The Durham Consolidated Courthouse, expected to open in Fall 2009, will be a modern, integrated facility that will consolidate Superior Court and Ontario Court justice services currently delivered from eight locations across the Durham region. The building - located in downtown Oshawa - will house 33 courtrooms, three motions rooms, two conference/settlement rooms and related legal and court services.  The new courthouse will improve access to justice and help spur economic development across the region.

The building design will conform to the Canada Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards, with an emphasis on energy management and conservation.

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued in March 2005.  Three consortia were short-listed based on their capacity to undertake projects of this size and complexity.  In February 2006, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued to the pre-qualified consortia.  The Ministry of the Attorney General and Infrastructure Ontario selected Access Justice Durham as the successful bidder based on its design proposal, construction and technical capability, the schedule proposed and the overall Value for Money criteria offered.  

The courthouse plans were developed in co-operation with staff from the Ministries of the Attorney General and Public Infrastructure Renewal, the Ontario Realty Corporation and Infrastructure Ontario.  Those staff have been involved in the design of the facility to ensure that it meets staff and stakeholder needs with the best working environment possible. 

As part of the bidding process, Access Justice Durham was required to submit a design proposal for the courthouse that met the functional specifications needed to accommodate the advanced technological and expanded services the courthouse will provide.  

  • Highlights of the Durham Consolidated Courthouse:  
    Five courtrooms will be outfitted for video conferencing
  • Two remote video testimony rooms will accommodate vulnerable and child witnesses
  • Enhanced accommodation for interpretation/translation including one jury room permanently equipped for simultaneous translation and three portable translation booths available
  • Designed to be compliant with the Ontario Disabilities Act 

With more than 500 full-time employees, the new courthouse will increase the capacity to deliver justice services in the Durham region.

In addition, throughout the construction period, there will be an average of 250 construction workers on site daily.

Contacts: 

Amy Tang     
Minister's Office     
Public Infrastructure Renewal    
416-325-4048 

Jennifer Sclisizzi 
Infrastructure Ontario  
416-325-7409 

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