectors.
The project will also contribute to Canada’s NATO defence investment commitments through eligible NRC defence-related technical work and research and development support for the Canadian Armed Forces and Defence Research and Development Canada. That work will move into laboratories at the new facility.
The government said the project will support Canadian workers and businesses and advance its Buy Canadian objectives through the use of Canadian expertise and, where possible, Canadian-sourced materials.
Indigenous Participation Plans included in project contracts are also intended to create economic opportunities for Indigenous businesses and communities.
“Advancing the Transportation Safety and Technology Science project into its next phase allows us to invest in the modern facilities, tools and technologies scientists and investigators need to improve transportation safety, support Canadian innovation and help keep Canadians safe,” said Joël Lightbound, minister of government transformation, public works and procurement.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the hub will help close the gap between accident investigation and research, strengthen Canada’s research infrastructure and support a stronger transportation and defence ecosystem.
NRC President Mitch Davies said the project builds on a long-standing vision to bring structural research and accident investigation expertise together in a modern, collaborative environment.
The facility is being delivered using Laboratories Canada’s Repeatable Laboratory Design Framework and is targeting LEED and Fitwel certification, along with high standards for sustainability, accessibility and energy performance.
The project is part of Laboratories Canada, a $3.8-billion federal initiative to modernize science infrastructure and strengthen collaboration among science-based departments and agencies.
Preparatory site work began in summer 2025, and main construction began in fall 2026. Substantial completion is expected in 2031.
Public Services and Procurement Canada is also building the TerraCanada Science and Innovation Hub on the NRC’s Montréal Road campus. Together, the two projects are expected to improve access to shared resources and support collaboration across the federal science community.
