Gilbane Building Company and Landry/French Construction Selected as Construction Managers for New Nordic Aquafarms Facility in Belfast, Maine
BOSTON, MA June 4, 2019 – Nordic Aquafarms Inc. (NAF), the U.S. subsidiary of Nordic Aquafarms, an international leader in land-based aquaculture, has named Gilbane Building Company and Landry/French Construction, construction managers for the Nordic Aquafarms upland aquaculture facility in Belfast, Maine. The 850,000 GSF aquaculture production facility will be built in two phases, with the first phase targeted for completion in 2021. It is located on 54 acres of land off Route 1 in Belfast.
” We are committed to delivering high-quality seafood with low environmental impact and take pride in the sustainable practices embedded into every facet of our business. By partnering with Gilbane, an experienced builder of food production facilities and a company that shares our commitment to environmental stewardship, we’re confident that the Belfast site will serve as the future of land-based seafood production in the United States. We are excited for the opportunity to expand the relationship with Gilbane as a national service provider to include future projects as NAF grows,” said Erik Heim, President Nordic Aquafarms Inc.
The proposed layout of the site features nine buildings, including hatcheries, freshwater juvenile facilities (smolt buildings), grow-out facilities, and peripheral support facilities such as office space, a central utility plant, and a water treatment plant. Electrical infrastructure will include a substation, back-up generation, and fish processing. In managing this unique project, Gilbane will draw upon its experience constructing Constellation Brands’ 983.5-acre brewery expansion project in Mexicali, Mexico, as well as the 260,000 square foot Kerry Innovation and Technical Center. Located on a 124-acre parcel in Beloit, Wisconsin, this campus for Kerry’s worldwide food production houses over 800 employees and is LEED-NC Gold certified.
“Nordic Aquafarms’ innovative land-based farming method is poised to transform the U.S. market for fresh farmed fish. As a leading builder of manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Gilbane will leverage our vast experience in constructing complex and varied food production facilities in making that mission a reality while Landry/French, a leading contractor in Maine, will bring the local knowledge and key relationships to this important project,” said Mike O’Brien, head of Gilbane’s Boston and Northern New England offices. “We share Nordic Aquafarms’ commitment to sustainability and minimal environmental impact and are extremely excited to break ground on this pioneering project.”
About Nordic Aquafarms
Nordic Aquafarms is an investor in and developer of land-based aquaculture internationally, with production plants in Norway (Fredrikstad Seafood) and Denmark (Sashimi Royal and Maximus) and two projects in the US (Maine and California).
Land-based production is a rapidly emerging method for sustainable production of salmon. It is based on indoor production in large tanks and water treatment systems, and its benefits include: the ability to recycle and treat water on site to reduce overall water consumption, recycling of waste resources, the prevention of sea lice and parasites, the elimination of fish escape into the sea and co-mingling with wild species, the application of renewable energy concepts, and a shorter distance to market for a high quality, fresh product, reducing the carbon footprint of air and land transport. For more information, visit our website at www.nordicaquafarms.com
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1873 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has 48 office locations worldwide. For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com.
Gilbane has served as a leading construction manager in Northern New England for nearly 50 years serving private and public clients throughout the region including Bank of America, the University of New Hampshire and Concord Hospital, to name a few. For more information, visit Gilbane’s website at www.gilbaneco.com/boston.
About Landry/French Construction Company
Landry/French is a leading commercial building contractor providing construction management, design/build, and general contracting services to a diverse range of clients including healthcare, commercial, corporate, financial, housing, and education. Awards and recognition include three AGC Build Maine Awards; Best Places to Work in Maine for four consecutive years; Governor’s Award for Business Excellence; and Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing Companies in the country (2017, 2016). Landry/French is a 100% Employee-Owned Company. For more information, please visit us at www.landryfrench.com