The first of three pods of precast concrete prison cells are in place at the $200 million Okanagan Correctional Centre near Oliver.
The 378-cell, high-security facility being constructed on Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) land is proceeding on budget and on time for the 2016 fall completion date.
“The project is going really well, construction is proceeding smoothly, safely and the quality is excellent,” said Richard Burley, vice president, project delivery for the Plenary Group. “We’re absolutely on schedule and we’re very pleased with the progress.”
Plenary Justice Okanagan is the consortium selected to design, build, finance and maintain the centre over the life of the 30-plus year contract. Other consortium members are the Plenary Group, PCL Constructors Westcoast and Honeywell. The prison cells are being constructed by Oldcastle Precast Modular of Spokane, Wa. and are trucked to the site.
“It’s (precast construction) not really new but it’s proven methodology, very innovative,” said Burley. “It’s a safe way to build, it’s quicker, the quality is better and the end result is better value for the money.
“It’s a lot like Lego blocks. When you see them being craned into position it’s literally just like blocks being put in place, very clever.”
Each precast module contains two cells that can house two inmates each and comes complete with just plumbing and electrical connections required after placement.
The facility, dubbed the “centrepiece” of BC Corrections’ second-phase capital expansion plan, will be about 29,000-square metres in total area. It will include 11 living units and other amenities.
OCC will more than double corrections capacity in B.C.’s Interior.
Since the May, 2014 groundbreaking Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes indicated there has been an upswing in the local economy, something he expects will only get better.
“Having a $200 million-plus construction job going on in our backyard has to have some real economic impact for our community and the South Okanagan,” said Hovanes. “But I think the real impact is going to be when it opens, when we have 250-plus jobs that are ongoing for the next generation or two. It’s great to have this kind of a job outlook for the future.”
For that, he credited the “bold” initiative of the OIB to go after the project in the first place.
“We have a great relationship with our First Nations neighbours to the north and in a lot of ways we’re one community,” he said. “They’ve been a showcase worldwide already.”
According to Burley, wherever possible, Plenary looks locally to source workers, supplies and services.
“This is something everyone from the province right on down has been very pleased with,” he said.
Currently there are about 75 workers on site. During the term of the construction 1,000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created and another 240 when the centre opens.
The January, progress report showed two sub-contracting awards each to Penticton and Oliver companies, five to Kelowna businesses and nine others to B.C. firms.
Three others for specialized work have gone to out-of-province companies.