Lansdowne 2.0 construction to begin next week, City of Ottawa says

The City of Ottawa says the first steps toward building Lansdowne 2.0 will begin next week.

In a memo sent Friday, Infrastructure and Water Services general manager Tammy Rose said the first phase of the $418.8 million project will soon be underway.

“The first phase of the project will focus on the construction of the new Event Centre. This phase will include berm removal and environmental remediation, site servicing, modifications to TD Place to maintain operations during redevelopment, Phase 1 of underground loading dock construction, Event Centre construction, accessible drop-off infrastructure, new berm construction, and Great Lawn landscaping and wayfinding,” the memo says. “Preliminary works will begin next week with the installation of fencing, followed by site trailer installation and exploratory works in December.”

• RELATED: Here’s what you need to know about Lansdowne 2.0

Ottawa City Council approved the controversial Lansdowne 2.0 plan on Nov. 7, which will see a new events centre built to replace TD Place Arena, new north-side stands for TD Place Stadium, and two residential towers with 770 units for condos.

Construction of the new event centre is slated to be completed by 2028. Work on the north-side stands is scheduled to begin in 2028 with completion in 2030. Work on the towers would begin in 2031 with completion expected by 2034.

EBC Inc. is the contractor selected to build the new event centre and north-side stands. Previous projects for EBC include the expansion of the Percival-Molson Stadium in Montreal and the Brossard Aquatic Complex in Brossard, Que. In Ottawa, EBC’s recent building projects included the Ottawa Art Gallery.

Rose said that the contract with EBC has now been executed and the City of Ottawa has issued a commence work order.

Further information about the project as it progresses will be posted to the Lansdowne 2.0 page on Engage Ottawa.

Rose said a drop-in public information session is being planned to allow residents to learn more about how Lansdowne 2.0 will be constructed, outline construction milestones and mitigation efforts. A date is to be determined.

Details will be posted on Engage Ottawa once confirmed.

The new event centre will have a capacity of approximately 6,600 people, according to the city, making it smaller than the current TD Place Arena. The size of the arena became a flashpoint of contention in the days leading up to the final Lansdowne 2.0 vote as officials with the Professional Women’s Hockey League said the arena would be too small and risk the financial viability of the Ottawa Charge.

Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice-president of business operations, said the team will not play at Lansdowne 2.0 once it is complete and the league is looking at all other options. The league is currently in its final year of a three-year lease with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), which manages TD Place. The City of Ottawa, OSEG, and the PWHL are currently involved in lease negotiations.

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