The May 2026 issue of Ottawa Construction News has been published.

You can view it in page turning software here.

Stories in the current issue include:

• • • Turn Group enters Ottawa highrise market with $21 million acquisition of Little Italy development site;
    • Ottawa homebuilder Glenview announces expansion into Greater Houston area;
    • City clears path for 137,000 sq. ft. SerenVita wellness spa in Kanata North.
    • Ottawa finalizes $400 million federal housing pact, announces first eight shovel-ready projects;
    • Lifestyles Group proposes 188-unit seniors’ residence at former CFB Rockliffe;
    • Ottawa Mayor Sutcliffe proclaims ‘GOHBA Day’ as association celebrates 75th anniversary at 2026 AGM;
    • Decade-long height battle nears end as landmark Centretown towers clear final committee hurdles; and
    • Sound matters: AMBICO Limited highlights the science of acoustic door assemblies at CSC Ottawa event;

      Ottawa Construction News (May 2026)

      By Mark Buckshon in ontario publications

      32 pages, published 5/8/2026

      News and information for Ottawa’s architectural, engineering and construction community

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

OTTAWA — A joint municipal committee meeting Tuesday (May 5)  reviewed the progress of Ottawa’s Housing Acceleration Plan, reporting the city has completed more than half of its targeted actions over the past six months to speed up home construction.

The Finance and Corporate Services Committee and the Planning and Housing Committee met to evaluate the plan, which city council originally approved in October 2025. A City of Ottawa news release said the plan encompasses 58 actions designed to fundamentally overhaul the municipality’s approach to housing. The initiative also aligns with federal and provincial priorities, supporting Ottawa’s eligibility for upper-tier housing funding programs.

Over the past six months, the city has completed 53 per cent of the plan’s actions. Officials expect to finish 78 per cent of the measures by the end of 2026, with the remainder slated for completion in 2027.

The local construction industry has taken note of the ongoing regulatory shifts. In an April 30 statement, Jason Burggraaf, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA), praised the municipality’s efforts to reform its planning environment.

“Over the past year, the City of Ottawa has made meaningful progress to streamline and improve its development approvals process, with the goal of becoming the most housing-friendly city in the country,” Burggraaf said. “While the market has been stuck in a very long period of low activity, it is critical that the city remain committed to these reforms. When demand returns, these improvements will allow us to scale up housing construction more quickly and efficiently.”

The city’s overarching goal is to reduce development barriers by simplifying regulations and expediting approvals. Progress to date includes:

• Simpler regulations: Adoption of an overhauled Zoning By-law that expands housing permissions, simplifies the planning framework and removes barriers to modular and prefabricated homes.
• Expedited approvals: A reduction in the number of required studies for new development applications and increased capacity in the city’s Legal Services department to speed up reviews.
• Financial flexibility: Temporary reductions to Community Benefits Charges and the deferment of residential development charges and cash-in-lieu of parkland collections to aid project cash flow and feasibility.
• Community housing: Simplified regulations to help not-for-profit providers accelerate the delivery of affordable homes.
• Transit and downtown growth: The removal of zoning barriers near transit stations, the rollout of a pre-approved building design program and a new downtown revitalization strategy.

To track the effectiveness of these measures, the city is introducing a measurement framework using 2025 data as a baseline. The framework evaluates three key outcomes:

• Shorter approval timelines: Measured by faster application reviews, fewer incomplete submissions and quicker completion of legal agreements.
• More housing construction: Emphasizing urban and transit-oriented areas, measured by an increase in building permits issued.
• Increased affordable housing: Measured by a rise in building permits for affordable and supportive housing units.

The joint committee’s recommendations will go before the full city council on Wednesday, May 13. A subsequent progress update, which will include results from the new measurement framework, is scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The federal government says it will provide $1.5 billion in tariff relief after the United States broadened and intensified duties on metal products, a move Canada warns is placing growing strain on the manufacturing sector.

The package includes a new $1 billion program through the Business Development Bank of Canada aimed at supporting manufacturers, along with a $500 million top-up to the regional tariff response fund.

The BDC initiative will offer three-year, low-interest loans of up to $50 million to companies in the steel, aluminum and copper sectors affected by U.S. tariffs. Repayment will be deferred for the first three years, with the goal of helping firms maintain operations and adapt to shifting trade conditions.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon announced the measures Monday, saying businesses require immediate liquidity and longer-term support to diversify export markets.

“We’re in a trade war. We are on the front lines and the goal is to protect workers and actually keep companies afloat,” Joly said at a news conference in Ottawa.

The announcement follows an April 2 proclamation by U.S. President Donald Trump expanding tariffs on steel and aluminum and extending them to certain copper derivatives. The changes have raised costs for Canadian exporters and added complexity to tariff classifications, creating challenges for manufacturers and customs brokers.

Industry groups say the federal response is a step forward but may not be sufficient. Nicole Vlanich of the Canadian Association of Moldmakers said many firms are already under financial strain and warned that additional loans could deepen long-term pressures.

“These tariffs are putting them in the red,” she said, pointing to cases where single shipments have incurred tariff costs reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Catherine Cobden, president and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association, welcomed the financial support but urged Ottawa to strengthen trade protections against imported steel derivatives that compete with domestic production.

Conservative industry critic Raquel Dancho described the measures as a temporary solution and said they signal a lack of progress toward resolving the dispute with the United States.

The announcement was made at a dump truck manufacturing facility in the Ottawa area, where Liberal MPs from tariff-affected regions joined the ministers. Dominique O’Rourke said uncertainty remains the biggest challenge for manufacturers, particularly as tariff rules continue to evolve.

She said impacts are being felt across the supply chain, with production slowdowns at larger firms and reduced activity and job losses among smaller fabricators and assemblers.

Joly added the federal government is also in discussions with forestry and softwood lumber companies about potential additional supports.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Ontario Construction News is marking its 7th anniversary as the trusted Canadian platform for construction industry advertising, news coverage, and sector celebrations, continuing to serve as a leading choice for companies looking to reach a targeted construction audience.

Over the past seven years, the publication has expanded its services to better support advertisers across Canada, offering streamlined tools and improved digital functionality for submitting construction service postings (CSPs) growing to over 12,000 daily subscribers and over 200,000 active site users.

As part of its newest upgrade, Ontario Construction News has introduced a new online Preview and Approval feature within its online CSP ordering system. After users input their data and upload required forms, they can now review all submitted information in full before moving forward.

Once the details have been verified, users are prompted to confirm accuracy by checking the box:
“I agree that the details above are correct and ready for publication.”

They can then proceed by clicking “Confirm & Proceed to Checkout”, which takes them directly to the payment and checkout page.

Katherine Jeffrey, office manager at Ontario Construction News, says the improvement is designed to enhance accuracy and user confidence in the submission process.

“This new preview step gives our advertisers a chance to double-check everything before it goes live,” said Jeffreys. “It’s a simple but important enhancement that helps ensure accuracy and makes the ordering process smoother for our clients.”

In addition to the new feature, Ontario Construction News reminds advertisers that the office is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., supporting next-business-day publishing for submitted content.

The organization says the continued upgrades reflect its commitment to providing efficient, reliable, and industry-focused advertising services as it enters its eighth year serving Canada’s construction sector while also being the leading customer service provider for response time, follow up and accessible staff.

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) is raising concerns about new data showing that more families with children are moving out of the City of Ottawa and into surrounding municipalities, as affordability and housing mix continue to shape regional population shifts.

The association said intra-provincial migration trends indicate Ottawa is increasingly losing households seeking ground-oriented, family-friendly housing, even as the broader region continues to attract new residents from elsewhere in Ontario.

“Over the past year, the City of Ottawa has made meaningful progress to streamline and improve its development approvals process, with the goal of becoming the most housing-friendly city in the country,” said GOHBA executive director Jason Burggraaf. “While the market has been stuck in a very long period of low activity, it is critical that the City remain committed to these reforms.”

Burggraaf said the improvements to approvals processes will be essential when housing demand rebounds, allowing construction activity to scale more quickly.

New analysis from the Missing Middle Initiative suggests Ottawa has been losing families with children to surrounding communities over the past decade, despite continued regional population growth.

“While the region as a whole continues to gain people from elsewhere in Ontario, a growing share are choosing communities outside Ottawa’s municipal boundaries in search of more suitable and affordable housing,” said Mike Moffatt, founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative.

The data also points to diverging demographic trends within the region.

“The City of Ottawa itself is losing kids and mid-to-late career professionals, while gaining large numbers of college-age adults and, to a lesser extent, early career professionals,” Moffatt said. “Communities surrounding Ottawa are attracting more kids and late-career professionals, while also gaining residents across all age groups.”

The concerns come as multiple levels of government advance housing policy measures aimed at increasing supply and reducing development costs.

Recent initiatives include Ontario’s Bill 98, which focuses on accelerating home construction, and the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, which aims to reduce development charges. The province has also approved Official Plan Amendment 46 for Ottawa and urged the city to address gaps between municipal and provincial growth projections.

A joint meeting of Ottawa’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee and Planning and Housing Committee is scheduled for May 5, 2026, to review progress on the city’s Housing Acceleration Plan.

GOHBA is urging the City of Ottawa to maintain its focus on housing affordability and continue working with provincial and federal partners to lower the cost of new housing supply.

The association said increasing the availability of family-oriented housing within city boundaries will be key to reversing outward migration trends.

“More and more growing families are moving outside the City to find the type of housing they want,” Burggraaf said. “They are telling us with their actions that Ottawa needs to meet that market demand for ground-oriented, family-friendly homes, or we’ll continue to lose young families.”

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

A previously postponed virtual open house on Kingston’s new long-term planning framework was held Monday, giving residents another opportunity to review updates and provide feedback on how the city is expected to grow over the next 25 years.

Focusing on the second draft of the new Official Plan, the project team answered questions about how public input gathered to date has been incorporated into the revised document. Changes reflect feedback received from the community and technical review. The draft continues to refine the policy framework that will guide how the community grows and develops to 2051, including policies related to housing, infrastructure, mobility, climate resilience, and the protection of natural areas.

Updated mapping, and a feedback and response Summary outlining how comments on the First Draft have been considered are available for review. Additional supporting materials have also been posted online, including a tracked changes version of the Official Plan, which highlights revisions made between the First and Second Drafts, along with additional background information prepared as part of the project.

“This is a working draft, and community feedback is a critical part of strengthening it,” said Laura Flaherty, Project Manager, Planning Services. “We appreciate the time residents spent reviewing the First Draft and we look forward to hearing where we still need to refine policies as we start working on a third draft.”

Kingston is projected to grow to as many as 220,000 people by 2051 based on 2023 projections that were reviewed and confirmed in early 2026.

Land needs assessment studies prepared by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. have shown that the city does not have sufficient land within the existing urban boundary to accommodate the projected population and employment growth.

As a result, the second draft includes a proposed expanded urban boundary to align with the land needs assessment, as part of long-term planning to ensure sufficient land is available to accommodate projected growth to 2051, as required by the Provincial policy.

Noting that urban boundary decisions are significant and that residents will have important views on where growth should occur and how it should be phased, draft policies associated with the urban boundary expansion applications are included in the revised draft. Policies are designed to give council the ability to invest in infrastructure for expansion areas only when it makes sense and it gives the community a direct opportunity to comment on both the geography and the rules that would guide decision-making.

Also, the draft Natural Heritage Study details how natural features and systems should be identified, mapped, protected and enhanced over the long term. However, the draft NHS options have not yet been considered in the context of the Official Plan’s broader growth priorities and guiding principles.

The OP sets out the city’s long-term land-use policies, guiding development decisions related to housing, infrastructure, transportation, employment areas and community services. Officials say the updated plan is intended to support “a livable, equitable and economically sustainable city” as Kingston continues to grow.

In addition to the rescheduled open house, the public comment period on the second draft has been extended to May 3 for feedback, an extension from the original April 21 deadline.

More information, including background documents and comment submission tools, is available through the city’s public engagement site at GetInvolved.CityofKingston.ca.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

OTTAWA – About 15 in-person attendees and another 200 virtual participants joined the Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) Ottawa Chapter last Thursday (April 23) for an exclusive technical session and facility tour at AMBICO Limited.

The hybrid event focused on the critical role of sound control in architectural design, diving deeply into acoustic testing, specification, and the complex manufacturing of high-performance door assemblies.

Addressing the audience, AMBICO technical expert Rachel Barr, Director of Engineering and R&D, emphasized that acoustic control is a vital consideration for the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants. She noted that 40 decibels is typically considered the maximum safe range for long-term living and working environments.

“Sustained exposure to high sound levels has been linked to health conditions such as increased high blood pressure, increased heart attacks, increase of type two diabetes, let alone the more immediate impact of decreased focus and productivity,” she said.

Barr explained that determining the correct Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating relies heavily on the end-use of a space, whether that means ensuring speech privacy in a medical exam room, maintaining focus in a classroom setting, or securing conversations in sensitive information facilities.

A major focus of the presentation was the necessity of testing and specifying acoustic doors as complete assemblies rather than individual parts. Because acoustic doors must fit within typical architectural profiles—often just 1 3/4 inches thick—they face the challenge of performing the same acoustic blocking as a much thicker wall cavity.

To achieve lab-certified STC ratings, the door leaf, frame, perimeter seals, door bottoms, and meeting style seals must be designed to work together. Barr noted that combining mismatched components from different manufacturers can cause fit and function issues, drastically reducing field performance.

Adding standard seals to unoptimized doors might only yield a two to three point increase in STC, whereas using seals optimized with a specific engineered door can provide a four to 10 point lift.

A common pitfall in architectural design is over-specifying STC ratings, which can disrupt a project’s budget and functionality.

While requesting the highest available rating might seem like the safest route, it often results in doors that are overly heavy, difficult to operate, and cost-prohibitive.

“If you try to put that in a kindergarten classroom, for example, it’s not going to be functional in that space,” Barr warned. She added that cost-prohibitive specifications frequently face value-engineering during the bid process, which can paradoxically leave the final installation under-specified for its required use.

Beyond pure acoustics, AMBICO’s specialized steel and wood doors can be integrated with multi-threat protections. Options include combining acoustic ratings with radio frequency (RF) shielding to block electromagnetic waves, ballistic ratings, blast resistance, and fire ratings up to 180 minutes.

However, high-performance designs rely entirely on precise installation. Frame setting, clearances, and tolerances are vital to ensure seals compress and function properly in the field. AMBICO strongly advocates for using certified installers to prevent post-installation failures and runs dedicated installation certification seminars several times a year.

During the Q&A segment, attendees asked about compliance with the Buy American Act for U.S.-based projects. Judah Silverman, the company’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) explained that compliance heavily depends on how the front-end tender documents are written.

“There’s Buy American, which is different from Buy America, which is different from BABA (Build America, Buy America),” Silverman said.

He explained that in many cases, AMBICO complies due to standard treaty exemptions for Canada under the USMCA. The most difficult stipulations usually stem from the older Buy America Act, which prioritizes the U.S. steel industry and is typically reserved for major transportation projects.

Following the technical presentation, the in-person attendees were treated to a guided, behind-the-scenes tour of AMBICO’s Ottawa manufacturing facility to see the specialized assembly process firsthand.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Ottawa’s City Council has officially approved a first-of-its-kind partnership with the federal government to facilitate the construction of 3,000 affordable and market rental homes in the capital.

The agreement, struck with the newly formed federal agency Build Canada Homes (BCH), unlocks up to $400 million in combined municipal and federal contributions. BCH, which launched in September 2025, is geared toward growing the supply of mixed-income housing nationwide.

Simultaneous to the council approval, the city revealed on April 23 that eight projects are already advancing as part of the initial phase of the partnership.

“Together, these projects will deliver over 1,100 new community housing homes across eight wards, exceeding early targets and supporting residents in communities throughout the city,” Debbie Stewart, Ottawa’s general manager of strategic initiatives, wrote in a memo to the mayor and council.

Construction on this first wave of projects is expected to begin later this year or early 2027 to rapidly bring new housing supply online. The initial 1,123 units will be non-profit owned and operated as affordable and supportive rental housing.

To ensure low- and middle-income households have access to the new supply, approximately 78 per cent of these homes — 881 units — will be affordable to households earning up to the sixth income decile.

The broader 3,000-home agreement is divided into two main development streams. As part of the pact, the city will receive $150 million in federal funding to support at least 1,000 homes from its existing shovel-ready Affordable Housing Pipeline.

Concurrently, BCH will contribute surplus federal lands to develop an additional 2,000 homes. The development on federal lands will aim for a mixed-income model to bring people of different incomes together and ensure workers can afford to live locally. The target breakdown for these lands includes:

• 1,200 homes at market rates.
• 800 affordable units for moderate-to-low-income households.
• Within that affordable allocation, 200 units are targeted for deep affordability, which will be supported by rent supplements.

To facilitate the construction, the City of Ottawa is contributing between $200 million and $245 million in value. This comes in the form of waived fees and charges, a tailored and accelerated approval process, and property tax exemptions for affordable homes built on the federal lands to keep operating costs low.

Stewart noted that aligning federal funding with municipal priorities and local non-profit delivery expertise reduces overall delivery risk, accelerates timelines, and guarantees high-quality outcomes. The inclusion of supportive housing units also reinforces a shared federal and municipal commitment to vulnerable residents.

City staff are continuing to negotiate with BCH on the remaining project funding, with further updates expected once negotiations conclude.

Phase 1 projects — Ottawa-Build Canada Homes partnership

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The initial pipeline of the Ottawa-BCH agreement includes 1,123 units spread across eight wards. The approved developments feature a mix of affordable (A) and supportive (S) housing:

• 200-201 Beausoleil Dr. (Ward 12): 159 units (A) built by Ottawa Community Housing.
• Geyser Place / formerly 3380 Jockvale Rd. (Ward 3): 118 units (A) built by Ottawa Community Housing.
• 58 Capilano Dr. (Ward 9): 20 bedrooms across 4 townhomes featuring independent living with onsite supports (S), built by Ottawa Salus.
  240 Presland Rd. (Ward 13): 64 units (A) built by Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC).
• 1770 Heatherington Rd. Phase 1 (Ward 10): 90 units (A) built by Ottawa Community Housing.
• 100 block of Hickory St. (Ward 15): 110 units (A) built by Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC).
• 2475 Regina St. (Ward 7): 266 units (A/S) built by Nesting Ground, in partnership with Windmill Developments, Parkway House, Perley Health, and the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition.
• 384 Arlington Ave. (Ward 14): 296 units (A/S) built by Nesting Ground, in partnership with Windmill Developments, Perley Health, Operation Come Home, the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition, and the Ottawa Korean Community Church.

Total ubtotals: 1,123 total units, including 881 affordable units and 48 supportive units.

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Ottawa Construction news staff writer

OTTAWA – A major private investment is set to transform an underused section of the Kanata North tech hub following the City of Ottawa’s approval of a zoning amendment for a massive new “destination wellness spa.”

The city’s planning and housing committee greenlit the proposal on April 15, clearing the way for Markham-based Silk Development Group to proceed with its 137,000-sq. ft. project, named SerenVita. Located at 2505 and 2707 Solandt Rd., the facility will be situated northeast of the intersection of Solandt Road and Legget Drive, immediately adjacent to the Brookstreet Hotel.

The development has been designated by the city as a “High Economic Impact Project,” a status reserved for initiatives that significantly advance economic growth, attract investment, and support job creation in key special economic districts.

“Redeveloping this underused site supports the City’s Official Plan, which aims to create a mixed-use, transit-friendly innovation district in Kanata North,” the City of Ottawa stated in a report following the committee’s decision.

The approved zoning changes transition the 4.08-hectare property from “IP6” (Business Park Industrial Zone) to “MC” (Mixed-Use Centre). This reclassification was necessary to permit a “personal service business” and an “ancillary restaurant” on the site. The amendment also establishes a maximum building height of 44 metres and provides site-specific relief for parking and floor area requirements.

According to development applications filed by Silk Development Group and designed by Ottawa’s Simmonds Architecture, the SerenVita complex will feature:

• A main three-storey facility housing spa functions and a restaurant.
• A series of accessory personal service buildings located west of the main structure.
• An expansive outdoor amenity area featuring fenced, landscaped grounds with pools and walking paths.
• 218 surface parking spaces and dedicated bicycle parking near building entrances.

The project is planned to be functionally and physically integrated with the nearby Brookstreet Hotel, further establishing the area as a leisure and hospitality destination within Canada’s largest technology park.

The site currently consists of a surface parking lot and vacant land with approximately 171 metres of frontage on Solandt Road. City planners noted that the project helps achieve the “critical mass” needed to transition the Kanata North Economic District into a more vibrant, 15-minute neighbourhood.

“This initiative will generate new construction jobs and permanent employment opportunities,” said Sheilagh Doherty, the city’s director of economic development services, in a staff report. “By fostering projects like this, the City helps create the conditions businesses need to grow and encourages new companies to locate in Ottawa.”

The zoning amendment is expected to go before full City Council for final ratification on tomorrow (April 22). While a specific construction start date has not been announced, the developers are concurrently moving through the site plan control process to finalize the technical details of the build.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The Ontario government is providing $11.5 million to upgrade four dams across the province and build stronger, more resilient water control infrastructure.

Construction for the four projects is scheduled to take place over the next four years and will extend the useful service life of each dam for up to 100 years and ensure they continue to meet provincial standards for public safety.

“Strong, reliable dams help keep our waterways safe, protecting families and communities,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “Through today’s investment, we are upgrading this essential infrastructure so that these dams continue to meet our high standards and operate safely and effectively for many years to come.”

The four dams being rehabilitated are:

• Ahmic Lake Dam in the Township of Magnetawan
• Blind River Dam in the Town of Blind River
• Graham Lake Dam in the Township of Front of Yonge
• Balaclava Dam in the Township of Greater Madawaska

This new funding builds on the province’s investments in dam infrastructure to protect public safety and brings Ontario’s total investment to more than $100 million to upgrade 20 dams across the province.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 310 dams across the province and announced $22 million to repair six dams in 2023 and $75 million to repair ten dams in 2024.

“This investment is welcome news for our municipality. Rehabilitating this dam will help protect homes and shorelines, manage water levels more effectively, and preserve the natural environment that our residents depend upon,” said Front of Yonge Mayor Roger Haley.

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