The original timeline for the construction of a new RCMP headquarters is out the window, according to information revealed at the Codiac Regional Policing Authority meeting this week.
Building Committee member Ross MacKay says they are ready to make a presentation to the three local Councils on June 13th including various decisions to be made.
“Options for land ownership or outright purchase, lease, things like that,” MacKay said. “The options of designing the building, of satisfying themselves on the size, suitable design, and then the construction.”
MacKay added the initial $40 million estimate was a ballpark number so municipal councils could start planning ahead.
“You don’t have a design yet, how can you cost it?” he asked. “It’s only a matter of an algorithm that says for this many people, these are the square metres per person that the criteria call for.”
MacKay did make it clear that for a building of this nature, which is very different from an office building “the costs are considerably higher for the security requirements, and the various specialized uses that police buildings require.”
He says some of those special requirements are higher than normal snow, wind and seismic loads because the building must be available as a public shelter in emergencies.
