Item - 2026.GG30.5

The General Government Committee:

1. In accordance with Section 71- 11.1C of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 71, Financial Control By-law, authorized the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to amend Purchase Order Number 6055184 with Hariri Pontarini Architects, increasing the current purchase order value by $8,821,675  net of all applicable taxes ($8,976,936 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) revising the total purchase order value from $5,515,438 net of all applicable taxes ($5,612,510 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) to $14,337,113  net of all applicable taxes ($14,589,446 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) for the provision of construction and professional services required to deliver renovations for the enhanced State of Good Repair, Accessibility and Net Zero project at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.

The purpose of this report is to request authority to amend Purchase Order Number 6055184 issued to Hariri Pontarini Architects for Prime Consulting Services related to the enhanced State of Good Repair, Accessibility and Net Zero renovation at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. The purchase order amendment has an associated value of up to $8,821,675 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($8,976,936 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) revising the current purchase order value from $5,515,438 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($5,612,510 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) to $14,337,113 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($14,589,446 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries).

The purchase order amendment is required to address Council direction through item EX.17.17 - Update on the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Redevelopment Project to update the contract scope and to repurpose the existing Hariri Pontarini Architects contract toward the delivery of an enhanced State of Good Repair program. The purchase order amendment is necessary to enable a revised consulting scope required to deliver the enhanced State of Good Repair program, including accessibility upgrades and integration of Net Zero objectives.

While a contract was previously established for redevelopment services, only a portion of the work was authorized and completed under the existing purchase order before Council cancelled the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts redevelopment project in 2024. Specifically, in December 2023, a contract with Hariri Pontarini Architects for St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts redevelopment services in the amount of $34 million was executed following Council approval of the project with established stage gates. The original purchase order included schematic design as Phase 1 and was issued for $3 million, with a subsequent purchase order amendment increasing the total purchase order value to approximately $5.5 million.

The enhanced State of Good Repair project has an approved capital budget of $84.5 million and includes upgrades to building systems, accessibility, interior and public-facing spaces, and alignment with Net Zero objectives. The State of Good Repair renovations are based on the November 2024 Building Condition Assessment and Accessibility study to support Toronto Accessible Design Guidelines as well as the addition of Net Zero enhancements. Substantial existing-building and major retrofit work is required to achieve enhanced State of Good Repair, Accessibility and Net Zero upgrades due to the current design and concrete structure of the existing building. This work includes:

- Patron spaces and experience: The redesign of common areas throughout for accessibility and functionality for enhancements to interior elements including lobby, new front entrance ticket area, theater halls and community spaces.

- Performance spaces and experience: The redesign of performance spaces for accessibility and State of Good Repair upgrades including washrooms, changerooms, accessible access to orchestra pits and practice studios.

- Net Zero enhancements: The mechanical and electrical State of Good Repair scope will be upgraded to include Net Zero compliance, which were not included in the original State of Good Repair scope and budget.

- Specialty theater equipment and spaces: Highly specialized theater system upgrades to equipment as well as design and functional elements throughout the theaters. This includes structural rigging, movable orchestra pit rebuild, modernized audio visual and public announcement system, specialty theater acoustic treatments and seating systems.

- Base building improvements: Repairs and upgrades to the building envelope.

It is important to note that accessibility upgrades and redesign for the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts is extensive and challenging due to the existing building design and specialized theatre elements and equipment. It includes major retrofit work including the addition of elevators, specialty designs for orchestra pits and backstage areas as well as upgrades to all washrooms, changerooms and common areas for Toronto Accessible Design Guidelines compliance as noted above.

Staff recommend proceeding with a purchase order amendment with Hariri Pontarini Architects instead of a new competitive process to retain a prime consultant. This approach preserves value by avoiding duplicated effort, reducing schedule and redesign risk, and maintaining continuity of project knowledge. Hariri Pontarini Architects's direct experience with the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts from the design competition through schematic design provides strong familiarity with existing conditions, constraints, and objectives, supporting timely delivery and minimizing rework. The proposed purchase order amendment value of up to $8,821,675 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($8,976,936 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) for prime consulting services aligns with industry standards for a project of this scale and complexity, reflecting the shift to an enhanced State of Good Repair approach, including work in an occupied heritage facility, complex approvals, and specialized systems. Overall, the fees are considered fair and reasonable, falling within expected ranges for complex retrofit projects involving theatre systems, functional redesign, Net Zero and accessibility upgrades, and significant coordination demands.

Hariri Pontarini Architects will deliver prime consulting services and will be the lead professional consultant directly contracted by the City responsible for all consulting, architecture, design and engineering services required on the project, including comprehensive construction administration and consultant coordination.

Corporate Real Estate Management and TO Live are currently developing a project plan and schedule for the enhanced State of Good Repair project execution. Advancing the purchase order amendment is required to maintain the proposed project schedule, which targets construction commencement in June 2028 to align with TO Live operational and programming requirements.