Contracts Awarded for Mainland North School

Construction of the new Mainland North school begins this week. Contracts have been awarded to three Nova Scotia firms to build the high school near the Mainland North Common in Halifax.

Rideau Construction Ltd. has been awarded the project management contract. The company will oversee the entire construction process. Rideau will report to the Department of Transportation and Public Works, government's project manager for school construction.

Dexter's Construction Ltd. will begin initial site work this week. The company will clear the site, prepare it for construction and build access roads. This work will take about one month.

WHW Architects Ltd. is transforming conceptual drawings for the school into final architectural plans and engineering design. This company will also issue tenders for construction trades during each phase of the project.

"We're pleased that the school construction is on schedule," said Jane Davies, chair of the Halifax West Feed School Group. "We're looking forward to having our high school students back in the community."

The school will have 50 classrooms, nine science labs, six technology labs, and six classrooms for music, art and drama. There will also be a library and resource centre, a cafeteria and a gymnasium.

In addition, the school will have a 464 square metre auditorium for both school and community use. The shell of the auditorium will be funded by the provincial government. With support from the Halifax Regional Municipality, the surrounding community will raise money and hire a contractor to complete the facility with seating, acoustical treatments, lights and other stage equipment.

Announced in January, the $26 million school will house up to 1,500 students. It will accommodate students from Halifax West, which was closed last year, and other students from the growing community. The school is scheduled to open in January, 2003.