Barrie Construction Report staff writer
The new $132 million Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus project will house the Barrie Police Service, Simcoe County Paramedic Services and Barrie Fire and Emergency Service dispatch communications at 110 Fairview Rd., providing operational benefits, project and long-term cost savings.
According to the County of Simcoe’s website, the location was chosen due to its central location, which is key to maintaining emergency service response times as Barrie’s borders expand.
Phase one includes a new Barrie Police Headquarters to replace an existing building at capacity; a new County of Simcoe Paramedic Services operational hub with ambulance storage, a mobile command unit, support areas and staff and administrative spaces; and dispatch communications for Barrie Fire and Emergency Services.
According to the City of Barrie’s website, the “Campus model will save approximately $15 million (15 per cent) in capital costs and 18 per cent ($370,000) annually in operations and maintenance costs compared to standalone facilities.
Costs will be saved because less space is needed for the combined buildings, which also require fewer parking spaces.
The website also notes that a large part of the construction cost for separate buildings is the provision of electrical, gas, water, storm, sanitary, storm and communications connections. In a combined building, the costs can be significantly less by sharing municipal services.
Other advantages include the use of larger, high-efficiency and more robust mechanical and electrical systems and reduced project costs.
In addition, the project is being delivered using the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) process which “aims to have all disciplines in a construction project work as one firm. The IPD process promises faster delivery times, greater value, and an overall better outcome for all partners.”
As of June 2018, a progress report noted that: All slab-on-grade for Level 1 is complete; portions of the Level 2 south suspended slab have been poured and continuing towards the north; in-slab radiant heat glycol lines have been set for Paramedic maintenance garage bay; and a retaining wall is complete on south of site.
Project participants include:
- AECOM Canada Architects Ltd. – Architect of Record
- AECOM Canada Ltd. – Civil/mechanical/electrical engineering
- LEA Consulting Ltd. – Structural engineering
- Gillam Chandos (Barrie) – JV Corp.
- Gillam Group Inc.Chandos Construction Ltd. – Construction manager
- Alliance Forming Ltd. – Formwork
- BMG Glass + Aluminum Inc. – Glazing
- Cesaroni Contracting Inc. – Gypsum board
- Fluent Group Consulting Engineers Inc. – LEED consultant
- Geo. A. Kelson Ltd. – Mechanical
- Lett Architects Concept – Architect
- Ontario Fox Corp. – Mason
- Vipond Inc. – Fire protection
- Wallwin Electric Services Ltd. – Electrical/security/PSVC
