The City of Greater Sudbury issued the Design-Build RFP (DB RFP) for the city's planned new Greater Sudbury Event Centre. In 2017, the City issued a Request for Supplier Qualification and three teams were shortlisted for the RFP Process.
According to ReNew Canada, the three teams that were shortlisted are:
- Ball/TESC Construction Inc. (Joint Venture)/Architecture 49 Inc.
- EllisDon Corporation/BBB Architects Toronto Inc., in conjunction with J. L. Richards & Associates Limited
- PCL Constructors Canada Inc./Parkin Architects Ltd.
A Compliance Team and a fairness monitor will oversee the Design-Build Process.
Greater Grand Sudbury reports that the Design-Build procurement process is expected to be complete early in the third quarter of 2022. Council approval of the final Event Centre budget is required prior to the final award of the DB RFP. Construction of the Event Centre is expected to be complete in 2025.
In the next several days, the City will also issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) from short-listed firms wanting to operate and manage the Event Centre. This is the second step in the two-part procurement process. In November 2021, the City issued a Request for Pre-qualification (RFPQ) and two firms were shortlisted:
- ASM Global
- OVG Facilities LLC
After a review of their proposals, one of these experienced, internationally-connected firms will be selected to provide input in the Event Centre's final design, maximize revenue, minimize operating costs, increase venue programming, and work toward meeting the City's goals as outlined in the Community Energy and Emissions Plan.
The Services the operator will provide will include:
- Management of the Centre
- Operations
- Marketing
- Programming of the 5,800 seat multi-purpose Event Centre
This process is expected to be complete and an operator in place by early Q2 of 2022. However, that timeline is subject to change. The selection of the Venue Operator is subject to City Council approval.
The new Event Centre will feature:
- Comfortable seating
- Modern dressing rooms
- Vehicle access to the event floor
- Ample parking
The Centre will be located on the Kingsway and will be co-developed and sited alongside a casino and hotel in what has become known as the Kingsway Entertainment District.
The Event Centre will be an improved community space that offers unique experiences for residents. It will also attract visitors from outside of the city and around the world.
Construction of the Event Centre will begin when the final design is complete and a planned opening is expected in 2025.
The following are estimated next steps for the project. These dates are subject to change:
- Site preparation (early Q3 2022, subject to Project Completion Agreement approval)
- Road and intersection construction, plus storm water management pond (Q2 2023)
- Event Centre construction start (Q4 2022+)
Ontario Construction News states that work in the meantime is nearing completion on the 40,000 square foot $30-million Place des Arts Centre, also located in downtown Sudbury.
This facility will be the first multidisciplinary arts centre in Northeastern Ontario. A focal point for Greater Sudbury and will feature:
- A 299 fixed-seating theatre
- A multifunctional studio
- A contemporary art gallery
- A youth zone
- An early childhood artistic centre
- A bistro
- A boutique bookstore
- Office spaces and meeting room
Construction has been ongoing since 2018 on the building originally expected to open in December 2020, but faced numerous delays due to the pandemic and material delivery delays from the U.S.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Greater Sudbury Event Centre Design-Build (0045012822)
