Developer award goes to Cooke Aquaculture

Family-owned Cooke, headquartered in New Brunswick, is being recognised for turning a former synagogue into an “innovative and creative workspace” for 60 employees.

“We are honoured to have the renovation and restoration of the former synagogue recognized by the City of Saint John and Develop Saint John,” said Cooke communications chief Joel Richardson.

“We were fortunate to work with terrific professionals like Glenhar Builders, Johnson Engineering, and architect Robert Boyce who shared the Cooke family’s vision for preserving the building’s architectural features while turning it into a workspace that can meet the needs of our fast-paced and growing team.”

Incredible workplace

“We are thrilled to be presenting the Developer Award to Cooke Aquaculture for their amazing transformation of the former synagogue. They have created an incredible workplace that exemplifies how the structures we create make our neighbourhoods better and our community stronger,” said Saint John mayor Don Darling.

Cooke met the award criteria which included the project must be an urban and architectural design, and must benefit the community and act as an inspiration for other developments. The building also needs to include innovation and problem solving. Commercial success was another criterion. Some buildings were ineligible for the award including public sector buildings and buildings that had municipal enforcement issues.

Open for business

“The City of Saint John is open for business,” said Steve Carson, chief executive of Develop Saint John. “We are here to grow the tax base by helping organizations, developers and investors imagine the art of the possible, elevating development projects from good to great. Cooke Aquaculture saw the potential of this provincial historic site and its central location to reimagine how it could be at the centre of a new vision, creating an innovative campus-like setting to attract and retain today’s top talent.”

The Outstanding Awards committee includes representatives from the City of Saint John and Develop Saint John.

Develop Saint John is an organization that invests in strategic real estate developments that add value to St John New Brunswick.