Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), has announced that an integrated project delivery agreement is now in place for the design and construction of the new Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre in Chalk River.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022.
The Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre will be one of the largest nuclear research facilities ever constructed in Canada.
CNL will be working on the project with Chandos Construction Inc., Bird Construction Inc., M. Sullivan & Son Limited, Eclipse Automation, J2PG Consultants, Merrick & Company, Modern Niagara, MSE, Plan Group and Siemens.
CNL made it a priority to retain qualified local organizations wherever possible, and to incentivize the use of local resources in the work, to ensure the project brings economic benefits and employment opportunities to the region.
CNL’s President and CEO Joe McBrearty says the revitalization of the Chalk River campus is designed to position CNL as a world leader in nuclear science and technology, and the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre is at the centre of this vision.
As the largest single capital investment in the revitalization of the Chalk River campus, the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre will be a 10,000 square metre research complex that will accommodate 240 employees and consolidate key capabilities from aging facilities that are scheduled for decommissioning.
The research centre will feature 12 new shielded cells that will enable post-irradiation examination of small modular reactor and next-generation nuclear fuels, and glovebox facilities to support the development of advanced fuel fabrication concepts.
A new science collaboration centre has also recently started construction, a new industrial-use support facility was inaugurated, a new site entrance building was completed, and several science facilities have been opened over the last few years, including a brand-new hydrogen laboratory complex, a new materials research laboratory, and a new tritium research facility.