Next month, an Ottawa-based general contractor will start transforming a long-vacant Kanata warehouse into one of North America’s most advanced telecom research labs.
MP Lundy Construction is currently searching for subcontractors to assist it with the multimillion-dollar fit-up of Avaya Canada’s new home at 425 Legget Dr.
Mr. Lundy said the company plans to call around to all of the firms it believes are capable of handling the contracts, and then doing a pre-qualification process.
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The 100,000-square-foot project is taking a high-ceiling facility and transforming it into an area that includes a skylight, glass, LEED Commercial Interior certification and high-end research labs for Avaya, a business communications provider.
At the moment, MP Lundy is finishing the installation of a 50-foot-long skylight, installing two new elevators, completing the base building mechanical and electrical systems, finishing installing new windows, and finishing construction of new washrooms.
And there’s more to come in future months as fit-ups proceed.
“On this project, there are definitely big opportunities for mechanical, electrical, drywall, finishing trades,” said Sean Lundy, CEO of the construction firm.
The company itself received a contract from Canderel, the developer, in the millions of dollars to oversee the construction. MP Lundy officials would not provide an exact dollar amount. However, the general contractor recently received a municipal construction permit for a $3.5-million-job at 425 Legget Dr. to convert a one-storey warehouse into a two-storey building, according to city records.
EMA Architects provided the design for the renovations.
The size of the project required splitting it into two stages, beginning construction in November 2011. Right now, MP Lundy is performing basic work for the landlord. Within a few weeks, efforts will then shift to fit-up on behalf of Avaya. Work should be finished by November this year.
What is remarkable to MP Lundy, says Mr. Lundy, is the building sat virtually empty for years after the previous tenant left, and was considered a difficult place in which to work – despite the great location in Kanata.
MP Lundy has done similar projects such as one in the House of Commons, where it changed the look of a 30,000-square-foot printing facility amid high-end equipment, and several warehouse refits for Giant Tiger.
The Parliamentary work, along with other projects such as the new addition to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, has caused a spike in MP Lundy’s revenues lately, Mr. Lundy said. From $25 million in annual revenues a couple of years ago, the company is now pushing $40 million.
It’s all been a product of careful planning, he added.
“We have a motto at the office: start late to finish early. We take more time to plan up front so we can finish the job quicker.”
Avaya purchased Nortel Network Corp.’s enterprise solutions business for US$915 million in 2009. Its lease at 425 Legget Dr. will go for 10 years.
A current tenant in the building, Renaissance Repair and Supply, told OBJ that it would remain there with Avaya as a neighbour.
