Groupe Gauthier, Biancamano, Bolduc was commissioned to implement a Master Realty Assets Development Plan for the five sites utilized by Defence Canada’s Land Forces Quebec Area (LFQA), one of which is the Valcartier Garrison.  This document provides guidance for decisions relating to life-cycle management of realty assets and has a 30-year planning horizon.  It was prepared to:

• Ensure effective, secure military operations through proper organization of space for activities and occupants.
• Identify projects involving construction or upgrading of facilities to current standards or disposal of facilities, based on the Army’s new functional and organizational requirements and the needs of the occupants.
• Properly integrate the military site into the surrounding area.

Located on 21,000 hectares of land, the Valcartier Garrison hosts civilian and military activities, and is the largest employer in the regional municipality (60% of available jobs).  The Garrison is divided by the Jacques-Cartier River and operates as an open base split into two sectors: an urban area with approximately one hundred military buildings, and a firing range and training areas (FRTA).

The MRADP takes into consideration the Garrison’s specific mission within the LFQA, which involves housing the 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5th CMBG) and the LFQA Instruction Centre, and enabling all LFQA formations to complete part of their group and individual training.  This document includes information from numerous projects aiming to:

• Provide the 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group with new facilities that echo its mission, taking into account the advanced age of the current buildings and the reenginering of the vehicle fleet management.
• Comply with the new National Defence construction standards, specifically those relating to housing.
• Review space utilization for activities and occupants, reorganize internal traffic flow and relocate access points to the Garrison.
• Modernize the FRTA facilities. 

A development design has been created, which includes all the projects at an estimated total cost of $430M.  Finally, implementation of the MRADP is based on staggered completion of the projects.or upgrading of facilities to current standards or disposal of facilities, based on the Army’s new functional and organizational requirements and the needs of the occupants.