U/C Waterloo Region Courthouse | 28 m | 7 fl | Completion March 2013

[Spokes]

Civic square at the corner of Frederick and Duke? I guess the building still standiing on the corner will eventually come down.

I didn't even catch that, good eye! Well That's something Im definitely happy to hear. And I guess it makes sense...If they're going to demolish it later on, use the building rather than setting up a site trailor, when the project is done, or near completion, tear it down, and the public square can be completed with all the other landscaping. I wonder if there will be a main entrance at the public square as well? I hope so.

[panamaniac]

I didn't even catch that, good eye! Well That's something Im definitely happy to hear. And I guess it makes sense...If they're going to demolish it later on, use the building rather than setting up a site trailor, when the project is done, or near completion, tear it down, and the public square can be completed with all the other landscaping. I wonder if there will be a main entrance at the public square as well? I hope so.

Honestly, if they would just get on with it and have their photo op, all would become clear! I may have to give Dalton a call...

[UrbanWaterloo]

Perhaps the courthouse renderings will be displayed on these banner signs.

SIGN VARIANCES - 59 FREDERICK STREET
REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole
DATE OF REPORT: May 27, 2010 | DATE OF MEETING: June 14, 2010
SUBMITTED BY: Dianne Gilchrist – Secretary-Treasurer Committee of Adjustment
PREPARED BY: Dianna Saunderson
REPORT NO.: CRPS – 10 - 079

RECOMMENDATION:
“That the application of Infrastructure Ontario requesting permission to erect banner signs on a construction site fence on Duke, Weber and Scott Streets, for a temporary period of time; whereas the Sign By-law does not permit signs to be located on fences, on Part Lot 1, Plan 364, Part Lots 5, 6 & 7, Plan 372, 59 Frederick Street, Kitchener, Ontario, BE APPROVED, subject to the following condition:
1. That the owner shall apply for and receive approval of a sign permit from the City of Kitchener.”

[taylortbb]

Looks like the "groundbreaking" is tomorrow. From Melinda Dalton's (Record reporter) Twitter account, http://twitter.com/DaltonCityHall/status/16737894840

ground breaking on new courthouse bright and early tomorrow a.m. Ignore the big hole that's already there. . . .

Hopefully we'll finally see some renders.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Hopefully we'll finally see some renders.

I think we finally will now.

WATERLOO REGION CONSOLIDATED COURTHOUSE TO CELEBRATE OFFICIAL GROUNDBREAKING
June 21, 2010 | http://www.infrastructureontario.ca/...20Advisory.pdf

KITCHENER – The Honourable Chris Bentley, Attorney General, the Honourable John Milloy, MPP Kitchener Centre, and Leeanna Pendergast, MPP Kitchener Conestoga will officially launch the start of construction of the new Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse. They will be joined by Ken Seiling, Regional Chair of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. The new facility will improve courthouse services by consolidating the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice, currently operating in three locations across Waterloo Region.

DATE: Tuesday, June 22, 2010
TIME: 8:30 a.m.
LOCATION: Future site of the new Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse. Frederick Street, between Weber and Duke Streets, Kitchener.
NOTE: This event will be held outdoors and close to a construction site. Comfortable, closed toed shoes are recommended.

[GGHTransit]

There is now a rendering posted on the site facing Frederick Street, it's QUITE impressive from what I could see driving by in on GRT Route 8 once every 45min. So take pics if you go there.

[cambridge-city-boy]

Im excited to see what its going to look like. I hope the province picked out something good.

[UrbanWaterloo]

June 22, 2010

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

I love it!

Very grand, impressive modern building and it looks like it will have quite a prominent public square. It makes me wonder why they bothered holding back the renderings for so long. I was getting worried about what was in store for a while. Not only am I relieved, but I'm excited!

Now comes the question about what to do with the other courthouse buildings in the region...

[Spokes]

Wow! This is going to be amazing to see get built. Im so excited!!!

Im guessing the view they're showing is from Duke and Frederick?

[RangersFan]

Wow, now thats the kind of prominence we need in the core.

[Waterlooian4Life]

That is fantastic!!! exactly what we needed.

The Region already has plans to conver the courthouse on Weber Street into an office building for overflow from the existing 150 Fredrick building which is full

The other buildings are all owned by the ontario Government... so we will see what happens

[UrbanWaterloo]

Higher Resolution Renderings

Artist's conceptual rendering of the courthouse exterior: Frederick & Duke


Artist's conceptual rendering of the courthouse atrium



CONSTRUCTION OF WATERLOO REGION CONSOLIDATED COURTHOUSE OFFICIALLY BEGINS
June 22, 2010 | http://www.infrastructureontario.ca/...ndbreaking.pdf

KITCHENER – The Honourable Chris Bentley, Attorney General of Ontario, the Honourable John Milloy, MPP Kitchener Centre, Leeanna Pendergast, MPP Kitchener Conestoga, and Ken Seiling, Regional Chair of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, celebrated the official groundbreaking today for the new Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse.

The new facility, to be located at Duke and Frederick Streets in downtown Kitchener, will improve courthouse services by consolidating the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice, currently operating in three locations across Waterloo Region. The new multi-storey building will have space to accommodate 30 courtrooms.

The construction project will provide a boost to the regional economy by creating and supporting thousands of jobs. At the peak of construction, it is estimated that 250 workers will be on site daily. Construction of the new courthouse is expected to be completed in early 2013.

As a part of the government’s commitment to creating and promoting energy conservation in Ontario, the new facility will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Silver standard, which focuses on energy efficiency, healthy indoor environments and reduced greenhouse emissions. The building will also feature a barrier free design including: no courthouse steps, five barrier free courtrooms, infrared hearing assistance, barrier free witness stands, jury boxes and spectator positions in all courtrooms.

Infrastructure Ontario is working with the Ministry of the Attorney General to develop the new courthouse. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province’s larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects – ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

Quotes:

Hon. Chris Bentley, Attorney General
"As part of the Open Ontario Plan, this new secure and accessible state-of-the-art courthouse will meet community needs for years to come. By having all court services housed under one roof we are improving access to justice."

Hon. John Milloy, MPP Kitchener Centre
“The Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse will have a major impact on the revitalization of downtown Kitchener. This project has great significance for not only the justice community, but local businesses, community agencies, and residents. Now that construction is underway, the courthouse project will create new jobs and spur economic development that will benefit everyone in the region.”

Leeanna Pendergast, MPP Kitchener Conestoga
“Not only will the Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse improve access to justice services in the region, but it will also be a green building, meeting rigorous requirements for energy management and conservation.”

BACKGROUNDER

The Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse, expected to open in early 2013, will be a modern, integrated facility that will consolidate Superior Court and Ontario Court of Justice services currently delivered from three locations across the Waterloo region. The courthouse will be built in downtown Kitchener, located at Duke and Frederick Streets. Consolidation of court services on one site will improve access to justice.

The Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse will be a multi-storey building with space to accommodate 30 courtrooms.

Project Highlights
The new courthouse will increase the capacity to deliver timely and efficient justice services in the Waterloo Region, with:

• Barrier free design including no courthouse steps, five barrier free courtrooms, infrared hearing assistance and barrier free witness stands, jury boxes and spectator positions in all courtrooms.
• Enhanced accommodation for interpretation including one jury room permanently equipped for simultaneous interpretation and three portable interpretation booths.
• A contemporary design that fits into the downtown context and provides a new civic plaza in the heart of downtown Kitchener.
• A three-storey glazed atrium which will bring natural light deep into the building.
• A commitment to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standard.
• Capacity for expansion and internal flexibility to ensure maximum usefulness throughout its lifetime.

The building design will emphasize energy efficiency, a high quality and healthy indoor environment and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. For example, this will be achieved through building material selections and green housekeeping practices.

[Spokes]

One nice thing about this being a provincial project is that we should see it go together fairly quick once they start putting forms down. No Auburn-type delays here I would guess.

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

The Region already has plans to conver the courthouse on Weber Street into an office building for overflow from the existing 150 Fredrick building which is full

Is that the building with the Sunlife Financial logo?

I was kind of hoping the old courthouse would get razed and some higher density developments would take their place.

[taylortbb]

Is that the building with the Sunlife Financial logo?

I was kind of hoping the old courthouse would get razed and some higher density developments would take their place.

It's this building: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&l...33.74,,0,-0.51

The only Sunlife logo I can think of downtown is on the incredibly ugly brick tower across from Market Square, the Oxlea tower.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Groundbreaking Ceremony - June 22, 2010





John Milloy


Chris Bentley












One More Time

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

It's this building: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&l...33.74,,0,-0.51

The only Sunlife logo I can think of downtown is on the incredibly ugly brick tower across from Market Square, the Oxlea tower.

I was thinking of Oxlea tower. But they're keeping that old courthouse building? I'm not a fan... I'd be thrilled to see that building razed and replaced with something more suitable for such a central location.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Groundbreaking Ceremony Videos - June 22, 2010

John Milloy


Ken Seiling


Chris Bentley

[Urbanomicon]

Wow that site is huge. I never realized just how big that lot was. You could probably fit a new 10,000 seat arena in there.