Feds hands down $322M contract for new Borden, Ont. data centre

Construction on the new data centre is expected to begin this summer

BORDEN, Ont.—The Canadian government has awarded the Uptime Infrastructure Partners consortium the contract to build a new $322 million data centre on the Canadian Forces Base in Borden, Ont.

Part of the government’s push to consolidate its network of 485 separate data centres into just seven, the agreement covers the design, construction and operation of the computer systems infrastructure for the next 25 years. Uptime Infrastructure is made up of Walsh Canada, Balfour Beatty Investments and Forum Equity Partners. Architecture firm WZMH will also be involved in the design, while Ehvert Mission Critical will provide engineering services. Once built, Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions will take the lead on facilities management.

“The [Enterprise Data Centre] Borden expansion is another example of this Government’s ongoing transformation agenda, and our commitment to deliver on the Information Technology plan,” Judy Foote, Canada’s minister of Public Services and Procurement, said.

Designed to modernize the government’s IT network while increasing security, the new data centre will also incorporate energy-efficient power and cooling systems, allowing it to qualify as a silver-standard green building under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

Construction crews are expected to break ground on the project this summer.