City Awards $21.6 Million Grant-Harvey Centre Contract to Caraquet Firm

Fredericton (October 25, 2010) – City Council has awarded a $21.6 million contract to Foulem Construction Ltee, of Caraquet, to build the Grant-Harvey Centre, a multi-use sports and leisure complex at 600 Knowledge Park Drive. Foulem’s was the lowest of seven bids received

The construction costs when added together with work already performed, including site preparation costs as well as fees for design work, project management, as well as fixtures, furnishings, equipment, contingencies and other normal building costs, will bring the total cost of the project to $29,253,708, under the projected $29.35 million budget estimate.

“I’m very pleased to reach this milestone and to see construction of this beautiful new facility is about to begin,” said Councillor Steven Hicks, Chair of the City’s Community Services Committee. “This is an important investment in the future health and wellness of our community and a fitting tribute to two hometown hockey heroes, Danny Grant and the late Buster Harvey, for whom the building will be named.”

The steel and concrete two-storey complex features an 8,000 square-metre ground-floor footprint. It will feature an Olympic-size ice surface and an NHL-size ice surface and will be home to the men's and women's ice hockey teams from St. Thomas University and Fredericton High School. It will also accommodate other ice sports, including figure skating and speed skating, as well as offer an ideal location for trade shows and home shows.

The two-level complex will also offer a three-lane walking/running track on the upper level as well as a community event room, a multi-purpose meeting room and full kitchen facilities. The Olympic-size ice surface will have 500 seats for spectators while the NHL surface will feature seating for 1,500. There will be 10 dressing rooms and a referees' room in the complex.

The Grant?Harvey Centre will be the cornerstone of a 45-acre recreational hub. The grounds will include an artificial turf soccer/football pitch, a six-court indoor tennis facility, a two-acre, fenced dog-walking park and parking for more than 600 vehicles.

The City of Fredericton has approved a deal with Ice Kube Systems Technology that will see geothermal energy used to heat and cool the complex. The system will also have the capability to store extra thermal energy to serve other buildings on the site or in the vicinity.

The Province of New Brunswick and the Government of Canada are each contributing $3.5 million towards the project.

The facility, designed by Centreline Architects, of Saint John is expected to open late next year.