Minister of Defence releases update for The Royal Canadian Dragoons facility

Above image: Left, a rendering of the new facility. Right, The Royal Canadian Dragoons current building.

Last week, Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, highlighted the ongoing construction of The Royal Canadian Dragoons facility at 4th Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa.

“It is my pleasure to mark ongoing construction on this project to provide The Royal Canadian Dragoons with modern facilities. The use of innovative approaches for this project is born of our determination to deliver on the commitments made in Strong, Secure, Engaged – providing our Canadian Armed Forces members with the facilities they need, combatting climate change, and creating well-paying jobs for Canadians,” stated Harjit S. Sajjan.

The Royal Canadian Dragoons was formed in 1883, and it is the most senior armoured regiment of the Canadian Army.

Current Project

Valued at $88.1 million, the project is expected to provide economic opportunities for the local community and create about 225 jobs during the construction period.

The project will see the renovation of two existing buildings and the replacement of seven obsolete buildings with a single, centralized 9,633-m2 facility. These modern facilities will provide the regiment with enhanced vehicle maintenance, storage, logistics, and training areas to increase collaboration and support daily operations.

Will Amos, Member of Parliament for Pontiac, says he’s delighted to see the progress being made on this important project.

“This new, greener facility will help us meet our commitments on climate change and ensure that the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces have the quality facility they deserve, where they can do the important work that we ask of them. The good jobs that projects like this one bring are all the more important as we respond to the economic impacts of COVID-19,” he expressed.

Construction

Construction began in spring 2020. The new facility is expected to be completed and operational in late 2021.

This pilot project represents the first time the Government of Canada is using the integrated project delivery or IPD approach for a construction project. This approach involves joint project control between DND, the designers, and the builders and promotes greater collaboration between industry and the owner.

The Crown, the designers, Architecture49 Inc and Integrated SMEC Inc, and the builders, PCL Constructors Inc., Dilfo Mechanical Ltd., and KE Electrical Ltd., have formed an integrated project team and will establish goals while making project decisions together.

Emphasis on collaborative, early project planning has the ability to shorten the construction phase and deliver the project faster and at a better value.

The new building has been designed to achieve the Three Globes certification of the Green Globes Program and save an estimated $4.6 million in operations and maintenance costs over 40 years.

In support of Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada provides modern, green, and functional infrastructure in which military personnel can work and train.