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Here are 6 of the most notable construction projects happening around Ottawa

September 16, 2024

Here are six of 30 city-building projects that are planned or currently underway in Ottawa and throughout Eastern Ontario. For the full list, check out our City Building 2024 magazine.

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There’s a buzz around town these days that hasn’t been seen in generations. Part of this story is undeniably about the volume of construction work that’s underway across Ottawa and throughout the region. Everywhere you turn, shovels are digging in the ground, crews are working with tools, and cranes are soaring into the sky. So it’s probably no surprise to learn that the level of construction output – measured by the total dollar value of building permits issued by the City of Ottawa each year – has more than doubled in the past 20 years, reaching more than $3.4 billion in 2023. On its own, that’s impressive. But the numbers tell just one side of the story. The other, arguably more important, side relates to the types of projects that are underway. Projects such as The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus development, the O-Train extension, the renovations in the Parliamentary Precinct, the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre under construction at Chalk River, and the Centre Street redevelopment planned for Smiths Falls. These types of projects don’t come along every day. They’re transformative, in their size, scope and significance. Here are six of 30 city-building projects that are planned or currently underway in Ottawa and throughout Eastern Ontario. For the full list, check out our City Building 2024 magazine.

Ādisōke

Why it’s on our list: Ādisōke will be the shared home of the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada and will pay tribute to and celebrate the stories and history of Indigenous peoples. When construction is complete in 2026, Ādisōke will be a library facility unlike any other. Shared by Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada, the building draws design inspiration from the Ottawa River, with wood and stone elements throughout, strong connections to the surrounding green space, and expansive views of the city and the river through windows and transparent walls. Its name means “storytelling” in the Anishinābemowin Algonquin language, one of several ways the facility will pay tribute to the Algonquin Anishinābe People and honour Indigenous stories and history. Features inside and out – such as a green roof with solar panels, an indoor green wall, and the use of natural and sustainable building materials – will help make Ādisōke a net-zero carbon facility. Ādisōke is located at 555 Albert St. at the western edge of the downtown core. Construction began in 2021 and on-site work is being led by PCL Constructors. The building design was created by a collaboration between Toronto’s Diamond Schmitt Architects and Ottawa’s KWC Architects, with deep influence from First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation individuals, here in Ottawa and across the country.

Hard Rock Casino and Hotel

Why it’s on our list: When it opens next year, the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel promises to be a game-changer for the city’s tourism and entertainment industries. Our town is about to become home to Canada’s first Hard Rock Hotel and Casino – a major tourism and entertainment facility. Plans to build the complex on the site of the Rideau Carleton Casino on Albion Road were originally released in 2017, but a series of delays – some created by the COVID-19 pandemic – led to the project’s groundbreaking in June 2023.

The building is scheduled to open in May 2025. Once complete, it will feature 150 hotel rooms, a casino floor with 1,500 slot machines, 40 live action table games, a baccarat room, and a sportsbook for variety gaming captions. There are also plans for a high-limit area with a lounge for VIP guests, as well as an 1,800-seat Hard Rock Live theatre that will host concerts, comedy shows and dance performances by artists from around the world. Valued at $350 million, the project is one of the largest private investment developments underway in Ottawa. Construction is being led by EllisDon and is expected to create hundreds of jobs. The Hard Rock Café brand, of course, is known the world over for its high-energy vibes, casual dining and iconic memorabilia. Today, there are more than 170 Hard Rock restaurants open around the world.

Centre Block of Parliament

Why it’s on our list: After 100 years of service, the building is the subject of the largest and most complex heritage renovation project in Canada’s history. The Centre Block of Parliament is the most recognizable building in Ottawa. And, right now, it is the subject of the largest, most complex heritage building renovation project ever undertaken in Canada.

Centre Block Parliament — An aerial-view rendering of the Centre Block of Parliament.

The building itself was built more than 100 years ago after the original Parliament building was destroyed in a fire. The years, however, have not been kind. The building is weathered and doesn’t meet current seismic requirements. Base building systems, like heating, ventilation and plumbing, are in dire need of repair and the existing layout doesn’t meet current standards for accessibility, security and sustainability. The Government of Canada has committed $5 billion to the long-term renovation of the building. Almost no corner will be left untouched, as an average of 400 construction workers are on site every day (peak activity is forecast at 1,500 workers per day) over the 10-year life of the project. The work itself is a complicated mix of deep digging, heavy lifting and the careful removal and repair of hundreds of thousands of bricks and stones. The construction plans also call for an expansion to the underground visitor welcome centre, including connections to the East and West Block buildings and more space for parliamentary work, including committee and multi-purpose rooms. The on-site construction team is being led by a joint venture between two of Canada’s largest general contractors: EllisDon and PCL Constructors.

Block 2

Why it’s on our list: The federal government plans to redevelop the site immediately south of Parliament Hill into a new complex that includes parliamentary offices, retail shops and an Indigenous people’s space. If you’ve lived in Ottawa for any length of time and you’ve never heard the term “Block 2,” don’t be alarmed. You probably know the location, if not the name. Block 2 is the group of 11 buildings located immediately to the south of Parliament Hill. It’s defined by Wellington Street to the north, Sparks Street to the south, Metcalfe Street to the east, and O’Connor Street to the west. Unofficially, it marks the transition between lands owned by the Crown and those owned by the City of Ottawa. In 2021, PSPC launched an architectural competition to reimagine the block as a space that combines heritage-designated buildings with modern landscaped courtyards and a public square facing the Peace Tower. The goal: to create a fourth wall for the Parliamentary Precinct that’s worthy of its location and significance. The following year, a team made up of Toronto’s Zeidler Architecture and David Chipperfield Architects from London, England won the competition with a proposal that draws on sustainability, stewardship and Indigenous values. PSPC is currently working with the architects to fully develop the design concept and build a project budget. It has since awarded a construction management contract to Pomerleau for the first phase of work on the site. Work is expected to start soon and could take as many as 10 years to complete.

Ottawa International Airport

Why it’s on our list: Ottawa’s airport is among the busiest in Canada, with at least one carrier counting YOW as its fastest-growing market outside Toronto.

Porter Airlines is responding to strong demand in its Ottawa network by increasing capacity on eight routes connecting with key Canada and U.S. destinations for the spring and summer. (CNW Group/Porter Airlines Inc.)

Ottawa’s airport consistently ranks among the top 10 busiest in the country. In typical (i.e., non-pandemic) years, more than four million passengers fly through YOW. What’s more, the airport and its carriers are expanding their service offerings, with many major domestic carriers announcing more services to more destinations across the country and around the world. Porter Airlines in particular is doubling down on its commitment to increase its services from YOW. The airline calls Ottawa its fastest-growing market outside Toronto. It operates 16 non-stop routes in and out of the city and expects to carry more than two million passengers to and from YOW by the end of this year. In support of that growth, the airline recently completed construction of two aircraft hangars and a maintenance base. The facilities opened in May and created 200 local jobs. As well, Porter has partnered with Algonquin College to create new training and learning opportunities in-class and at the new facilities. Growth is also underway outside the terminal. Construction is ongoing at the Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport, which will feature 178 rooms, plenty of conference space, and a covered pathway connecting the building to the airport terminal. The building is scheduled to open next year.

Ottawa Police South Facility

Why it’s on our list: Residents of Ottawa’s south-end communities have been advocating for a local police station for years. Construction of that facility is now underway. There’s no doubt Ottawa’s south-end communities are growing. Combined, Barrhaven and Riverside South have a population that is almost as large as that of Kingston. The communities have been advocating for a local police station for years. The City of Ottawa took a major step to deliver in November when crews broke ground on construction of the Ottawa Police Service South Facility on Prince of Wales Drive. The building is being constructed by Broccolini Construction with a targeted completion date of 2026 and plans to develop eight additional acres of property on the 15-acre site in subsequent years.

Once complete, the 218,000-square-foot, three-storey facility will not only centralize operations in the city’s south end, but also replace several older facilities that are planned for decommissioning. The building will house a community police centre, provide front desk and collision reporting services, and include a community boardroom – all with the aim of creating an inclusive, equitable and safe space for residents. Ottawa Police Services says the building will be critical in supporting evolving police operations, while also modernizing the service’s physical work environment. The new building has been designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and will include electric vehicle charging stations for visitors and staff. The facility will also introduce interior and exterior art installations that will be commissioned through a public art process.