SYDNEY, N.S. — Another step in the process of moving the Nova Scotia Community College’s Marconi Campus is underway, with the issuing of a tender for environmental site assessments and geotechnical assessments for the new location.
The tender closes April 9.
The document notes the property acquisition process is still underway, and only some of the properties have been secured to date.
“Based on historical information available … it is anticipated that for future construction purposes, these properties will present some challenges, both from a geotechnical as well as from an environmental perspective,” the request for proposal states.
Ongoing geotechnical assessment work may be required throughout construction and the tender notes its scope may be expanded to include those services.
The package includes a phase one environmental site assessment report that was conducted by Strum Consulting for 24 properties located on Esplanade, Charlotte Street, Kings Road, Townsend Street and Falmouth Street. That report was completed last September.
It notes the sites are mostly vacant and are located in a mix of residential and commercial areas.
That study showed evidence of some contamination or potential environmental concerns and specifically notes the former Mercer’s Service Centre and other former service stations in the area.
It also notes the possibility of some hazardous materials given the age of existing buildings. There may also be elevated levels of naturally occurring radon glass.
The tender notes that the successful bidder is not to conduct work during extreme weather conditions that may allow dust, sediment or contaminated materials to enter the environment or affect adjacent areas or occupants of adjacent areas.
In November 2017, the province committed to relocating the 230,000-square-foot Marconi campus from its current location next to Cape Breton University to downtown Sydney. The school is currently home to about 1,200 students.
In August, the province unveiled the proposed location for the new Marconi campus will encompass the waterside of the Esplanade in Sydney, from Falmouth to Crescent streets.
The contracts for architectural design and engineering were recently awarded to Barrie & Langille Architects Ltd. and Moriyama & Teshima Architects, along with Fathom Studio (formerly Ekistics Planning & Design) and other sub-consultants.
The province has touted the relocation of NSCC as a major investment in downtown Sydney. It is in the process of obtaining all of the properties required for the development. According to the province, in cases where landowners do not reach an agreement on land sales, the expropriation process will be used with compensation to be decided by a third party. Early figures released by the province estimate the cost for the detailed design and development of the new campus, including its site preparation and land acquisition, to be roughly $18 million.
