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Biomedical Research Facility

Construction fence has gone up in the Medical Science parking lot and a section between Siebens Drake Research Institute and the Medical Science Building has already been excavated.

“The campus community will be seeing what we call ‘early works’,” says project manager, Amanda Bettridge. “Basically, we are in the process of preparing the site for the main construction phase by relocating and accessing services, grading the landscape, and – in this case - installing new generators.”

According to Bettridge, early works are well underway and will continue into February. During this phase of the project, the campus community can expect changes in the area.

• Sidewalk restrictions will occur between the Siebens Drake parking lot and the Medical Science parking lot. A popular cut-through for pedestrians entering campus from the north-west end of campus, the passage will be closed until the completion of the project. A detour will guide pedestrians around to the south side of the building along Elgin Road.
• A small patch of growth that leads down the hill towards the hospital will be removed to accommodate the building’s foundation and construction activities. Many of the trees will be replenished during the landscaping phase of the project, while the balance will be incorporated into Facilities Management’s annual planting of 150 trees in other areas of campus.
• Parking customers in the Medical Science lot and adjacent lots will feel the impact of the new facility. During early works and construction, several spots in Medical Science and Siebens Drake lots will be disrupted, causing a cascade of changes to the surrounding lots. For example, several visitor spaces in the Social Science lot will be reserved for clinic guest parking. Springett lot has added Pay N’ Display and Honk Mobile spaces to accommodate guests that are displaced by the reassigned spaces in the Social Science lot.

“The site is tucked up in the north-west side of the Medical Since parking lot and construction will have little impact on nearby roadways,” says Bettridge. “However, we appreciate the patience of those who may have to make some minor adjustments to their route or preferred parking spot.”

The main phase of construction will begin in February 2020 and complete in the Summer of 2022. The three-story facility will appear to be just a single level from Elgin Road. However, the remaining two floors are being developed below grade with a connection to the West Valley building. The 46,000 sq. ft. building will be added research space for Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.