The B.C. government is building a new collections and research building in Colwood and has selected three bidding teams to participate in the next step of the selection process for design and construction.

The proposed facility will house the Royal BC Museum’s collections and research department, and the BC Archives. It will provide dedicated research labs and learning spaces, and improve access for British Columbians to the museum’s vast collections.

This state-of-the-art facility is anticipated to create about 950 good-paying jobs and help support B.C.’s economic recovery.

The three teams invited to participate in the request for proposals (RFP) are:

Kinetic Construction Ltd. Smith Bros. & Wilson (B.C.) Ltd. and Wright Holdings Inc.

• Diamond and Schmitt Architects, Inc.
• Aspect Structural Engineers Canada Ltd.

Ledcor Design-Build (B.C.) Inc. and Knappett Projects Inc.

• John McAslan and Partners
• Fast + Epp Structural Engineers Inc.

Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd.

• Michael Green Architecture Inc.
• Equilibrium Consulting Inc.

The RFP is the second stage of the procurement process to select a design-build team. Only proponents who were shortlisted during the first stage, the request for qualifications (RFQ) process, are invited to participate in the RFP process.

Partial compensation in the amount of $1 million will be paid to each unsuccessful proponent in accordance with the terms of the RFP and is intended to partially cover the cost to participate in the RFP process. This is standard business practice for major infrastructure design-build procurements, led by Infrastructure BC, to ensure robust competition and high-quality, responsive submissions.

Government expects to break ground in summer 2022 and complete the project in 2025. 

The collections and research building is funded by the Province. The Transportation Investment Corporation will manage all aspects of the design and construction on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport and the Royal BC Museum.