Toronto Macdonald Block Reconstruction | ?m | ?s | Infrastructure ON | WZMH

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News Release

Ontario Renovating Key Government Buildings
July 5, 2016

Province Reducing Costs and Fighting Climate Change
Ontario is reconstructing the Macdonald Block Complex, an initiative that will reduce the cost of government operations and help the province meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The 45-year-old Macdonald Block, a complex of four towers that is home to the largest concentration of Ontario public servants, has never undergone a major renovation and the building's core systems -- including electrical, water, cooling and heating -- have reached the end of their useful life and must now be replaced.

An independent, third-party expert panel concluded that an extensive reconstruction is needed. The panel advised that the government's average current expenditure, including operating expenses and capital expenses required to maintain the buildings in their current state, would be reduced from an annual average of $144 million to $121 million over 50 years. This results in an estimated return of all costs invested in the renovation and an average annual net savings to the province of more than $20 million for the next 50 years. Those savings will be achieved through reduced operating costs, lower energy and capital maintenance expenditures, and the reduction of over 380,000 square feet of third-party leases across the downtown Toronto core.

The project will also support the government's efforts to fight climate change. The recently released Climate Change Action Plan commits to making provincial government operations carbon neutral by 2018. The Queen's Park Reconstruction Project will strengthen the performance of these existing government buildings while helping Ontario meet its short- and long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets. It will also ensure that the Ontario public service remains a modern and inclusive organization.

The eight-year project will also include renovations to the Whitney Block, one of Ontario's oldest government office buildings. Renovations to the Whitney Block will include replacing windows, updating the heating system and repairing the façade.

Investing in infrastructure is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit in Ontario's history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.


QUICK FACTS
    • Macdonald Block Complex is home to 12 cabinet ministers, 15 Ontario government ministries and 3,600 Ontario Public Service employees. The complex includes the Macdonald Block Podium, and the Hearst, Hepburn, Mowat and Ferguson towers.
    • All work will be completed over an eight-year period, with employees beginning to move out of the complex in late 2018. Reconstruction will occur between 2019 and 2023 and staff will move into the newly reconstructed complex in 2023-2024.
    • The Macdonald Block Complex project will be delivered by Infrastructure Ontario using an Alternative Financing and Procurement model, which has a proven track record with 98 per cent of projects being completed on budget.
    • Since 2006, greenhouse gas pollution from government-owned buildings has been reduced by 30 per cent or 53,000 tonnes. This is the equivalent of removing 12,325 passenger vehicles per year from the roads.
 
Pic taken May 17, 2017


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Request for Qualifications Issued for the Macdonald Block Reconstruction Project
August 17, 2017
TORONTO - Infrastructure Ontario (IO) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for interested parties to submit their qualifications to design, build, finance and maintain the Macdonald Block Complex.

The project will see the reconstruction of the 45-year old Macdonald Block Complex, the administrative hub of the Ontario government's operations. The complex has never undergone a major renovation and its core systems, including electrical, water, cooling and heating, have reached the end of their useful life and must now be replaced.

IO and the Ministry of Infrastructure are working together to deliver the reconstructed Macdonald Block Complex, which will remain publicly owned.

The RFQ is the first step in the procurement process to select a team to deliver the project. IO will evaluate submissions to prequalify project teams with the design and construction experience, as well as the qualified personnel and financial capacity, to deliver a project of this scope and complexity. Teams that qualify will be invited to respond to a request for proposals in early 2018. Interested companies must register with merx.com to download the RFQ.

In advance of issuing the request for qualifications, IO contracted Adamson Associates Architects as the planning, design and compliance (PDC) team for the project. The PDC team establishes the guidelines and performance requirements the successful reconstruction team must meet when preparing their submissions for the project. Adamson Associates Architects will also monitor construction progress and provide coordination and oversight during the reconstruction, commissioning and completion of the project.

Quick Facts:
  • The Macdonald Block Complex includes the Macdonald Block Podium, and the Hearst, Hepburn, Mowat and Ferguson towers.
  • An independent, third-party expert panel concluded that the extensive reconstruction is needed.
  • The reconstruction of the Macdonald Block Complex project will reduce the cost of government operations and help the province meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets.
  • The project is being delivered using IO's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model, an innovative way of financing and procuring large, complex public infrastructure projects.
  • Projects that are delivered using IO's AFP model have a track record of being 96 per cent on budget and 73 per cent on time or within one month of the scheduled substantial completion date.
Quotes:
“This is an important step in delivering the project that, when completed, will reduce the cost of government operations, resulting in long-term cost savings for Ontarians.”
Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure

“Infrastructure Ontario is proud to play a role in delivering an efficient, accessible and environmentally responsible workplace that will continue to serve as a critical hub of Ontario government operations for decades to come.”
Ehren Cory, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario


Contacts
Samantha Gileno
Infrastructure Ontario
416-327-5764

Aslan Hart
Communications Branch, Ministry of Infrastructure
416 325-4679
 
Project Type: RFT - Request for Tender
Project Number: 17-147
Title: RFT - Macdonald Block Complex - Demolition of Mowat 5 and Hearst 3

The site:
The Macdonald Block Complex consists of four stone clad towers of varying heights that stand on a two story podium at the corner of Bay Street and Wellesley Street in Toronto. The complex is approximately 45 years old, is owned by the Ontario Government and is a Provincial Heritage Property of Provincial Significance.

The work:
The project is part of the Alternative Finance and Procurement (AFP) due diligence investigations to obtain accurate information of the amount and type of designated substances present above ceilings and behind / inside walls, and document the existing conditions.

The contractor must provide all necessary labour, materials, equipment and services to demolish and remove hazardous materials from the 5th floor of Mowat tower and 3rd Floor of Hearst Tower. The building remains occupied expect for these 2 floors designated in the contract documents. IO expects that the Contractor will be ready and organized to mobilize on site within two business days of the floors being available. The earliest start date for the Hearst tower mobilization is anticipated to be December 1, 2017 and the latest start date is anticipated to be January 15, 2018. Mowat Tower will be three weeks later for both the early and late start dates.

This complex is a Provincial Heritage Property and heritage elements in the areas of work will be removed prior to the start of this contract. The contractor must maintain and submit a detailed spreadsheet along with photographic evidence of all materials (hazardous and non-hazardous) that are removed from the early decant floors.
 
From Link:

Prequalified Teams Selected for Macdonald Block Reconstruction Project
January 15, 2018
Three teams have been prequalified to design, build, finance and maintain the Macdonald Block Reconstruction Project.

Teams were selected based on their design and construction experience, qualified personnel and financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and scope. The teams are:

  • EllisDon Infrastructure
    • Developer: EllisDon Capital Inc.
    • Construction Team: EllisDon Design Build Inc.
    • Design Team: NORR Limited
    • Facilities Management: EllisDon Facilities Services Inc.
    • Financial Advisor: EllisDon Capital Inc.
  • Fengate PCL Progress Partners
    • Developer: Fengate Capital and PCL Investments
    • Construction Team: PCL Constructors
    • Design Team: WZMH Architects
    • Facilities Management: Johnson Controls
    • Financial Advisor: Fengate Capital
  • Sandfield Partnership Solution
    • Developer: Brookfield Financial Corp. / Ledcor Developments Ltd. / Walsh Infrastructure Canada, Ltd.
    • Construction Team: Ledcor Design-Build (Ontario) Inc. and Walsh Canada
    • Design Team: B+H Architects
    • Facilities Management: BGIS Global Integrated Solution
    • Financial Advisor: Brookfield Financial Corp., Ledcor Developments Ltd. and Walsh Infrastructure Canada, Ltd.
A request for proposals is expected to be released in February 2018

Visit here to learn more about the Macdonald Block Reconstruction project.
 
And the next step…

Request for Proposals Issued for The Macdonald Block Reconstruction Project
February 22, 2018
TORONTO - Infrastructure Ontario (IO) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to three shortlisted teams to design, build, finance and maintain the Macdonald Block Complex. The 45-year old Macdonald Block, a complex of four towers, has never undergone a major renovation and its core systems - including electrical, water, cooling and heating - have reached the end of their useful life and must now be replaced.

Teams were selected based on criteria identified in the Request for Qualifications process that began in August 2017. Selection criteria included applicable design and construction experience, as well as the qualified personnel and financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and complexity.

The shortlisted teams are:

EllisDon Infrastructure

Developer: EllisDon Capital Inc.
Construction Team: EllisDon Design Build Inc.
Design Team: NORR Limited
Facilities Management: EllisDon Facilities Services Inc.
Financial Advisor: EllisDon Capital Inc.

Fengate PCL Progress Partners

Developer: Fengate Capital and PCL Investments
Construction Team: PCL Constructors
Design Team: WZMH Architects
Facilities Management: Johnson Controls
Financial Advisor: Fengate Capital

Sandfield Partnership Solutions

Developer: Brookfield Financial Corp. / Ledcor Developments Ltd. / Walsh Infrastructure Canada, Ltd.
Construction Team: Ledcor Design-Build (Ontario) Inc. and Walsh Canada
Design Team: B+H Architects
Facilities Management: BGIS Global Integrated Solutions
Financial Advisor: Brookfield Financial Corp., Ledcor Developments Ltd. and Walsh Infrastructure Canada, Ltd.

Teams invited to respond to the RFP will begin preparing proposals that detail how they will design, build, finance and maintain the project. Once submissions are received, IO will evaluate the proposals, select a preferred bidder and then negotiate a final contract. A successful bidder is expected to be announced in spring 2019. A fairness monitor will oversee the entire procurement process.

A copy of the RFP is available at http://www.infrastructureontario.ca/Macdonald-Block-Reconstruction-Project/

The newly reconstructed complex will meet current building, health, safety and accessibility standards, facilitate a more efficient use of space and help the province meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets.

IO and the Ministry of Infrastructure are working together to deliver the reconstructed Macdonald Block Complex, which will remain publicly owned.

Quick Facts:

  • The Macdonald Block Complex includes the Macdonald Block Podium, and the Hearst, Hepburn, Mowat and Ferguson towers.
  • An independent, third-party expert panel concluded that the extensive reconstruction is needed.
  • The reconstruction of the Macdonald Block Complex project will reduce the cost of government operations and help the province meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets.
  • The project is being delivered using IO's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model, an innovative way of financing and procuring large, complex public infrastructure projects.
 
We know pretty much exactly what's gonna come out of this, which is essentially just a 21st-century-ified version of what's currently there.

I am not sure what the expectation was in the first place given it is pretty clear this project is about the unsexy but essential aspects of the complex.

AoD
 
Exactly - it's essentially about modernizing buildings that are overdue for a rehabilitation, particularly with respect to mechanical and building envelope performance. However, I do hope that they pay attention to street connectivity and beautification of the pedestrian experience.
 
However, I do hope that they pay attention to street connectivity and beautification of the pedestrian experience.

The Bay-fronting fountain area is actually gorgeous, but it's horribly inaccessible and unwelcoming to pedestrians. Effort should be taken to preserve the general intent of the original design (keeping the fountains), while ripping out a bunch of the barriers and planters and adding a whole bunch more seating and probably some plantings.
 
I've always admired the cladding here. Hope they don't do a 401 Bay on us.

You'll be glad to know huge effort is going into retaining the cladding:

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work from a platform high above the ground – where gusty winds or the hot summer sun are all part of the mix?

This scenario is very familiar to the engineers and contractors assessing the exterior stone walls of the Macdonald Block Complex. For the past couple of months, these crews have been scaling the walls – in all kinds of weather – to inspect and remove stones as part of the planning and preparation phase of the Queen’s Park Reconstruction Project.

The immensity of the stones make this project unique. These stones (made of natural limestone from the renowned Queenston Quarry) are really big with some weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Investigative work is still underway, but indications are that the buildings were designed and built by people who knew they were working on important, legacy buildings – and they didn’t cut corners. After all these years, it feels good to be working to protect the heritage of this significant provincial building."

I'm also of the understanding that the interior marble walls and late-60s artwork are being preserved. I don't think the look and feel of the complex will be much different in the common areas. It's the working space that will be drastically different, and, of course, all the building systems will be modernized.
 

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