Ontario Construction News staff writer
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of the Solicitor General announced last week that construction of the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and Kenora Jail expansion projects have reached substantial performance.
The milestone signifies completion of all major construction and gives the Ministry of the Solicitor General access to the new spaces to begin preparing for occupancy. Over the next few months, the Ministry of the Solicitor General will prepare the facilities to open in fall 2022.
Bird Construction Inc. was awarded the contract in spring 2021 to design and build both expansions.
The Thunder Bay project included:
- 50 beds
- Multi-use programming spaces
- Yard space and a cultural yard
- Programming and educational opportunities
A construction contract for the $1.2-billion Thunder Bay Correctional Complex has been awarded to a consortium led by EllisDon and work is expected to start soon.
The new correctional complex will be designed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, with a focus on energy efficiency, healthy indoor environments and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
It will be delivered using a DBFM model. Key benefits of a DBFM model include significant risk transfer to the private sector over the life of the project agreement, greater cost and schedule certainty, greater potential for design and construction efficiencies and innovation and higher maintenance quality encouraged through performance-based service payments over the 30-year term.
Based on precedent experience, a DBFM procurement model typically has delivered a value for money savings in the range of 15% to 22% compared to undertaking the same projects using traditional delivery models.
Expansions in Thunder Bay and Kenora will help support increased access to literacy, skills development and technology programs that support safe community reintegration, and also help address overcrowding at both facilities.
Learn more about the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and Kenora Jail accelerated build projects.