Canada launches competition to rebuild vacant 24 Sussex official residence

The government of Canada has issued its first procurement notice for the rehabilitation of 24 Sussex Drive, the prime minister’s official residence that has remained vacant for more than ten years. The nearly 100-page Request for Qualification, posted on Aug. 21, will shortlist seven teams to enter a national design competition, with the contract for design and construction slated for award by fall 2027. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to create private living quarters, work spaces, and public reception areas while ensuring universal accessibility and preserving heritage features.

The project requires the use of Canadian products and at least five per cent of contract value to be allocated to Indigenous firms. A fundraising campaign led by the Rideau Hall Foundation has raised over $735,000 toward a $50 million target, and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada will judge design concepts, while Procurement Canada evaluates technical proposals.