Lester B. Pearson Building Rehabilitation - Tower C

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is seeking to rehabilitate the Lester B. Pearson (LBP) Building (PSPC asset #09020), which was built in 1970-1973 and is situated at 125 Sussex Drive in the Lower Town neighborhood of Ottawa, Ontario. The rehabilitation project is an initiative driven by both the building occupant, Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and PSPC with a focus on employee wellness, universal accessibility, and environmental sustainability.

The main objective of the rehabilitation project is to plan and implement a complete building retrofit inclusive of base building, fit-up and information technology (IT) requirements. This project provides the opportunity to modernize the building elements such as plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems, which will improve the environmental performance of the building. The current project will neither increase the footprint, gross area or height, nor change the materiality, exterior configuration or long-term occupancy of the building.

The rehabilitation project is divided into four phases. This assessment is focused on the third phase of the project (Phase 3: the refit of Tower C), which is currently in the design and planning (pre-construction) stage. It is anticipated that the building renovations for Tower C will commence in August 2024. The renovation will take approximately 3 years and construction for Tower C is expected to be completed in 2027 (BGIS, 2024b).

Tower C is a nine-story office building with one level basement, ground floor and a roof top for a total of 15,051 m2 (BGIS, 2024b). The major capital renovation will consist of extensive base building upgrades to all floors of Tower C including:

  • new mechanical, electrical, IT, audio/video, security, and life safety systems;
  • retrofitting of mechanical penthouse;
  • building structure and seismic upgrades; and
  • roof renovations and improved building envelope.

The capital upgrades are designed to contribute to Net Zero Energy and emissions reductions targets. The project will also improve mechanical and air ventilation/circulation as the existing air handling equipment will be replaced in its entirety. Sustainability strategies employed for the Project will support the broader governmental policies such as the Greening Government Strategy, led by the Treasury Board of Canada, and how it responds to the commitments made under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase assets resiliency to the effects of climate change.

The interior refit will include upgraded elevators, corridors, lobbies, kitchen areas, renovated offices, open spaces and washrooms. Space optimization to accommodate a new modernized Workplace 2.0 or Activity Based Work standard will follow base building improvements. The current building occupants will be relocated into swing space within the region, thereby vacating the tower for the purposes of this major capital renovation.

On the exterior, the work will include new security cameras and lighting on the building. The work will also require selective removals, disposal and abatement activities. As well, soil disturbance will occur at the Tower C site setup at temporary workspace locations for the crane base, levelling of ground surface and granular base for the use of site trailers, KE entrance foundation, foundations for additional exterior structures (e.g., bike shelters), and a proposed rain garden. Plant removal for construction and tree planting for restoration is expected as a result (Golder Associated Ltd., 2022a; PWGSC, 2018). Significant excavation is expected for the construction of the KE Entrance foundation and the foundations of some exterior structures (e.g., bike shelters).

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Latest update

September 19, 2025 – The authorities issued the Notice of Determination and determined that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Determination - PSPC, NCC - September 19, 2025
1 Lester B. Pearson Building Rehabilitation - Tower C - December 12, 2024

Contacts

Environment, Health and Safety
Public Services and Procurement Canada
11 Laurier Street
Portage III, Place du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0S5
Email: TPSGC.RCNLVEEListedeControle-NCRECMPChecklist.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Lester B. Person (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Building and Property Development
    • Other, not otherwise specified

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2024-12-12

  • Proponent

    Public Services and Procurement Canada

  • Authorities

    • Public Services and Procurement Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89112

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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