Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of the Attorney General today announced the release of a request for proposals (RFP) inviting short-listed companies to submit proposals to design, build, finance and maintain a new consolidated courthouse in St. Thomas, Ontario. 

The new, modern courthouse will be constructed on Wellington Street on the site of the historic Elgin County Courthouse, and the design will incorporate the existing heritage building. The new building will consolidate both St. Thomas' Superior Court of Justice, currently located on Wellington Street, and Ontario Courts of Justice, currently located on Curtis Street.  

The new St. Thomas Consolidated Courthouse will improve access to justice for the County of Elgin by increasing the number of available courtrooms, while providing better access and security, and improving health and safety standards. 

The new courthouse will be designed and built to meet the Canada Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards, incorporating environmentally sustainable construction practices and energy efficient design.  

The three short-listed companies invited to bid are: 

Access Justice - St. Thomas 

Developer: Meridiam Infrastructure North America 

Design: WZMH Architects 

Construction: PCL Constructors Inc. 

Facilities Management:  Honeywell Ltd. 

Financial Advisor: Bank of Nova Scotia 

Balfour Beatty Capital - Canada 

Developer: Balfour Beatty Capital - Canada 
Design: Kasian/Heery International 
Construction: Balfour Beatty Construction/McKay-Cocker Construction  
Facilities Management:  Martin Facility Services (a division of Compass Group Canada) and Balfour Beatty Communities 

Financial Advisor: Investec Capital Markets 

Integrated Team Solutions 
Developer: EllisDon Inc. and Fengate Capital Management Ltd. 
Design: NORR Ltd. 
Construction:  EllisDon Inc. 
Facilities Management:   SNC-Lavalin Operations & Maintenance Inc. 
Financial Advisor:  National Bank Financial Inc.

A request for qualifications issued in March 2010 short-listed the three teams with the development, design, construction, financial and facilities management capacity to undertake a project of this size and complexity. 

Once submissions to the RFP are received and evaluated, the successful project team will be selected and announced in spring 2011; construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter. A copy of the RFP is available on Infrastructure Ontario's website at www.infrastructureontario.ca.

“Consolidating local justice services into one new location supports the modern, effective, and accessible justice system that Elgin County residents need” said the Honourable Chris Bentley, Attorney General.

“Today's announcement demonstrates the McGuinty government's continued commitment towards providing the resources and infrastructure to meet the needs of Ontarians,” said the Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.  

Infrastructure Ontario, the Ontario Realty Corporation and the Ministry of the Attorney General are working to develop the new courthouse, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget. 

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information. 

Contacts:

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

Tom Boreskie  
Infrastructure Ontario 
(416) 212-6447 

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