Ottawa council approves procurement methodology for Lansdowne renewal project
Ottawa City Council is pressing ahead with a design-bid-build model for the design and construction of a new event centre and north-side stands at the downtown Lansdowne Park.
After council approved a new concept plan for the facility that includes a new event centre, new north-side stands and a mixed-use development, staff were directed to studied a range of procurement models.
Using a design-bid-build model, the city says, aligns with the Ottawa LRT Public Inquiry recommendation to opt for proven approaches when investing public funds in large-scale projects.
The project is currently estimated at $419 million, but taxpayers will pay only about one third of that – around $146 million.
The city says the approach represents the best option in terms of cost and timelines. The design will inform how the new north-side stands will connect with the planned retail space, which it says will be important as the city is proposing to sell or lease air rights for the space above and below the retail building.
Council has also approved an additional $4 million to prepare tender-ready design drawings for the event centre and north side stands, and to hire experts to help advance the project’s redevelopment proposal.
Finally, staff have been directed to report back to council later in the year on the final package of approvals, including the final construction price, final air rights value, and any required amendments to the project’s funding strategy.
The project plan calls for the construction of a new mid-size event centre, new north-side stadium stands, a two-storey retail space and two residential towers. It also provides funds for affordable housing.
The proposed event centre will accommodate nearly 4,700 general admission seats, and capacity increases to 5,500 for Ottawa 67s hockey games and 6,500 for concerts.
The proposed north-side stands reduce current seating capacity from 14,000 to 11,000 but includes standing room for an additional 900.
The plan also proposes two residential towers with maximum heights of 40 storeys. Limiting redevelopment to two towers will ensure the site can accommodate about 2,600 square metres of new public space adjacent to Aberdeen Pavilion. The two-storey retail building would include about 4,550 square metres of commercial space.