Council awards phase-one contract for new operations centre in Fergus

ELORA – Centre Wellington council agreed to a new delivery method when it awarded the contract to design and build a new operations centre to Ball Construction Ltd. on June 10.

The hybrid construction method – where a contractor both designs and manages construction of buildings – is relatively new to municipalities, but is an efficient and cost-effective way to build large buildings like the operations centre, which will be constructed on Gartshore Street on the north fringe of Fergus.

This method means there will be two phases to construction.

Phase 1, at a cost of $1.44 million, will include detailed design of the building; budget estimates; and some site work, such as demolition of a barn and driving shed on the site, grading and servicing.

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Phase 2 will be the actual construction.

Ball Construction will provide a detailed budget and that price will be guaranteed, which is one of the biggest appeals of the hybrid process.

The historic farmhouse on the property will be retained and incorporated into the final design.

In the meantime, the house is being used by locum doctors. That will continue until construction actually begins.

CAO Dan Wilson told council that staff is exploring other housing alternatives for doctors for when that time comes.

Construction will begin in 2025 and is to be completed in 2026.

Council approved the budget for Phase 1 at $1.44 million.

Staff will return to council with updates and the guaranteed maximum price at a future meeting.