LSRI preview offered

by Mary Somers

The photo/rendering of the building is on the Facilities Management web site

Neighbours have had their first look at the proposed Life Sciences Research Institute (LSRI), a facility that will promote and grow world class life sciences research and development.

About 30 neighbours came to an information meeting May 11 to view the conceptual designs for the building and to receive information about the LSRI proposal. The meeting also provided an opportunity for them to ask questions.

Colin Latham, chair of the LSRI Building Steering Committee, told the meeting that the life sciences sector is one of the fast growing areas of research in the world with the potential to create many jobs. The building would provide much needed research space. There has been no significant increase in research space since 1967, when the Sir Charles Tupper Building was constructed, he said.

The LSRI is a community project. It involves Dalhousie, Capital Health, the IWK Health Centre and other stakeholders, including the National Research Council, The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Province of Nova Scotia and BioNova. The Brain Repair Centre, which carries out world class research into diseases such as Parkinson´s and Alzheimer´s, will be the first tenant in the building.

It is estimated that it will cost between $30 and $35 million to construct the LSRI. It will be located on a section of the old Grace parking lot at the corner of College and Summer streets. A fund-raising campaign, aimed at both the public and private sectors, is under way. A date for construction will depend upon the money raised. Construction could begin in September, 2006.

The proposed building would be a five-storey aluminum clad structure with its entrance at College and Summer streets. There are plans for underground parking for 68 cars. The LSRI would not be built to the sidewalk. Instead, there is green space between the building and the sidewalks on the College and Summer street sides. An older agreement with HRM, to provide a pathway between University Avenue and Carleton Streets, will be examined.

The neighbours at the meeting were generally very supportive of the plans. Some commended the partners in the project for trying to provide badly needed research facilities. Questions focused on whether there was the potential to create more wind tunnel effects in the area, whether the machinery on the roof would cause noise, and which partner in the project would be responsible for looking after the green space.

Jeff Lamb, Director of Facilities Management at Dalhousie, told the meeting that wind studies have been carried out, that machinery noise should be minimal and that Dalhousie´s grounds personnel will be responsible for maintaining the landscaping and green space for the building.

More information about the proposed building can be found at the Dalhousie Facilities Management web site at: http://fm.dal.ca/lsri.htm