A Port Coquitlam company this week officially celebrated its $70-million contract from the federal government to help to build one of the largest astronomical observatories in the world.
On Tuesday, Guy Nelson, CEO of Empire Industries, which owns Dynamics Structures on Kingsway Avenue in PoCo, heralded the partnership before dignitaries, UBC scientists and iron workers.
Dynamic Structures is the lead contractor for the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) and is responsible for the precise-steel enclosure that will protect the telescope from temperatures and winds in the 22-storey tower at the summit of Mauna Kea volcano, in Hawaii.
It is expected to be ready in about eight years.
Nelson said the project will create about 125 new full-time jobs locally. "We are really proud to call Port Coquitlam home," he said.
Mayor Greg Moore also spoke about the trickle effect the business will have on the PoCo economy and credited Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam MP — and Industry Minister — James Moore for making the contract happen.
MP Moore said one of the first calls he received when appointed industry minister was from Dynamic. The resulting TMT will "wow the world as we look into the cosmos," he said.
Nelson said Dynamic has built about half of the world's mega telescopes and, currently, "we've never been busier."
Dynamic Structures was started in 1926 when Vancouver Art Metal was founded. In 2007, AMEC sold the company to Empire Industries, which now operates the firm as Dynamic Structures. Three years ago, it spun off an amusement ride manufacturing division called Dynamic Attractions.
Its past projects have included: the Isaac Newton Telescope; the Vancouver Olympic ski jumps in Whistler, the Richmond Olympic Oval; the Lougheed SkyTrain station; and Disney’s Soarin’ Over California and Space Mountain.
