NR-MAR-04-03E

NEW LABORATORY AND SCIENCE BUILDINGS PLANNED FOR THE ST. ANDREWS BIOLOGICAL STATION IN
NEW BRUNSWICK

April 13, 2004

ST. ANDREWS, N.B. - The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced approval to design a new wet laboratory and a science building at the St. Andrews Biological Station (SABS), in southwest New Brunswick.

"DFO facilities like SABS are key to ensuring that, by the year 2010, Canada will rank among the top five countries worldwide in scientific research and development," Mr. Regan said. "Reaching this goal requires, among other things, investments in new facilities and equipment to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and scientific standards."

Urbana Architects Corp. of Toronto has been awarded a competitive contract valued at $2.94 million to design the buildings, prepare tender specifications for construction, and provide related engineering services. These include planning the specialized lighting, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to meet specifications for environmentally "green" buildings.

Existing wet labs are cramped, outdated and spread throughout the SABS campus. Consolidating them in a new 2,000-square-metre building will allow for expanded research, as well as savings in costs associated with pumping, heating, filtering and monitoring salt water tanks that house live specimens. Construction of the wet lab is expected to begin in summer 2005, with occupancy by late 2007.

The new science building is expected to include 2,500 square metres of space for offices, analytical labs, a computer centre, and a library of over 10,000 holdings. The current building houses the library and offices, as well as wet labs, which results in moisture and air quality concerns. Work on the new building is expected to begin in spring 2006, with occupancy in 2008.

The two new buildings - expected to cost over $32 million to build and fully equip - represent the third phase of a long-term plan to modernize Atlantic Canada's oldest marine research facility. Two years ago, a new salt water filtration plant was completed, along with a new warehouse for scientific equipment. Future plans include a new wharf, and upgrading the Esther Lord building, a heritage property built in 1908 as a residence and currently used as office space.

The St. Andrews Biological Station opened in 1908 with a laboratory, small wharf and the residence building to support seasonal research. It has operated year-round since 1932 and now houses over 80 full-time staff as well as visiting scientists, graduate students and contract workers.

SABS is located on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, which together with the adjacent Gulf of Maine comprise some of the richest marine waters in Canada. Station research focuses on oceanography, commercial fisheries, environmental studies, and aquaculture development. Its mandate has recently been expanded to include research on species at risk, such as the North Atlantic right whale and the harbour porpoise.

Public Works and Government Services Canada will manage the preparatory work and contract with Urbana Architects on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Funding for this contract was provided in the 2003 federal budget.

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