UPEI's new climate research facility in St. Peters starting to take shape

Work is progressing on UPEI's newCanadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation in St. Peters Bay, P.E.I.

Thenew multi-million dollar research facility will beUPEI's first satellite campus outside of Charlottetown.

The 36,000 squarefoot buildingwill include researchand teaching spaces, as well as a drone port.

Research centres, like theUPEIClimate Research Lab, will have spaces available.

There will also betwo floors of residence space for more than 40 full-time students, with the ability tobring invisiting researchers from around the world.

"We know right now that there will be students.There'll be visiting faculty,researchers out there," said Jackie Podger, vice-president administration and finance at UPEI.

"We wanted to provide them with the availability to actually live and study in the same place."

Locals to benefit

The facility also has a view overlooking St. Peters Bay and is expected to havean impact on the community.

"Well, I don't think a building of that size has been built in the community since the school was built back in '66," said Ronnie McInnis, mayor of St. Peters Bay.

He said local businesses will benefit from the influxofpeople working and living in the community.

It will also help with having research done in their own backyard at the Greenwichportion of the P.E.I. National Park and how to adapt local agricultural practices for climate change.

"Like other small rural communities, we struggle to have some young people around so we are very excited about that," McInnissaid.

"And the opportunity it presents in dealing with climate change and what the future holds for us."

McInnis said the economic spin-offs could take years to pick up speedbut some local businesses are already seeing an uptick.

"We've had construction crews coming for lunch, or just ordering their lunch and taking it up there," said Rick Renaud fromRick's Fish 'n' Chips & Seafood House

"We're going to make some changes inside and extend ourseason into November right now and hopefully for around-the-year business."

University officials call St. Peters Bayan ideal place for climate change research, with wetlands, beach dunes and farm fields nearby.

Land for the $14-million facility was donated to the university by local property owners.

In keeping with a focus on climate change, UPEIofficials saidthe energy-efficient building will have a potential for a near-zero carbon footprint.

The building is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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