TORONTO - EllisDon Infrastructure is the preferred proponent to design, build, finance and maintain the new Toronto courthouse project located at 10 Armoury Street, bordered by Centre Avenue and Chestnut Street.

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) selected EllisDon Infrastructure after extensive evaluations following an open, fair and competitive request for proposals process that began in October 2016.

  • The EllisDon Infrastructure team includes:
  • Developer: EllisDon Capital Inc.
  • Constructor: EllisDon Design Build Inc.
  • Design Team: Renzo Piano Building Workshop and NORR Limited
  • Facilities Management: EllisDon Facilities Services Inc. and SNC Lavalin O&M
  • Financial Advisor: EllisDon Capital Inc.

IO and MAG will now work to finalize contract details with EllisDon Infrastructure by early 2018. At that time, the relevant contracts will be signed, a financing rate will be set, and cost of the contract cost will be announced. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2018.

The new Toronto courthouse will include:

  • Barrier-free access, to allow visitors and occupants to travel throughout the building with ease, regardless of ability
  • Video conferencing to allow witnesses to appear from remote locations and in-custody individuals to appear from detention facilities
  • Closed-circuit television to enable children and other vulnerable witnesses to appear before the court from a private room
  • Courtroom video/audio systems to allow counsel to display video evidence recorded in various formats and for the simultaneous viewing of evidence
  • A single point of entry with magnetometers, baggage scanners, continuous video surveillance, and separate corridors to ensure the security of judges, members of the public and the accused.

The project includes public and green space improvements and significant design aspects that will celebrate the unique heritage and history of the site.

The new courthouse will bring together many of Toronto's Ontario Court of Justice criminal courts operating across the city. Amalgamating several courts into one state-of-the-art facility will reduce costs, make operations more efficient and effective, provide for equal access to services, and will ensure the province's real estate portfolio is sustainable, accessible and efficient.

Amalgamation of courthouses is part of Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

Quick Facts 

  • IO and MAG are working together to build the new Toronto courthouse, which will be publicly owned and controlled.
  • The project is being delivered using IO's Alternative Financing and Procurement model, an innovative way of financing and procuring large, complex public infrastructure projects, with a track record of being 98 per cent on budget to date.
  • In 2015, IO led an archaeological excavation of the new Toronto courthouse site that recovered many artifacts, mainly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 
  • As a first step for heritage interpretation, IO has installed artwork on construction fencing for the new Toronto courthouse to help commemorate the downtown site's rich cultural history.
  • The courthouse will be designed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver standard with a focus on energy efficiency, healthy indoor environments and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges in the province's history. To learn more about what's happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.

“A new courthouse for Toronto is an important investment for Ontario and will provide access to modern, efficient and effective justice services, while creating jobs and strengthening our economy.
Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure

“We are pleased to be partnering with the Ministry of the Attorney General on our sixth AFP courthouse project and look forward to construction of this world-class downtown Toronto courthouse beginning this spring.”
Ehren Cory, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario

Learn More

Infrastructure Ontario

Ministry of the Attorney General

Media contacts:

Cary Mignault
Infrastructure Ontario
416-325-2888

Emilie Smith
Ministry of the Attorney General
416-326-2210