A storage centre for the Bermuda Government came in at half its projected price, thanks to the Government’s repurposing of the Artemis Racing facility left over from the 35th America’s Cup.

Now the unit, used in 2017 by New Zealand’s team competing in the regatta in 2017, has a new life as a stores facility and heavy equipment shop.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, conducted an official roof wetting at the government quarry in Hamilton Parish yesterday, flanked by members of the construction and engineering team.

Colonel Burch said that a new construction would have cost the Government $9 million but that the building was purchased at a “bargain-basement price” of $250,000. Overall costs, including transporting and rebuilding the structure, totalled $4.3 million.

The 20,000 square foot building was split into two and will provide storage and repair space for the Ministry of Public Works.

Thanks to increased storage, equipment that used to sit out in the elements will now be housed indoors.

Colonel Burch thanked the team who have worked on the project for eight months, and the staff at the Department of Works and Engineering who had to work under challenging conditions during construction.

Colonel Burch made special mention of Bermudian structural engineer Carmen Trott and civil engineer Tina Searles who managed the project between them, as well as chief engineer Yves “Bob” Lortie.

Standing atop the roof, Colonel Burch said: “For more than four years the Government budgeted to build a new facility for the heavy equipment shop, with little forward movement.

“Early in 2018, our stores supervisor Mitchell DeShields floated the idea of purchasing the Artemis building for use somewhere here at the quarry.”

He added: “Both buildings are designed to sustain Category 5 hurricane winds and will have a mezzanine floor added to accommodate offices, meeting rooms and bathrooms.”

Colonel Burch said that further efficiencies could be made in the future as the new stores facilities replace four ageing buildings.

“One can readily see the potential for greater efficiencies in a stores that carries over half a million items for every vehicle or piece of equipment we hold,” he said.

“A minimum of parts were ordered previously since there was no capacity to store them.

“This created many problems and exacerbated the maintenance problems as large parts like tyres, windshields and mechanical parts could not be held in stock but had to be special ordered.”

The new facility will save costs in reordering parts while the high ceilings and effective racking will increase storage capacity.