Halifax Shipyard Modernization Program

Challenges

The procurement and construction phases were highly accelerated to meet our client’s contractual shipbuilding milestones.
Brownfield challenges, including unexploded ordnance, were encountered relating the old naval yard site being redeveloped.
The existing shipyard facilities had to be demolished in phases while shipbuilding continued.
Special foundations were required to accommodate extremely large loads from the dead weight of the superstructure and proposed shipbuilding activities.

Solutions

The previous fabrication facilities were removed in stages to allow the final coastguard vessel to be completed successfully without disrupting its construction schedule.
Dynamic compaction was implemented as a means of ground improvement.
An efficient long-spanned structural building frame was designed to accommodate large-spanned heavy lift cranes and withstand high-wind loading.
Using the latest tools in BIM, we worked efficiently to reduce cost and risk and produce more valuable information in a shorter timeframe.
During construction, live BIM models were updated as construction occurred; as-built and asset information was produced in near real-time, and tablets were used to access documents and models live from the site.

Highlights

Once custom-designed to accommodate the modular construction of combat vessels, this shipbuilding facility now has the largest single building for constructing ships in North America.
Recognized by Engineers Nova Scotia with the 2016 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering.
Project was completed within budget and on time.

Project numbers

CAD$350 millionconstruction cost
At46 metres in height,the Assembly and Ultra Hall would just clear under the Halifax harbour bridges
100% LEDlighting was employed to use 75% less energy than traditional lighting
425,000square feet
36 monthsto completion
9000吨of structural steel
22,000 metres³of concrete
6,000 metresof industrial piping
Two 130-tonne plus two 200-tonne bridge cranesspanned the entire width of the building
At408 metres in length, the Assembly and Ultra Hall is the equivalent of nearly seven NHL ice surfaces
The welding machine can complete the equivalent of 24 hours of manual welding in 20 minutes with99% accuracy