In partnership with Toronto’s TriBro Studios, the Ottawa Film Office is working towards building the city’s first soundstage campus and creative hub. This signifiant economic development project would create upwards of 500 new jobs and invest an additional $40 million in the local economy in the first few years alone.
The proposed site for the project is on land that is already developed at the National Capital Commission‘s (NCC) Greenbelt Research Farm, located just southwest of West Hunt Club Road and Woodroffe Avenue. As the land is not currently zoned for this type of activity, the NCC hosted a public consultation on September 5 and gathered feedback on its website. The NCC’s Board of Directors is currently reviewing the feedback before deciding if it will proceed with a lease.
Learn more about the proposed soundstage campus and creative hub by reading our frequently asked questions.
The soundstage campus and creative hub proposal was presented by the Ottawa Film Office and TriBro Studios to the National Capital Commission as a potential use for already developed land at the Greenbelt Research Farm.
The campus would include:
Additionally, a smaller soundstage with green screen would be incorporated in the creative hub to help meet the needs of the local production community.
The proposed soundstage campus would be located on already developed land at the former Greenbelt Research Farm, 1740 Woodroffe Ave.
After reviewing different pieces of land, this area was identified as the preferred location due to its distance to established animation companies, the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, and Alonquin College. The site is also a quick 20 minute drive from downtown Ottawa. As it’s already developed land, the soundstage campus would not interfere with agriculture or conservation activities in the area.
The estimated cost for the first phase of the soundstage campus is $40 million.
The soundstage campus would be privately funded.
TriBros Studios was identified as a potential partner and property manager by the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC). After several meetings and discussions with TriBro Studios, and based on their track record in Toronto, the Ottawa Film Office decided to further pursue the partnership opportunity to build Eastern Ontario’s first dedicated soundstages.
The NCC Board of Directors is currently reviewing the feedback it received and will decide by mid-November if it will proceed with a lease. Should the outcome be positive, the NCC Board will formally approve the lease at its November meeting, and Treasury Board will approve the plan amendment in January 2019.
If all the approvals are obtained, shovels can be in the ground as early as Q2 2019 with an anticipated opening date in Q2 2020.
Based on similar projects, we estimate that the soundstage campus will create 500 FTE jobs during construction.
During the first years of operation, production levels are estimated to increase by $25 to $40 million dollars in activity and create an additional 500 FTE jobs for the film, television and animation sector.
While it would be difficult to find an alternate site that has all the benefits of the former Greenbelt Research Farm, in the event that the NCC ceases negotiations, the Ottawa Film Office would continue working with TriBro Studios to identify other locations in the city that could meet the needs of the industry.
While the soundstage campus would be located near the airport, it would not be close enough to be impacted by airport operations, nor is it directly under any flight paths. Also, like most purpose-built soundstages, it would be completely soundproofed.
Hopefully you attended the public consultation on Sept. 5th and forwarded your feedback to the NCC before Sept. 19th. If you still want to share your support for the proposed project, let us know what you think on social media by using the hashtag #filmstudio613!