Novae Res Urbis
RFP CLOSED - Forensics centre
November 20, 2009
The request for proposals for a new forensic services and coroner’s complex that will be located at the northeast corner of the existing Downsview Complex has officially closed.
The new complex is part of a larger redevelopment plan of provincially-owned lands located at the south side of Wilson Avenue, west of Keele Street and north of Highway 401. The proposed campus has institutional, office and mixed-use buildings with new streets, pedestrian paths, parking facilities and landscaped open space.
Three short-listed teams, announced in May were invited to submit a proposal to design, build, finance and maintain the new facility. The teams announced in the spring were: Carillion Secure Solution, Integrated Team Solutions and Justice Infrastructure Partnership.
Also in May, the city’s North York community council received a preliminary report from city planning staff on the rezoning and plan of subdivision application for the site, which is also being planned to house the new Humber River Regional Hospital. The forensics and coroners complex is the first phase.
Once the winner of the RFP process is chosen, the project developer can fulfill the city’s conditions for full site plan approval, the report stated. Currently, city planning is reviewing preliminary drawings, a servicing report, transportation assessment, archaeological assessment and tree preservation plan.
“The city requires a more comprehensive master plan in order to properly review this application as well as the proposed forensics services and coroner’s complex building,†the staff report states.
The Downsview Complex currently houses eight-provincial ministries and about 2,300 public service employees. To the north is Wilson Avenue where there are residential homes, a 14-storey apartment and a junior high school. To the south is the highway and to the east is Keele Street. There is a commercial plaza at the corner of Keele and Wilson and other commercial and residential uses along Keele. To the west is more low-rise residential and a four-storey office building.
City staff recommended a community consultation meeting be held for neighbourhood residents within 120 metres of the site and the committee agreed.
The Office of the Chief Coroner, Ontario Forensic Pathology Service and Centre of Forensic Sciences will all be moved to the new site. There is no room for expansion in the current offices on Grenville Street at College and Bay streets in downtown Toronto, according to a press release about the RFP closure this week.
The new building for forensics and the coroner, which is estimated to be 530,000- square feet, will target LEED silver certification.
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services will evaluate the bidders’ proposals and the successful bidder is expected to be announced in spring 2010. The cost of the winning bid will be announced publicly following a signed contract.
See Site Plan on page 7 of the City Planning Preliminary Report