A $25-million building boom is about to commence near both sides of the 500 block of Queen Street East.

The construction company that built Algoma University’s Spirit Village residence nine years ago has won a $16.3-million contract to erect a new consolidated headquarters building for District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSMSSAB).

The new structure will rise at 540 Albert St. E., just one block from the  $8.4-million downtown plaza approved by City Council last month.

The Albert Street job has been awarded to Matheson Constructors Ltd. of Aurora, Ont., which submitted the lowest of four bids.

Unsuccessful bidders were:

• Ruscio Masonry & Construction (SSM) – $19.3 million
• SalDan Construction Group (SSM) – $17.4 million
• Praztek Construction Group (Timmins) – $16.6 million

Matheson’s current projects include an office building at 104 Beech St. in Sudbury and a residential complex on Park Street in Little Current.

The company maintains a Northern Ontario office at 531 Notre Dame Ave. in Sudbury.

Past Matheson builds include:

• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
• Sudbury’s first Starbucks drive-through location, a 2,500-square-foot standalone building near the corner of Barrydowne and Kingsway
• Sudbury biosolids management and wastewater treatment plant
• Constance Lake First Nation Water Treatment Plant
• 20,000-square-foot Jack Garland Airport Terminal in North Bay

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