Garian Construction gets contract for Municipality of Argyle’s new admin building

July 2021 eyed for now as completion date for new facility

The Municipality of Argyle has announced that Garian Construction Limited was the successful bidder for the construction of the new administration building and will act as the general contractor for the construction.

This building will be the first net-zero energy administration building in Canada, “a great achievement that demonstrates Argyle’s leadership on environmental concerns,” the municipality said in a media release.

The design team led by Wild Salt Architecture designed the building in order to increase space efficiency, reduce material quantities and have the design closer to local building practices. Garian’s bid was within Argyle council’s approved budget for the project, which allows the construction to proceed, the municipality says. The contract

From Wild Salt Architecture, a drawing of the new administration building to be constructed in Tusket for the Municipality of Argyle.

CONTRIBUTED

to award the tender was signed March 16.

“We are all very proud at Garian to have been awarded this tender,” said Ian McNicol, Garian’s president. “To sign a contract for such an important part of our community today, while so much other uncertainty is all around us, was definitely a great feeling.”

Garian’s team of subcontractors

is predominantly local, from electrical and mechanical to landscaping.

Said Argyle Warden Danny Muise: “We have been anxiously awaiting the result of this tender. Council, staff and the team at Wild Salt Architecture worked very hard to bring this project to this point, and we are pleased that the next chapter on this project will begin.”

Graham Edgar of Wild

Salt Architecture spoke of the project’s environmental component, saying: “Net-zero energy buildings generate as much energy as they consume, and we are proud of the Municipality of Argyle for their leadership on renewable energy, and for investing wisely in the future.”

Elaine Lourdes Edgar of Wild Salt Architecture said the design is not only energy efficient but also maximizes material and cost efficiency.

“We have designed the most efficient building we can, while providing a safe and healthy work environment and an accessible and enjoyable visitor experience,” she said.

The design maintains eligibility for $460,000 in grants from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and an associated loan with a preferential interest rate, as well as access to Federal Gas Tax funds for energy efficient design. In its release, the municipality cited a few more things about the project:

• The net zero energy design shall save up to $27,000 in energy costs annually. Over 30 years, including inflation, this saves our taxpayers over 3.2 million in operating costs.

• The municipality has saved sufficiently to pay for this project, therefore there will be no area rate or tax increase for this project.

• The Municipality of Argyle engaged independent project management advice from Baracca Management Group, whose role, among others, included working with prospective bidders to encourage participation.

The work was expected to commence as early as March 30, 2020, with a completion date of July 2021, the municipality said.