CaDCR staff writer
A significant milestone was reached last week at the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC) in Moncton as construction officially began on the new science wing. The facility, located on the site of the Gulf Fisheries Centre, is poised to become a hub for scientific research, focusing on the protection and sustainability of Atlantic Canada’s freshwater and coastal ecosystems.
The project, with a total construction cost exceeding $300 million, is being led by two key firms: Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt, which has been awarded a $26 million contract to design the facility, and Montreal-based Pomerleau, which secured a $325 million construction contract. Over 200 workers are expected to be employed during peak construction periods, and the science wing is slated to open in 2028, with the entire facility expected to be operational by 2032.
ASEC’s design is the result of extensive consultations with local Indigenous communities and the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur, the founders of the former College Notre-Dame d’Acadie. The new facility will honor the heritage of the original Gulf Fisheries Centre building by preserving its masonry façade while incorporating modern, state-of-the-art laboratory and office spaces. In addition to its architectural focus on sustainability, ASEC will target LEED Gold certification and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, with mass timber construction as a key feature to reduce the carbon footprint.
The ASEC will house scientists and staff from multiple federal agencies, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the National Research Council of Canada. The Canadian Space Agency will also participate virtually. The centre will serve as a collaborative space where federal scientists, Indigenous communities, the fishing industry, and academic researchers will work together on innovative solutions to safeguard the region’s ecosystems.
Incorporating elements of local Indigenous culture, the design will feature a 14-metre-long skeleton of a North Atlantic right whale in the atrium, symbolizing the centre’s commitment to research and conservation.
This project is part of Laboratories Canada, a national initiative aimed at enhancing scientific infrastructure across the country. The initiative received an initial investment of $2.8 billion in 2018, followed by an additional $900 million in 2024, bringing the total funding to $3.7 billion.
Federal ministers Jean-Yves Duclos and Diane Lebouthillier, who attended today’s event, emphasized the importance of ASEC in strengthening Canada’s science infrastructure and fostering collaboration among various sectors for the region’s environmental sustainability.
“This new centre represents a major investment in Atlantic Canada’s science infrastructure,” said Duclos. “By creating a collaborative environment that brings together federal scientists across departments, we are advancing scientific innovation for the benefit of all Canadians.”
ASEC is set to become a cornerstone for scientific research in Atlantic Canada, driving innovation, supporting conservation efforts, and creating a collaborative environment for researchers and communities alike.
