The Canadian Forces Base Shearwater Expansion project included construction of three new buildings and the upgrade of an existing facility to support the introduction of Sikorsky helicopters, replacing the retired Sea King fleet.
Bird delivered a multi-use maintenance and administrative facility and upgraded an existing steam distribution tunnel. Construction took place on an active military airfield, requiring strict control of site security, containment, and scheduling.
The support facility’s multi-purpose design presented unique challenges, including the installation of an in-floor, low-level fire suppression sprinkler system, an early adoption of emerging technology on a Canadian project.
The campus comprised paint and wash bays, a machine shop, avionics and inspection bays, and storage for flammable and explosive materials. Site work involved contaminated soil remediation and demolition of a 1950s-era hangar with multiple levels of asbestos contamination.
