New federal facility coming to St. John’s

Moriyama & Teshima Architects will design and oversee the construction of a new Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) National Verification and Collections Centre and Tax Services Office in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The current National Verification and Collections Centre in St. John’s was built in 1980 and has reached the end of its life expectancy.

In late December, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced that the Government of Canada awarded the $8.8-million contract to Moriyama & Teshima Architects for design services for a new federal facility to be built at 80 Kelsey Drive. The contract covers the provision of architectural and engineering services for the design of the new facility, including preparing plans, specifications and cost estimates, as well as providing construction oversight services.

The government stated that the construction portion of the project will include mandatory requirements for Indigenous Participation Plans, which supports its commitment to ensuring that Indigenous businesses are provided with opportunities to benefit from major federal projects and developments. Public Services and Procurement Canada continues to engage with Newfoundland and Labrador’s Indigenous communities to identify potential economic opportunities during this project.

The new facility will also comply with the 2020 Greening Government Strategy, which requires departments to prioritize low-carbon and climate resilience. New federal buildings must target net-zero carbon, and this is expected to be achieved through integrated design and the incorporation of modern building technologies.

“Building this new facility will not only generate and sustain jobs in the local community, but also significantly reduce the Canadian government’s carbon footprint in the region,” stated Duclos. “This project also incorporates Indigenous Participation Plans, reaffirming the Government of Canada’s commitment to provide opportunities for Indigenous businesses.”

The plans call for interior office space that includes activity-based workplaces, providing a safe, efficient and modern workspace for as many as 3,000 CRA employees during tax-filing season.

“We have an energized workforce here in St. John’s East, and this new federal facility will enable the modern and hybrid environment that today’s employees thrive best in. Not only will this project sustain construction-related jobs here in Newfoundland and Labrador as we reduce our carbon footprint, it will ensure the CRA team continues to provide leading and trusted services to Canadians,” added Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 2029.

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