Churchill Marine Observatory - Penn-co Construction

Location

Churchill, MB

Owner

University of Manitoba

Architect

Prairie Architects

Contract Type

Stipulated Sum

Completion Date

April 2020

Project Value

$17.5M

The Churchill Marine Observatory features two OSIM (Oil in Sea Ice Mesocosm) tanks, a logistics base, lab space, and parking area. The facility uses natural Arctic conditions and seawater to grow and test sea ice affected by oil, liquefied natural gas, and other contaminants. The goal is to achieve LEED Silver certification, which is currently under review. A major challenge faced during construction was minimizing the impact on the surrounding ecosystems, especially with the presence of polar bears and beluga whales in the area at certain times of the year.