The federal government this week released a list of several properties that it is planning to dispose of in the National Capital Region.
That “disposal list” includes L’Esplanade Laurier downtown, the Sir Charles Tupper Building on Riverside Drive, and the 1500 Bronson Building and Annex.
According to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the move is part of its “long-term real estate portfolio plan to optimize the office space under our responsibility, lower operating costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
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The plan includes disposal, as well as renovation of existing buildings. PSPC suggested that the properties listed for disposal could be used for affordable housing or redesigned community or commercial space.
The properties listed for disposal in the National Capital Region are:
- Jackson Building (122 Bank)
- Rideau Falls Lab (1 John)
- Sir Charles Tupper Building (2720 Riverside)
- Graham Spry Building (250 Lanark)
- L’Esplanade Laurier – East Tower (140 O’Connor)
- L’Esplanade Laurier – West Tower (300 Laurier)
- L’Esplanade Laurier – Commercial (171-181 Bank)
- Brooke Claxton Building and Annex (70 Columbine)
- Asticou Centre (241 Cité des Jeunes)
- 1500 Bronson Building and Annex (1500 Bronson)
“As the plan evolves, our goal is to improve and transform our office portfolio so that we can provide federal employees with efficient, modern, accessible and green workplaces where they can continue to deliver services to Canadians,” PSPC said.
PSPC office space services more than 260,000 federal public servants from 103 departments and agencies across Canada.
“The shift to a hybrid work environment permits a more effective utilization and sharing of space that was simply not possible before the pandemic when desks were assigned to public servants on a one-for-one basis,” PSPC said.
“The Government of Canada’s shift to a hybrid work model will enable us to relocate these employees into modern accommodations,” PSPC stated.
PSPC’s portfolio comprises approximately 25 per cent or 6.9 million square metres of the federal government’s real property assets based on floor area. Over 50 per cent of its office portfolio is within the National Capital Region.
In releasing its disposal list, PSPC explained that disposal is the last phase of the life cycle of real property and refers to the sale or transfer of an asset. The process can take several years, PSPC added. PSPC said it will engage Indigenous peoples and key stakeholders while circulating the list of buildings identified for disposal.
“We will continue to assess and optimize the performance of our office portfolio as our clients’ long-term office plans evolve. While our current list only identifies buildings in the NCR, buildings in other regions may be added in the future.”
PSPC added that it continues to work with federal departments and agencies to establish their long-term office space requirements. Over the next five years, more than 50 per cent of PSPC office space leases will expire.
