Thunder Bay has a winner for the Centennial Botanical Conservatory work.

Council voted Monday to award the demolition and replacement of new production greenhouse and new attached annex building to M Builds up to the amount of $4.8 million inclusive of all taxes and a contingency allowance.

The entire project has been previously budgeted at over $7 million.

The project also includes safety improvements to re-open the East and West wings and remove the netting to catch falling glass in the main tropical display area, along with the annex structure that has accessible washrooms.

On page 244 of the supporting documents showed that the following avenues could be used to cover the remaining $3.7 million:

$1.2 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) Enhance Your Community Stream fund
$1.5 million in 2021 Approved Capital
$1 million in approved allocation through Renew Thunder Bay

The entire project could be finished by the end of 2023.