Bird-Chandos Joint Venture chosen for Halifax Water project

Key Takeaways:

• The joint venture includes Chandos and Bird Construction.
• The facility is being built using the Integrated Project Delivery model.
• This facility, built on a 14-acre site at Jennett Avenue, will provide the utility greater efficiency.

The Whole Story:

Halifax Water has chosen Bird-Chandos Joint Venture as the successful proponent for its new facility’s first phase (design validation) in Burnside Business Park. 

Halifax Water’s selection process included assessing each proponent’s approach to designing a new facility, their health, safety, and environmental record, and an assessment of earlier work. 

“The selection of the Bird-Chandos Joint Venture as the successful proponent for the Burnside Operations Depot is a significant step for Halifax Water,” said Louis de Montbrun, acting general manager and CEO of Halifax Water. “This is an exciting project that, once complete, will provide our staff with modern facilities and enhance services for our customers.” 

The contract utilizes Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) with multiple partners, including Bird-Chandos Joint Venture, Group2 Architecture, FBM, CBCL, and Atlantica Mechanical Contractors.

“We look forward to collaborating with our partners to deliver this important project for Halifax Water. Bird has a reputation for successful project delivery within the IPD framework, and we are committed to ensuring that this facility meets the highest standards,” commented Teri McKibbon, president and CEO of Bird Construction. “Our clients are at the forefront of everything we do, and we are proud of our history and reputation for successfully delivering projects that benefit and serve the community.”

Halifax Water explained that the IPD process involves all participants through all design, fabrication, and construction phases. The objectives are to increase productivity, efficiently use resources, and avoid overruns or conflicts during construction.

“Collaborative construction enables the right conditions for project teams to identify and deliver best-value outcomes for owners,” said Tim Coldwell, president of Chandos Construction. “We’re thrilled to be part of the IPD team selected by Halifax Water. We look forward to working alongside Bird Construction and the other IPD partners to deliver the Burnside Operations Depot for the customers and employees of Halifax Water,” says 

Halifax Water stated that by consolidating its operations facilities with the technical services group, the utility can better serve customers. This facility, built on a 14-acre site at Jennett Avenue, will provide greater efficiency by bringing operations currently in four operations depots at Mann Street, Neptune Crescent, Park Avenue, and Bissett Road into one location. Three of these locations are nearing the end of their useful life and must be replaced. 

The utility noted that it has been engaging impacted staff on the project for the past year. The goal is to allow employees to provide insight and feedback before the facility’s design. They added that this includes improving functionality, optimizing the layout, and identifying desired features that reflect and enhance a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment.