TELUS (News - Alert) and SOLIM are planning to retrofit the building located at 300 St-Paul St. West in Quebec City, based on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standard. The LEED system recognizes buildings that offer healthy, high-quality and high-performance advantages with reduced environmental impacts.

 

The partners aim to renovate the site into a state-of-the-art eco (News - Alert)-friendly building that will bring together hundreds of TELUS’ Quebec City-based employees, currently working from a number of locations across the city. TELUS said that their new office will be good for the environment and is expected to inspire business growth in the community.

 

TELUS is a national telecommunications company in Canada, with $9.4 billion of annual revenue and 11.4 million customer connections. Karen Radford, president of TELUS Québec indicated that the plan to retrofit the site is a tangible demonstration of TELUS' determination to deepen their roots here in Quebec City.

 

By choosing to bring new energy to this area, TELUS is sending a clear message about their intention to grow the team while they serve their customers and this community for many years to come.

 

The Société en commandite immobilière SOLIM is a real estate investment and development fund that aims to forge partnerships in Quebec with institutions, corporations and managers involved in real estate to stimulate the creation or maintenance of jobs and to promote economic growth. Guy Gionet, president and general manager of SOLIM noted that the agreement with TELUS has shown them the importance the company places on the environment and, specifically, on ensuring its team enjoys a quality work atmosphere.

 

“It truly is a pleasure to work with a company that fully shares our corporate values. What's more, renovating the building will reaffirm the commercial vocation of the revitalized St-Roch district,” Gionet said.

 

TELUS and SOLIM will retrofit the former Canada Post office, a five-storey structure featuring 145,000 square feet of office space. The TELUS House will be within walking distance of the Gare du Palais, the port, and all of the amenities in the petit Champlain and St-Roch districts.

 

In response to this announcement Mayor of Quebec City, Régis Labeaume said that the redevelopment of the former Canada Post office supports Quebec City's long-standing goal to create a vibrant business district near the train station and its plans to effectively link the city to the waterfront.

 

 

Occupying three stories or more than 50 percent of the total rentable area, TELUS will be the lead tenant of this eco-friendly building. TELUS officials said that their technology will be included in both building automation systems and tenant environments, with raised floors. TELUS’ technology will not only facilitate communications and electrical cabling, but will also help in the distribution of cooling and heating systems.

 

TELUS House Quebec City will reportedly be the company's fourth LEED designated construction project. The building is scheduled for completion by 2010.