As reported in the Cape Breton Post, the tender for architectural and engineering services for a new downtown Sydney campus of the Nova Scotia Community College has been issued and calls for the design to be energy-conscious and cognizant of potential climate risks.

The 132-page document calls for those looking to submit proposals to consider objectives including ensuring the new Marconi Campus building will allow for continued growth at the campus, that it will have environmentally conscious focus and will ensure it operates efficiently.

It also outlines the need to consider current and future climate risks that would affect the waterfront project throughout its lifespan, while putting in place in the design controls needed to try to mitigate any risks.

“Climate risks include increased frequency and severity of storm events, sea level rise, larger seasonal variations in temperature, and the impact of such events on building occupants and the surrounding community,” the tender states.

The province has announced its intention to move the college downtown from its current location midway between Sydney and Glace Bay, adjacent to Cape Breton University. It has identified the new location as the waterside of the Esplanade, from Falmouth to Crescent streets, although it hasn’t yet obtained the land necessary for the project. Premier Stephen McNeil said he expects the campus to open in 2024.

“This purpose is to revitalize the downtown core of Sydney, and to accelerate the college’s strategy to expand the physical capacity of the campus in order to close the gap between the province’s supply and demand for skilled labour,” the tender document states. “This priority project will enable new programming in an innovative and multifunctional new space.”

The new campus is to be 275,000-300,000 square feet, up from the current location’s 237,000 square feet. The tender notes that the total building construction budget is to be determined and does not include site acquisition cost.

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