Renovation, repair and maintenance work at Place du Portage complex
Context
Current and future required renovations, repairs and maintenance work at Place du Portage Complex (Phases I, II, III & IV as well as in the Federal Tower) have been the subject of media inquiries.
Suggested responses
- The Government of Canada is committed to providing federal public servants with modern, sustainable, healthy and safe workplaces that are accessible and collaborative
- We are investing in key strategic assets in the National Capital Region, including the Place du Portage complex, by performing needed upgrades
- In addition to ensuring the health and safety of occupants, upgrades will increase the environmental performance and sustainability of these buildings, introduce the newest applicable standards for accessibility and use the most current government office design standards
If pressed on Place du Portage Phase III:
- This project, which will be completed by 2026, will transform the building and rejuvenate the neighbourhood skyline, while respecting important heritage characteristics
- Public Services and Procurement Canada remains committed to maintaining the 75:25 ratio of the federal government’s occupied space in Ottawa and Gatineau
Background
The Place du Portage complex is a Crown-owned federal campus of buildings built between the 1970s and early 1980s. It is located in Gatineau, Quebec. The total area is 447,000 m2 divided into five phases. The total population exceeds 10,000 employees from various federal departments.
Studies have concluded that the complex is in need of a mid-life rehabilitation that will enable ongoing, uninterrupted use of the asset for the next 40-50 years. The Place du Portage complex was built in the 1970s and its building elements, such as plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems, require updates due to the age of the infrastructure. While the base building elements of this critical infrastructure are being replaced, PSPC will concurrently undertake renovations aimed at modernizing the interior workstations to be digital, fully accessible, sustainable, and inclusive.
The project will also enable renewed greening of the asset during the construction, which will contribute to the environmental sustainability commitments made by the Government of Canada. Examples of this are increasing insulation in exterior walls and roofs, introducing high-efficiency heating, cooling and ventilation systems, and installing low flow plumbing fixtures as well as energy efficient lighting.
Similar investments to aging infrastructure in other assets are being made, including in Les Terrasses de la Chaudière, the Lester B. Pearson Building, the Carling Campus, the West Memorial Building, and the Supreme Court of Canada Building.
Portage III
This major capital project, which will take place between 2018 and 2026, will create over 5,400 jobs in construction and related supply chains, and is expected to increase opportunities for other local businesses.
At this time, extensive planning studies have been completed, the relocation of staff impacted by the construction activities is nearly complete, decommissioning activities have started on the vacated floors, and selective demolition work will begin shortly. Initial consultation with stakeholders has occurred and the design for the asset is also underway.
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