Saskatoon Civic Operations Centre

The Saskatoon Civic Operations Centre is a fully integrated municipal operations hub that brings together transit operations, fleet maintenance, and snow management within a single purpose-built facility. Delivered by EllisDon under a design-build-finance-operate-maintain model, the project transformed a greenfield site into a 450,000 sq. ft. campus designed for efficiency, durability, and long-term growth. The facility supports up to 224 buses and includes specialized infrastructure such as maintenance bays, inspection pits, automated wash lanes, fueling systems, and administrative and training spaces, allowing transit services to operate from one centralized location. 

Designed with both current operations and future expansion in mind, the facility can be adapted to accommodate additional fleet capacity with minimal disruption. The project also incorporates a large-scale snow management system capable of handling up to one million cubic metres of snow, with integrated controls to manage and treat meltwater before release. 

Close collaboration between EllisDon, the design team, trade partners, and the City ensured that operational requirements were embedded into the design from the outset, while early procurement and phased construction enabled delivery ahead of schedule and within budget. The facility achieved LEED Certified status through energy-efficient systems, water management strategies, and material selection focused on long-term performance and reduced environmental impact.

Development and Equity

EllisDon Capital Inc.co-led all aspects of the development phase, including:

• Structuring the financing plan and evaluating debt/equity options
• Conducting detailed financial analyses
• Managing due diligence with technical, insurance, and audit advisors
• Overseeing the DBRS ratings process, resulting in an ‘A (low)’ credit rating

The project was delivered through a collaborative financing model, supported by trusted financial partners. EllisDon Capital and its co-equity sponsor ensured long-term stability and strong performance throughout the project lifecycle.

Achievements:

• 2021 Global Real Estate Sustainability (GRESB) List from Global Real Estate Sustainability
• LEED Certification, 2016