Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction is about to start on a new Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment in Cambridge.
The new detachment at 1360 Hespeler Rd. will have about 17,000 sq. ft. of space, including facilities to secure evidence, three holding cells, closed-circuit television and other advanced security features, the Ministry of the Solicitor General said Tuesday.
Construction is expected to last until in mid-2023.
The building will replace the former facility that was destroyed by fire in September 2018.
“Public safety is and will always be a top priority for our government,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “The new detachment will ensure our local OPP staff have access to the modern policing tools they need to protect people in Cambridge and keep local communities safe.”
All 10 detachments under OPP Modernization – Phase 2 are built by a team led by Bird Capital OMP Project Co Inc. who will oversee the design-build of the Cambridge detachment.
Infrastructure Ontario has identified nine detachments that are now in various stages of construction, replacing buildings at the end of their useful lifespan. The new detachments will be located in:
- Huron County Detachment, 325 Albert St., Clinton
- Mississauga, 2735 Argentia Rd., Mississauga
- Hawkesbury Detachment, 1425 Cameron St., Hawkesbury
- Manitoulin Island Detachment, 54 Boosneck Rd., Little Current
- Marathon Detachment, 101 Peninsula Rd., Marathon
- West Parry Sound Detachment, 1 North Rd., Parry Sound
- Rainy River District Detachment, 901 Colonization Rd. W., Fort Frances
- Moosonee Detachment, 16 Butcher Rd., Moosonee
- Orillia Detachment, 1 University Ave.
The new Cambridge OPP detachment will provide approximately 17,000 sq. ft. of space, a modern infrastructure design to support ever-changing technology requirements including facilities to secure evidence, three holding cells, closed-circuit television technology and other advanced security features.
“The impressive new Cambridge OPP detachment, which will be equipped with a Collision Reporting Centre, will provide our officers and civilian members with an accessible and energy-efficient facility to continue to deliver on a shared commitment with our government to safe communities and a secure Ontario,” said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.
The new detachment has been added to the province’s OPP Modernization – Phase 2 project, announced in 2018 that has so far replaced nine aging OPP facilities that were at the end of their lifespan and no longer met the requirements of today’s police operations.
“Infrastructure modernization projects like this new detachment are essential to the safety and security of our communities, while ensuring our first responders have what they need to do their jobs as effectively as possible,” said Laurie Scott, minister of infrastructure.
“We will continue to work with communities like Cambridge to invest in local priorities and build, renew and modernize the infrastructure that people rely on every day.”
The new structure will be accessible and is designed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Standard, which recognizes buildings with reduced environmental impacts.