A A

A Halifax company has nabbed a $1.38-million contract to tear down the former CBC building on Bell Road in Halifax.

The demolition is the first step in the expansion of the Halifax Infirmary as part of the QEII Health Sciences Centre redevelopment project.

The provincial Infrastructure Renewal Department announced Tuesday that Asbestos Abatement Limited of Halifax won the tender.

A departmental spokeswoman said Tuesday that the aging building likely contains “a minor amount (of asbestos) just due to its age" but the company's specialty was incidental.

Marla MacInnis said the building was constructed in 1955 and was expanded and renovated in both 1990 and 1996.

Before the building is torn down, the company must remove 7,000 litres of liquids and sludge from underground and aboveground fuel tanks, 60 tonnes of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated material and asbestos products, such as vinyl floor tiles and drywall, among other materials.

The Halifax Infirmary addition will include a cancer centre, outpatient centre, research and innovation centre, and an expanded inpatient care centre.

In November 2017, Nova Scotia bought the CBC Building for $4.5 million that included two acres of land with a parking lot that has 93 spaces.

"The expansion of the Halifax Infirmary site is the heart of the QEII redevelopment," said Infrastructure Renewal Minister Lloyd Hines in a news release announcing the tender decision.

"The demolition of the former CBC building is an important step to make way for a new health-care facility that will serve hundreds of thousands of Nova Scotians each year."

RELATED: