Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) have issued a request for proposals (RFP) to two prequalified teams to design, build, finance and maintain the new Toronto courthouse.
Teams invited to submit proposals for the project at 11 Centre Avenue, bordered by Chestnut and Armoury Streets, were selected based on their design and construction capability, experience, facilities management capacity and the financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and complexity.
The following teams were prequalified and have been invited to submit formal proposals for the new Toronto courthouse project:
EllisDon Infrastructure
Developer: EllisDon Capital Inc.
Constructor: EllisDon Design Build Inc.
Design Team: Renzo Piano Building Workshop and NORR Limited
Facilities Management: EllisDon Facilities Services Inc. and SNC Lavalin O&M
Financial Advisor: EllisDon Capital Inc.
Plenary Justice
Developer: Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd.
Constructor: PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
Design Team: WZMH Architects, Perkins Eastman and CGL RicciGreene
Facilities Management: Johnson Controls Inc.
Financial Advisor: TD Securities Inc.
Once submissions are received, IO and MAG will evaluate the proposals, select a preferred bidder and then negotiate a final contract. A fairness monitor will oversee the entire process and the successful bidder is expected to be announced in fall 2017.
The new courthouse will include:
- Video conferencing to allow witnesses to appear from remote locations and in-custody individuals to appear from detention facilities
- Closed-circuit television to enable children and other vulnerable witnesses to appear before the court from a private room
- Courtroom video/audio systems to allow counsel to display video evidence recorded in various formats and for the simultaneous viewing of evidence
- A single point of entry with magnetometers, baggage scanners, continuous video surveillance, and separate corridors for judiciary, members of the public and the accused for security reasons
- Barrier-free access
IO is leading the project on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
Last year, IO led an archaeological excavation of the new Toronto courthouse site that recovered many artifacts, mainly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In early 2016, IO and MAG convened a Heritage Interpretation Working Group to provide an open forum to seek consultation and advice which will inform the Heritage Interpretation Plan for the new Toronto courthouse.
As a first step for heritage interpretation, IO will be installing artwork on construction fencing for the new Toronto courthouse to help commemorate the downtown site’s rich cultural history.
The courthouse will be designed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standard