Laurentian U leads Sudbury construction surge.

A series of construction efforts at Laurentian University are just part of a slew of projects occurring within various institutions within the City of Greater Sudbury 

"We're pretty well stretched to the limit in terms of our capacity to deliver all our programs, in terms of classroom needs, research laboratories, and offices," says Norm Lajeunesse, director of Physical Plant and Planning.

"As a result of that, we're in the midst of a capital expansion phase right now."

One of the projects being pursued to cope with the space shortage of an estimated 120,000 square feet is a new $15.1 million school of education. Construction of the 74,000 square foot facility began at the campus' east end in September, with Sudbury-based Tribury Construction carrying out the project as designed by Castellan James + Partners Architects, also of Sudbury. Occupancy is expected to begin in 2008.

The building will accommodate students of the four-year-old English-language bachelor of education program by providing them with 20 standard classrooms and a 180-seat auditorium-style classroom.

The institution is also looking to build a $10 million, 55,000 square foot addition to its Ben Avery Sports Complex.

The facility will host new cardiovascular and weight rooms, a 200-metre indoor running track, a squash court, two playing courts, and a climbing wall.

The building is in the final stages of design, as a result of work done by Sudbury-based ANO Architects Inc. The project is expected to go to tender in January 2007, with construction slated to be completed within one year.

Construction is coming to a close on a 4,000 square foot addition to Laurentian University's Arts Building. The two-story, $1.6 million project is constructing an auditorium-style, multimedia-capable classroom on the second floor, which will be completed in January 2007. It is being designed by Sudbury firm J.L. Richards & Associates Limited and implemented by Build North Construction Ltd. The first floor will play host to a new microcomputer store, as well as a full-service Tim Horton's outlet, with both expected to open in February 2007.

"It's curious to see how, of all these projects, it's Tim Horton's that's probably most highly anticipated," says Lajeunesse with a chuckle.

Laurentian is also looking to begin construction on the future $12 million home of the university's growing Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit (CFEU), known as the Living with Lakes Centre.

The Vancouver-based architectural firm of Busby, Perkins + Will has teamed up with the engineers and architects at J.L. Richards and Associates for the detailed design work for the two-story 30,000 square foot centre, slated for a tentative groundbreaking in 2007.

Other educational institutions in the Sudbury involved in construction projects include the Glad Tidings Tabernacle Academy, which is building a $2.4 million expansion to its Regent St. site. The project will add a 1,500-seat worship area and auditorium. Phase I of the project is being undertaken by Wasaga Beach's Hawkey Church Management, and is expected to be completed in April 2007.

The Rainbow District School Board is also undertaking a project of its own in constructing an $18 million school, Valley View Public School, in Val Caron. The 64,000 square foot project is expected to be completed in August 2007.

Sudbury's proposed single-site hospital has also seen some progress recently, as the bidding process for the contract to complete construction on the 429-bed hospital came to a close on Nov. 29.

Shortlisted companies selected last summer to participate in the contract bidding process include Bondfield Construction Company Ltd., EllisDon Corp., PLC Constructors Inc., SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., and Vanbots Construction Corp.

Bids will be reviewed for several months, with the winner to be announced in early 2007.

The project was slated to be completed in 1999 but was shelved in 2002 as capital costs tripled to $366 million. A new and currently empty hospital tower was completed during the first phase of construction, and a second is slated to be built in 2007.

"This year has been an extremely strong year for construction in all sectors," says Guido Mazza, director of Building Services, Chief Building Official, City of Greater Sudbury.

"A lot of substantial projects are happening out there right now."

By NICK STEWART

Northern Ontario Business