TORONTO - The new Toronto courthouse project takes an important step forward with the release of a request for proposals (RFP) to select an architectural firm to lead the planning, design and compliance aspects of the project. The new, state-of-the-art courthouse will be located steps from St. Patrick subway station, directly north of the Superior Court of Justice.

The planning, design and compliance (PDC) team will further develop the site master plan and prepare key documents including project-specific design output specifications. These documents will form the guidelines and performance requirements that the successful building team must meet when preparing its design. The PDC team will also monitor construction progress and provide coordination and oversight during the commissioning and completion of the project.

Bringing together many of Toronto's courts will reduce operational and facilities costs and make the administration of courts more efficient. The new courthouse will better serve Toronto by having justice programs and services in a single location.

The design of the new courthouse will be modern and accessible and include:

  • video conferencing to allow witnesses to appear from remote locations and in-custody individuals to appear from jail
  • closed-circuit television to enable children and other vulnerable individuals to appear before the court from a private room
  • courtroom video/audio systems to allow counsel to display video evidence recorded in various formats and for the simultaneous viewing of evidence
  • security features such as a single point of entry with magnetometers, baggage scanners, separate corridors for judiciary, members of the public and the accused, and continuous video surveillance
  • barrier-free access to all courtrooms

The new Toronto courthouse will be designed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver standard with a focus on energy efficiency, healthy indoor environments and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Once the planning, design and compliance aspects are completed, the Ministry of the Attorney General and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) will issue a request for qualifications for a team to design, build, finance and maintain (DBFM) the project. Under the DBFM model, risks associated with the design, construction, financing and maintenance of complex projects are transferred to the private sector.

IO and the Ministry of the Attorney General are working together to build the new courthouse, which will be publicly owned, controlled and accountable.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca for more information.

Quotes:

Madeleine Meilleur, Attorney General
“Every step we take in building a new courthouse in Toronto is an exciting one for the justice sector. It means that we are closer to having a new courthouse which will better serve the people of Toronto by having several justice programs and services together in a single location.”

Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
“We are delighted to celebrate the progress of the new Toronto courthouse project. This project is moving forward quickly, which is a true testament to the hard work of our team and the great relationships we have with our stakeholders and partners. I'm looking forward to the next stage of this project being completed, so that the new courthouse can begin to serve Ontarians, and be a valuable public asset to our justice system.”

Bert Clark, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario
“This RFP is an important milestone toward building a courthouse that meets the modern needs of Ontario's justice system. We are well on our way to begin the competitive procurement process for a consortium to build the new Toronto courthouse.”

Background:

IO is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that works to deliver public benefits through partnerships with the private sector. IO delivers large, complex public infrastructure projects using a made-in-Ontario modern procurement and project management practice called Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP). IO also partners with the private sector to manage one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public-sector clients with loans to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to advise the provincial public-sector clients on commercial transactions.

Contacts:

Nancy Kuyumcu
Infrastructure Ontario
416-327-5764

Brendan Crawley
Ministry of the Attorney General
416-326-2210

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