Developers EBC, Groupe Germain, DevMcGill to build new Arts Court

The city's finance committee has chosen a consortium of developers to build a $100-million arts complex downtown.

The group will redevelop Arts Court and expand the Ottawa Art Gallery. The project will also include condos and a boutique hotel.

After a competitive procurement process, city staff recommended the consortium of developers including EBC Incorporated, DevMcGill and Groupe Germain.

If the plan is approved by city council, the consortium would build a 21-storey tower on Waller Street, adjacent to the Rideau Centre.

The arts complex will include a 250-seat theatre and screening room, a second, smaller theatre, and classrooms for the University of Ottawa.

It also features an expansion of the Ottawa Art Gallery, which has been keeping the bulk of its collection in storage.

Above the arts complex will be 12 floors of boutique hotel rooms and another eight floors of condos.

The city's share of the cost for the public portion adds up to $34-million, with arts groups contributing a portion of that. It's hoped that selling naming rights for the gallery and some of its various spaces could help raise that money.

Construction is set to begin this December and finish by the end of 2017.