Commissioner of Buildings to Oversee North of Union Project

[City of SJ News]

“Edwards’ department manages 100 City facilities and he is our chief building inspector,” said the Mayor, “He’s certainly the right choice to ensure the harmony of this project.”
Edwards holds a BScE in Civil Engineering from UNB. He began his career with the City in 1986 as an Operations Engineer. He was Director of Works before moving to the Department of Buildings and Inspections Services.
Amy Poffenroth, P.Eng has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Buildings and Inspections Services, and will oversee daily operations of the department. Poffenroth is a Civil Engineering graduate of UNB and has an MBA from UNB-Saint John. She has been with the City for 10 years. Mr. Edwards will continue with the department in an advisory role.
The area bordered by Hazen, Union, Peel, Carleton, and Wellington streets will soon be home to a new justice complex, containing a law building built by the Department of Justice of the Province of New Brunswick and a three -story (one underground) police facility built by the Saint John Police Commission. The two complexes will be joined by an underground tunnel as well as a surface plaza. A 500-car parking facility will be built by the Saint John Parking Commission on the escarpment off of Carleton Street with plans to connect to City’s pedway system. Particular attention will be paid to adding public green space and to preserving as much of the City’s built heritage as the development will allow.
The components will be built to the LEED standard. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
A project office, located in the old NBTel building behind the Saint John Arts Centre, is scheduled to open at the end of September. Saint John Common Council approved Edwards’ appointment August 18, 2008.
The Buildings & Inspection Services Department at the City of Saint John ensures the safety of our residents by providing building inspection and enforcement of our building by laws. The department is also responsible for the issuance of building and plumbing permits, the City’s facility management including building maintenance and capital programs, energy management, and the carpenter shop.




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