Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) celebrated a significant construction milestone last Friday (May 9) for its new South Facility in Barrhaven, even as the project’s completion date has been pushed back to May 2027 due to unforeseen soil conditions. Officials also provided an update on the project’s finances.
The OPS hosted a topping-off ceremony to mark the completion of the structural framework for the approximately 218,000-sq. ft. structure, a project deemed critical for meeting the policing demands of Ottawa’s rapidly growing southern region.
However, the building has encountered setbacks. According to a news release from the Ottawa Police Service and a report from CTV News Ottawa, “unexpected issues with soft soil” at the site have led to the revised timeline.
The OPS stated: “While pre-construction geotechnical testing was conducted in line with leading practices, the full extent of below surface conditions became apparent only during piling work.”
Despite the delay, the police service stated that the project is currently under budget. CTV News Ottawa reported that the total cost is now cited as $187.7 million, with more than $138 million having already been spent.
“This building is a long-term investment in public safety, operational readiness, and the trust we aim to build with communities in Ottawa’s south end,” said Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs in the OPS news release.
Addressing the soil issues, Chief Stubbs told CTV News Ottawa, “It just took some time to correct what they found. And here we are. Obviously, they’re not going to build what’s behind me unless there’s the solid base that’s up to up to code, up to standard.”
The new South Facility is set to consolidate more than 500 sworn officers and civilian members. It will house key operations including the 911 Communications Centre, South Division operations, the Marine, Dive, and Tactical units, a Community Police Centre, and a Collision Reporting Centre, among other units and support sections.
The OPS news release emphasized that the facility is a “critical part of OPS’s strategic plan to meet the demands of the growing south Ottawa region.”
The original anticipated opening was a few months earlier than the newly announced May 2027 target.
