FortisBC’s new Kootenay Operations Centre getting close to “groundbreaking”

The FortisBC Electric Kootenay Operations Centre Project will be replacing existing aging facilities in the Kootenay Region, unifying FortisBC's electric long-term space requirements and meeting their commitment to their customers, their community and their employees.

The proposed site is located on 120 Ootischenia Road, Castlegar. The site borders Columbia Road and Ootischenia Road and is in close proximity to the Highway 3 Ootischenia/Castlegar Interchange. The building entrance will be positioned to face south on Ootischenia Road with employee and visitor parking on the west side.

The building will be accessed with an entrance off Ootischenia Road. Service vehicles will exit through a right out only onto Columbia Road.

The northernmost part of the site will have a yard area, which will be fenced and secured for covered and open service vehicle parking.

The new centre will house 160 to 180 employees and is 30,000 square feet, plus 11,000 square feet of operational support space. Estimated cost of the project is $16 million.

Construction start is slated for the end of third quarter, 2013, and estimated construction will be 16 months with occupancy in January 2015.