Merck Canada will be the major tenant of a new building that Broccolini plans to build in Kirkland on the service road just at the border between Kirkland and Pointe Claire by the end of 2013. The move is a result of continued restructuring after the merger of Merck Canada and Schering Plough, which was finalized in November 2009.
“The purpose of the move is to provide Merck Canada with a work space that is better suited to our currents needs, including an environment that encourages more collaboration and integration across the divisions,” said Sheila Murphy, who is in charge of communications for Merck Canada Inc. “The new location will bring Merck’s human health, consumer care and animal health divisions under one roof.”
The new building will encompass the current 80,000 square foot building at 16750 Trans-Canada Highway, in which 122 people now work. Broccolini built the space especially for Schering-Plough in 2008 and the two companies signed a 15-year lease at that time. Broccolini’s expansion will increase the size of the space to somewhere between 200,000 and 300,000 square feet, depending on the number of storeys built, which will be between five and eight. Merck will occupy 170,000 square feet of the total space.
The 403 employees who now work at 16711 Trans-Canada Highway across the street are expected to move into the new space by late next year. The company put its 35-acre flagship site with 18 buildings encompassing 1,051,204 square feet up for sale last February.
The 35 employees who work for the Animal Health division at 3535 Trans-Canada Highway in Pointe Claire will also move to the new site. That site currently houses the Merck Manufacturing division with 189 employees. They will not move.
“The new building will achieve LEED Silver certification, adhering to the highest environmental standards,” says a press release from Broccolini Construction. “In addition to the rejuvenation of the existing office spaces, tenants will also benefit from a brand new workspace. The two sections, which will form the new complex, will be joined by an atrium. The workplace will be enhanced by a full-service cafeteria, gym (featuring ultra-modern equipment and massotherapy rooms), and indoor parking. A large, windowed façade will maximize natural light and increase employee productivity. Particular attention will be made to the outdoor spaces and landscaping. The heating and ventilation systems will allow for a greater level of energy efficiency. The project will also qualify for a tax rebate program. Together, these benefits translate to greater cost savings to the tenants for the operational costs of the complex.”
The development project is valued at $75 million.
Note: This article appears on p11 of the Suburban West Island edition.
