Contracts have been awarded to two companies for the $350-million renovation and expansion of a science centre in Moncton that’s expected to add about 350 jobs to the city.

Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt was awarded a $26-million contract to create designs, and Montreal-based Pomerleau was awarded a $325-million construction contract for the expansion of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Gulf Fisheries Centre on University Avenue.

The contracts were announced at a news conference Monday by Dominic LeBlanc, the intergovernmental affairs, infrastructure and communities minister.

“Together, these two service providers will work to fully develop and build the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre, which more than doubles the existing space here today,” said LeBlanc, appearing on a live video stream from the centre.

The plan to create the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre was first announced in 2017.

LeBlanc said that with contracts now awarded to companies, the project is no longer just a political promise.

“The government of Canada has now contracted legally to begin the design and construction in the first part of 2022,” he said, adding that it will be the largest federal infrastructure project in Atlantic Canada since the construction of the Confederation Bridge.

LeBlanc said the expansion will begin in spring 2022, and is expected to be completed in 2030. During that time, the project is expected to create about 200 construction jobs.

Once completed, the number of people working at the facility permanently will also be doubled from 350 to about 700, LeBlanc said.

“Many of those jobs will be scientific jobs, so you can imagine for the local economy, those are highly skilled, well-paid people,” he said.

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