Carling Campus Project (Nortel)
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Context
In 2010, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) purchased the former Nortel Campus in Ottawa, and the Carling Campus Project was established to repurpose it for the Department of National Defence (DND).
All questions related to the move, including availability and allocation of parking at Carling Campus, security concerns, and military intelligence should be referred to the Minister of National Defence.
DND’s intent to further consolidate in another $1B complex, near the Carling Campus at Shirley’s Bay, is sometimes the subject of media attention. All questions related to this initiative should be referred to the Minister of National Defence.
Suggested Response
- The Government is committed to providing federal employees with effective, modern workplaces that enable better services for Canadians.
- The project will reduce the Department of National Defence’s footprint from over 40 major locations to 7. This will result in savings of $750 million over a 25 year period.
- As of October 31, 2019, over 7,500 people have been moved to the Carling Campus and the project remains on track to complete the moves by March 2020, bringing the total to approximately 9,350 employees.
If pressed on parking:
- The Department continues to support National Defence in its real property needs and this would include securing additional parking if we are requested to do so.
Background
PSPC purchased the former Nortel Campus in December 2010, enabling the department to acquire office space for special security purposes at a price significantly less than the cost of a new facility.
This project is part of DND’s 2008 National Capital Region Accommodations Strategy to consolidate DND strategic and administrative functions in a campus-style site.
It will provide the following benefits:
- Generate significant savings through the reduction of operational and accommodation costs
- Increase efficiencies by reducing fragmented workforce
- Strengthen security
Federal occupancy requires design and construction of necessary base building upgrades and information technology, security and special purpose space. Upon completion, the site will provide 9,465 work places.
This project is being delivered by PSPC, DND and Shared Services Canada (SSC). DND provides design requirements and secret infrastructure. SSC provides information technology infrastructure. PSPC has engaged Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions (BGIS) to deliver the project. BGIS in turn has engaged a design consultant (Norr) and a construction management company (EllisDon).
The first move took place in January 2017. By the end of 2017, the four buildings of Phase 1 were fully occupied by DND.
All remaining moves resumed in May 2019 and are to be completed by late March 2020, with anticipated project completion in March 2021.
PSPC is working in close collaboration with DND to deliver a positive service experience to DND staff currently located at Carling Campus, and those that will be moving to the campus, by having an attentive team of property and facility professionals dedicated to that location. Parking management and allocation is a DND responsibility and PSPC is offering support during the transition.
Over the past 2 years, the main issues covered in the media regarding the Carling Campus project has been the timetable, the project’s budget, parking availability, the moves and the community impacts.
Key Financial Information
- $208 million acquisition in 2010
- A one-time refit investment of $537.3 million over 6 years
- Transition costs of approximately $92 million (Transition costs are defined as cost of holding duplicate space in inventory for the same client)
- Value of work done as at end-September 2019 was $752.8M on a budget of $837.6.
- Project is on budget
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