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Transforming Real Estate Management: IO’s 20 Year Journey of Growth and Innovation

Infrastructure Ontario image

Over the past 20 years, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) has strategically evolved to manage one of Canada’s largest and most complex real estate portfolios that supports the delivery of essential public services across the province.

orange and red colour building with ontario logo sign at entrance driveway

Roberta Bondar Place in Sault Ste. Marie

blue colour building with Ontario logo on the top

The 1 Stone Road government building in Guelph

traditional look low-rise stone building with landscape walkway

The Renfrew Pembroke Courthouse in Pembroke

“We take immense pride in managing a massive portfolio of provincial land and buildings that are critical to supporting important programs and services that Ontarians rely on,” said Sean Wiley, Executive Vice-President of Asset Management Execution. “Through strategic partnerships with private sector service providers, IO oversees the day-to-day operation, long-term maintenance, investment strategy and realty transactions for a multi billion-dollar portfolio of nearly 4,300 owned and leased facilities and 650,000 acres of land. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of something this big.”

From Ontario Realty Corporation to Infrastructure Ontario

Prior to the merger of IO and the Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC) in 2011, this portfolio was managed by the ORC. Today, IO’s Development and Asset Management (DEVAM) team, which is responsible for the strategic oversight, investments and operational management of the government’s General Real Estate Portfolio (GREP), continues to provide all the services previously delivered by ORC.

IO’s DEVAM team collaborates closely with competitively procured, best-in-class private-sector service providers. While IO is responsible for the administration of government assets, our service partners support the delivery of day-to-day property operations, construction project management, transaction services, and initiatives that enhance the value of underutilized assets.

Generating Value for Ontarians

IO’s DEVAM team not only manages a multi billion-dollar portfolio of government land and buildings, but also ensures provincially-owned real estate is used in the best way possible.

That’s where our Asset Management Investments team comes in.

“We work to ensure that land or buildings no longer needed for government programs or services are reviewed, assessed and often sold or developed at market prices to generate revenue for re-investment in government priorities,” said John Cimino, Executive Vice-President of Asset Management Investment.

Notable Achievements:

  • Evolved our outsourced service provider program to ensure building systems (such as elevators, HVAC, electrical and plumbing) operate efficiently, tenant issues are addressed promptly, and capital repair projects are delivered effectively. This work is managed by our Real Property Services Provider, BGIS, and our Project Management Service Provider, Colliers Project Leaders.
  • Developed IO’s Smart Buildings program: launched in 2018, it now spans 97 buildings and is on track to grow to 150 sites by the end of 2026. It uses advanced technology and sensors that connect Building Automation Systems to a centralized monitoring and analysis centre that improve building performance and sustainability and service.
  • Modernized asset renewal management: evolving from spreadsheets to a sophisticated software application, and now to a comprehensive Asset Management Information System that improves planning, analysis, trending and processes.
  • Standardized all Occupancy Master Drawings for IO’s Office Portfolio to meet BOMA 2010 standards.
  • Increased IO’s impact across the province by bringing most government agencies under IO’s management.
  • Completed significant property sales: more than 170 properties sold since the launch of the Accelerated Divestment Plan in 2018, generating nearly $340 million in net revenue and reducing costs associated with operations and maintenance by $5.6 million annually. The list includes the 295-acre former Bluewater Youth Centre in Goderich, 39-acre former Leslie M. Frost Centre in Dorset, and 4,000-acre Carlsbad Land Bank near Ottawa.

Learn more about IO’s Real Estate Services function.