DCC supported the renewal of Hangar 14 at Ottawa International Airport, managing a $93.6‑million construction contract to modernize the facility.
The hangar is the new home of the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, with approximately 6,600m2 of office space, aircraft laboratories, and testing areas.
Built in 1955, Hangar 14 is a recognized federal heritage building, known for its distinctive barrel‑roof design and long history within Canada’s aviation community. Protecting the building’s heritage elements while upgrading it to meet current building codes and operational needs remained a priority throughout the work.
“When the hangar was originally built, some building components, such as the suspended slabs of the second floor, were done in ways that don’t meet today’s seismic standards. As a result, work was required to upgrade the building’s construction,” says Andrew Buchan, Site Manager of the DCC Ottawa Site Office.
The renovation started in 2021, but the project scope evolved in 2022 after a severe windstorm damaged part of the hangar’s roof. Following the event, the team moved quickly to reconfigure the project to now include replacing the entire roof.
In addition to managing the construction contract, DCC supported a range of technical and regulatory processes for the Department of National Defence throughout the project.
“We worked with Public Services and Procurement Canada and other stakeholders to ensure the building could transition from construction to operations,” says Andrew. “That coordination was critical to keeping the project moving and ensuring success for the end users.”
At the opening ceremony earlier this year, the hangar was re-dedicated in honour of Janusz Zurakowski, a Canadian test pilot and aviation pioneer, reflecting both the site’s historic significance and its renewed role supporting Canada’s aerospace testing mission.
