Tundra Campus Development Taking Shape

Work is underway to transform the site of our existing truck shop into Fort St. John Co-op’s Tundra Campus.

The property is located on Tundra Street in Fort St. John. This is near the Swanson Lumber Road and Airport traffic circle. While some members may not be familiar with the location, it has been home to our truck shop and part of our fleet operations for the last three years.

The development will add a new administration building, a secure compound and a 30,000-gallon propane storage vessel alongside the existing truck shop. Together, these additions will bring several of our administration, fleet and energy teams into one location and support more propane service for commercial and agricultural customers.

Bringing more of our teams together

Fort St. John Co-op has grown over the years. We operate more locations, offer more services and have added new roles to support our operations and the communities we serve.

Today, our administration, fleet and energy teams work from several locations. Bringing more of them together at Tundra will make it easier for them to work with one another, enhancing communication and keeping key employees close to our truck shop, drivers and fleet.

The new two-storey administration building will be approximately 10,000 square feet. It will include offices, meeting rooms and shared work areas. The interior is being planned so spaces can be adjusted as our needs change over time.

The five-acre compound will provide a better place to store tanks, rental equipment and other Co-op property.

Supporting propane service in our region

The development will also add a 30,000-gallon propane storage vessel at Tundra.
This will help support propane distribution to commercial, residential and agricultural customers throughout the region. The location provides good access for our trucks and keeps the propane operation close to our energy and fleet teams.

Why Tundra?

The Co-op purchased the Tundra property approximately four years ago with plans to make greater use of the site.

It is close to major transportation routes and our existing bulk plant, it already has our truck shop and provides enough space for the administration building, propane vessel and storage compound. Developing Tundra also allows us to build on land we already own.

Developing the Tundra property gives us the space we need today while making good use of a site that can continue to serve the Co-op in the future.

The complete development

The current forecast for the complete Tundra Campus Development is approximately $8.6 million.

This amount covers much more than the administration building. It includes development of the five-acre site, a secure compound, site servicing and improvements for the propane vessel, building construction and equipment, and the planning, professional and permitting work needed for the project.

Before construction began, we worked closely with the general contractor, consultants and engineers to review the plans and find opportunities to reduce costs. That work identified approximately $825,000 in savings while keeping the quality and key features we want from the development.

That early collaboration set a positive tone for the project and gave us confidence in the team selected to bring it to life. Everyone involved has remained focused on delivering good value for the Co-op and its members.

We continue to look for practical savings as the interior layout, furniture and equipment are finalized. This includes using flexible wall systems where they make sense and reusing suitable furniture and equipment from our existing locations.

Work underway

Construction began in July with WL Construction, a local contractor, leading the project. Since then, their crews have been busy with site preparation, servicing, and dirt work. By partnering with a local company, the project is helping to support local jobs, strengthen the regional economy, and create opportunities for local businesses and suppliers throughout the construction phase.

The early work has gone well, and we are pleased with the progress so far.

Next steps include:

• Completing the remaining site work
• Finalizing the interior layout
• Moving ahead with construction of the administration building
• Preparing the site for the propane storage vessel
• Installing lighting, security and other site services

It is exciting to see this long-planned development taking shape. We look forward to sharing more photos and updates as work continues at Tundra.