Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources today participated in a ceremony to inaugurate one of the new facilities at the Chalk River Laboratories. Managed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) on behalf of AECL, the Chalk River campus is Canada’s national nuclear laboratory and an important centre for research and innovation.
AECL is investing $1.2 billion to renew the science and site supporting infrastructure at the Chalk River Laboratories. The objective is to revitalize the site and transform it into a world-class, state of-the-art nuclear science and technology campus that benefits Canadians in areas as diverse as health, clean energy, safety and security and the protection of the environment.
The new Support Facility is one of several new construction projects at the Chalk River campus being designed and constructed using new generation of mass timber products. This material represents a sustainable construction approach and showcases AECL and CNL’s commitment to green construction and environmental stewardship.
Such projects are receiving $3.96 million in financial support under the Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) Program, and the visit by Parliamentary Secretary Lefebvre is being made as Canada celebrates the 100th anniversary of the National Forest Week. The GCWood Program, administered by Natural Resources Canada, aims to increase the use of wood in infrastructure projects as a sustainable building material.
“This innovative project demonstrates the benefits of using mass timber products in the construction of industrial buildings. It reinforces our position as a global leader in the transition to a low-carbon future,” commented Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources.
“The revitalization of the Chalk River Laboratories is key to helping us meet the challenges of tomorrow, including building a low-carbon future,” added Richard Sexton, President and CEO of AECL. “Using Canadian wood for our new facilities is part of our commitment to environmental stewardship. By building a sustainable, world-class nuclear science and technology campus, we are positioning ourselves to be at the forefront of science and innovation.”
Joe McBrearty, CNL President and CEO, also commented: “Thanks to the capital investment from AECL, CNL continues to make steady progress towards our vision of a revitalized and vibrant campus. New buildings have been designed with environmental performance in mind, and will lead to important efficiency improvements in the operation of the site.”
The new buildings featured as part of the visit include a logistics complex and a support facility, which will serve as important “enabling” facilities for the site. They complement recent investments in science facilities such as the $55 million hydrogen laboratory, the $40 million tritium laboratory and the $100 million Harriet Brooks building for materials science.