Delay in massive science building not connected to MUN's financial crunch

The stalled core science building project at Memorial University's St. John's campusis not connected to MUN's financial crunch, but is symbolic of the university's efforts to be financially responsible, says an official.

"The global budget is $325 million and we are sticking to it," MUN spokesman David Sorensen said Friday.

Construction on the massive project began in late 2015, with millions already spent on site work and the sprawling concrete foundation.

But all four bids submitted in July for major construction of the building were more thanfive per cent above estimates, and were rejected by the university because they exceeded the threshold mandated in the province's Public Tender Act.

The university and its consultants are now scrambling to make changes to the building in order to bring costs down, and Sorensen said a new tender will be issued soon, perhaps in December.

Sorensen would not offer any specifics on the bids, saying he did not want to influence the ongoing tendering process.

One thing's for sure. The completion target of late 2019 will not be met.

Sorensen said it's likely to be delayed by a year.

• Feds provide $100M for MUN's new core science building

The facility, meanwhile,will house the departments of biochemistry, biology and chemistry, as well as electrical and computer engineering.

It will provide 425,000 square feet of floor space, and loom large over the entire campus and Prince Philip Drive.

It's one of the costliest public buildings to ever be undertaken in the province, andcomes at a time when the university's budget is being squeezed as the provincial government grapples with an unprecedented fiscal challenge.

Roughly 80 per cent of the university's operating budget comes from the province.

MUN is borrowing most of the money needed, while the federal government has committed $100 million to the project.

The core science building has been touted as a facility that will allow MUN to compete globally as a top destination for students and researchers.