Ottawa construction tops $3 billion in 2019
The city of Ottawa has experienced a consistent increase in construction value through the first two decades of this millennium. But 2019 saw the city exceed the $3 billion mark for the first time in its history.
Building permits worth $3,067.4 million were issued last year – an increase of 3.28% over 2018’s total of $2,969.8 million. That had been the highest level to date.
Value of permits first topped $2 billion in Ottawa in 2012; they totaled just over $1.5 billion as recently as 2002, indicating that annual construction in the city has doubled in two decades.
July and September were the big months for new building permits in 2019, both hitting the $400 million mark. No surprisingly, February saw the least action, just topping $100 million, with January and December both relatively slow, at just over $150. However, all months saw significant activity, and November showed the year drawing to a strong close, with about $275 million in permits issued.
The 2019 permits included 21 projects valued at over $20 million. Among the largest are several multi-storey, mixed use apartment buildings valued between $31 million and $64 million; a retail renovations permit for the Rideau Centre, valued at $38.4 million; and a $36 million permit for interior alterations to The Lester B. Pearson Building, home to Global Affairs Canada, (the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development), at 125 Sussex Drive (shown above).
Other institutional permits include a $20.3 million interior alterations project to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security; a $21 million health and community service building (the Orleans Health Hub); and a new Athletics and Recreation Centre at Algonquin College (permit for foundation and structure only valued at $23.3 million.
Other significant projects include new hotels – a Hyatt Place hotel and a Hampton Inn & Suites – several retirement homes, and a $7 million church renovation (Calvary United Pentecostal Church).