Ottawa Art Gallery Expansion & Arts Court Redevelopment

City of Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario

The new Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Court Redevelopment project was an integrated public-private development project that included a public component housing a 84,000 sf new public art gallery, a 120-seat Black Box Theater for the University of Ottawa, a 250 seat Multipurpose/screening room, the re-purposing of the existing Heritage Arts Court building and complete site enhancement. The private sector component included a 3 level, 86,000 sf underground parking garage, a 23 storey, 165,000 sf podium and residential/commercial tower element.

Services:  Procurement Advisor, Strategic Consulting, and Owner’s Representative

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Pedestrian Tunnel

Forum Equity Partners

Toronto, Ontario

The Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Tunnel Project was a Design Build Finance Maintain (DBFM) project for a state-of-the-art pedestrian tunnel routed under the Western Gap connecting the mainland to the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.  The project was procured by the Toronto Port Authority as a public-private partnership.

The project, which began in March 2012, allows travelers to walk in an underwater tunnel that connects the mainland to the island airport. The tunnel has four moving sidewalks travelling at 2.3km/hr. Passengers use one of six elevators to go down 100 feet to access the tunnel and travel 800 feet underneath to the airport’s check-in area. The journey is estimated to take less than six minutes. The project was funded by the private sector and was partially paid for by departing passengers via the existing Airport Improvement Fee. The tunnel opened in July 2015.

Services:  Financial Advisory, Risk Management, Strategic Consulting

Remediation and Renovation Project

Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation

Ottawa, Ontario

The remediation and renovation of the Canada Science and Technology Museum facility included the upgrading of the facility to meet most current codes and health and safety regulations while ensuring the facility is welcoming, accessible, safe and educational for all visitors.  The remediation and renovation included the complete replacement of the roof structure and system, seismic upgrade of the facility, new building envelopment systems, new mechanical and electrical systems, and creating a new main entrance including related civil and landscaping requirements.

Services:  Project Management

Elevator Modernization Project

Public Works and Government Services Canada

Toronto, Ontario

As a life-cycle upgrade to a fully occupied Heritage building, this project included the modernization of seven passenger elevators and one freight elevator at 1 Front Street West (Dominion Public Building) in Toronto.  The project included related construction electrical upgrades, elevator lobby modifications per floor and interior cab retrofit along with the full overhaul of elevator operational system.

Services:  Project Management

Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) Renewal Initiative

Forum Equity Partners

Vancouver, British Columbia

The SRO Renewal initiative (SRi) was a public-private partnership (P3) to renovate and restore 13 provincially-owned Single Room Occupancy hotels in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. These 13 hotels were over 100 years old with structural, plumbing and electrical infrastructure that requires extensive renovations to extend the life these buildings. These upgrades ensured that the buildings are safe, affordable and energy efficient – and protected over the long term for individuals who are at risk of homelessness. In addition to the upgrades, the 13 aging hotels were restored, preserving their heritage features and the historic character of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Services:  Financial Advisory, Risk Management and Strategic Consulting

Minto Recreation Complex – Barrhaven

City of Ottawa

Barrhaven, Ontario

The 165,000 sf public recreational complex is situated on 22 acres of land and includes 2 NHL-sized ice pads, a 6-lane 25-meter pool and leisure pool, fitness (cardio, weight room and studio spaces) areas, community multi-purpose rooms, change rooms, viewing and gathering areas,  a CFL-sized artificial turf sports field and children’s playgrounds and parking. The project is designed to a LEED Silver certification level.

Services:  Owner’s Representative and Procurement Advisors

Hydro Ottawa Limited

Hydro Ottawa Limited’s Facilities Renewal Program is a result of HOL’s review of its current real estate asset holdings and their impact on operating requirements and the cost of operations.  The program includes the development of two distinct sites to accommodate a new Administrative Headquarters building and two Operations Centres.  verTerra’s scope includes independent peer review of a real estate development procurement strategy, including a process integrity review and risk analysis for the capital real estate program; financial analysis and business case development for an alternative form of procurement integrating disposition of real estate assets with new capital development; validation of program requirements, budget and schedule and management of implementation requirements.

Services:  Strategic Consulting, Procurement Advisor, Owner’s Representative

Richcraft Recreation Complex – Kanata

City of Ottawa

Kanata, Ontario

The 105,000 sf public recreational complex, was on 14 acres of environmentally sensitive lands, and included an 8 lane 25-meter pool, leisure pool, a double gymnasium, multi-purpose community rooms, fitness/weight rooms.  The site amenities included basketball courts, and artificial turf sports field, a skate park plaza and a children’s play areas.  The facility has a geo-thermal system that offsets 50% of the demand load of the facility. The project was procured as a hybrid Design Build model and is targeting LEED gold certification.

Services:  Owner’s Representative and Procurement Advisor

South West Detention Centre

Forum Equity Partners

Windsor, Ontario

verTerra was the strategic Design Build Manager and Owners Advisor (for SWDC LP) for a maximum security correctional facility in Windsor, Ontario. The project was delivered through the Infrastructure Ontario AFP framework as a design build, finance and maintain project (DBFM). The project is designed to LEED Silver certification level.  verTerra also managed the furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) program for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services from procurement to final installation and commissioning.

Services:  Owner’s Representative, Risk Management, Financial Advisory, Transition Management

Construction Site Management Plan for Long Term Vision Plan

Public Works and Government Services Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

The Parliamentary Precinct Long Term Vision Plan required a Construction Site Management Plan to integrate and coordinate the numerous long-term major capital renovations and new construction at Parliament Hill with focus over the first ten-year horizon.  For the delivery of the $1B rehabilitation of the Parliament Hill buildings and grounds, the Construction Site Management Plan process included evaluation of all planned projects, risk and impact assessments, scenario analysis, scheduling, physical security planning, accessibility planning and the visitor experience.  Recommendations also included implementation plans for ongoing management, care and control.

Services: Strategic Advisory and Risk Management