Macdonald Block Complex

construction start

Opportunity Following an independent, third-party expert panel review, it has been concluded the Macdonald Block Complex needs extensive reconstruction. The Complex is currently 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. 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, if they were to undergo reconstruction. The panel conclude this would result 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. Savings would 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. 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. The project will also support the Ontario Government's efforts to fight climate change. The province’s 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 the Ontario public service remains a modern and inclusive organization. Innovations The Ministry of Infrastructure has identified the reconstruction of the Macdonald Block Complex as one of five pilot projects that will include community benefits.

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