Cohere Centre (former EY Centre) | Completed

[MountainView]

Agreed - they could have placed the building better for transit users but I think with a proper pathway to the current bus stops would be almost as good because transit users still need to walk through the massive parking lot. Further, why did they only signalize one of the intersections and not both? They could have signalized the other intersection and fixed that awkward turn from northbound Uplands onto the airport parkway. There's really only room for one car to sit there while 'yielding' to the southbound Uplands traffic turning towards the airport.

And the giant Parking Lot can be used for Parking Lot Sales during the warmer months!! Fundraisers, automotive shows.... Ya not going to happen is it?

[Dado]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

There you go: some "nominal" transit test instead of a real-world one, and one rooted in the pretty, if meaningless, words of the transit plan.

Instead we get this crap.

We ALWAYS get this crap.

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Why didn't the developers orient the building so that it was better placed for access by the existing route on the existing stop? Instead, it's all Welcome To My Parking Lot.

Parkers can park anywhere. You can bring the building to the transit, but, nope - at expense to transit riders elsewhere, who'll end up cross-subsidizing the service, they're gonna bring transit to the stupid, ugly, badly-planned, building.

Honest to friggin' pete.

Ya, well, I said pretty much the same thing a year and a half ago, so there.

You can see the depths of this way of thinking in which they argued against a hotel as part of the development because apparently there's one somewhere nearby or something.

For both ease of access to the hotel they apparently don't want to compete with and ease of access to existing and future transit, a completely different site would have been in order on the opposite quadrant of the interchange... I realize that would not have permitted acres of surface parking to surround the place and instead they would likely have had to go with some kind of structured parking, but hey, it's near the airport and you're going to have to pay to park anyway.

Ottawa doesn't "plan". It just does development approvals.

Originally Posted by Dado

"Kevin McCrann, president of Shenkman, said building the hotel would not constitute sound planning since the existing Hilton Garden Inn was just across the street from where the trade show centre would be built."

Sound planning? That's rich. Wouldn't sound planning call for it to be put on the other side of the street with the hotel and nearer the future LRT alignment?

Oh well. I suppose trade show attendees holed up in the hotel can take a scenic walk along Alert, under the Airport Parkway and across the parking lot to the exposition hall.


I won't comment on the wetland issue beyond pointing out that the area does have a creek/drain running through it, so the claim is at least plausible:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geo...hua3LZhxHNxdBgQ-7tyrQ&cbp=12,272.84,,0,5

Regardless of the merits of the wetland argument, the expanse of parking in what is at least a woodlot is disappointing. This is pretty much the same as every other suburban commercial/retail development: an isolated building accompanied by masses of surface parking.

[TransitZilla]

FYI this is the diagram I was sent by the city engineer illustrating the pedestrian connections that will be built to the bus stops. The switchback path up the hill connects to the northbound #97 bus stop on the Airport Parkway. It also connects to a sidewalk that goes to the Hilton hotel.

The other pathway emenating from the new bus stop on the right turn channel lane of the Parkway connects to an already-built sidewalk system through the parking lot to the front door.

[peteotown]

CE Centre renamed Ernst & Young Centre
CBC News
Posted: Nov 1, 2012 10:11 AM ET
Last Updated: Nov 1, 2012 11:59 AM ET

A south Ottawa convention centre, formerly called the CE Centre, has been renamed the Ernst & Young Centre.

The agreement was signed between Ernst & Young, one of the world's largest accounting firms, and the venue's owner, Capital Exhibition Centre LLP.

The centre covers 220,000 square feet and expects about one million visitors each year for various shows, exhibits, meeting and banquets.

The new name comes into effect immediately but a formal ceremony will follow when the new sign is installed.

The CE Centre is located at 4899 Uplands Dr. near Ottawa's MacDonald-Cartier International Airport. It opened earlier this year.

source: cbc ottawa

[J.OT13]

Ottawa Exposition Hall Facility (Airport Parkway and Uplands)| Proposed

I think the thread is overdue for a name change.

[rocketphish]

Ottawa’s EY Centre to be renamed after Toronto-based AI company Cohere

By Ted Raymond, CTV News
Updated: April 30, 2026 at 9:43AM EDT | Published: April 30, 2026 at 8:11AM EDT

A major Ottawa convention centre is getting a rebrand, partnering with Cohere, a Toronto-based AI company.

The Capital Exhibition Centre on Uplands Drive, known for years as the EY Centre, will be renamed the Cohere Centre starting on Friday, after the company and the convention centre reached a new naming rights agreement.

Cohere is a security-first enterprise AI company headquartered in Toronto. The company was founded in 2019 and is focused on developing AI systems such as large language models. Earlier this month, Cohere signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal government to promote Canadian AI technologies and explore how AI can be used to enhance government operations.

“Cohere is proud to partner with the Capital Exhibition Centre as it begins this exciting new chapter as the Cohere Centre,” said Dave Ferris, Vice President of Cohere’s Global Public Sector in a news release. “As a Canadian company building secure, enterprise-grade sovereign AI for organizations around the world, we are pleased to support a venue that brings together business, government, technology, and community in the nation’s capital. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to Canadian innovation, collaboration, and creating spaces where important ideas and meaningful connections can thrive.”

Cohere has also partnered with Canadian and international companies such as Dell, Oracle, RBC and Bell.

The 200,000 sq. ft. convention centre is Ottawa’s largest and will continue hosting events under its new name.

“This partnership is a testament to Ottawa’s emergence as a hub for innovation and world-class events,” said Cohere Centre general manager Neill Bales. “We are proud to align our centre with a company that represents the best of Canadian technology, and we look forward to welcoming clients under this exciting new name.”

The centre says new signage and branding will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

With files from The Canadian Press

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/ot...-renamed-after-toronto-based-ai-company/

[Uhuniau]

So how long is this naming deal valid for?

[lrt's friend]

I hate naming rights for buildings. It is so disorienting especially when you have never heard of the company.

[Norman Bates]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I hate naming rights for buildings. It is so disorienting especially when you have never heard of the company.

I concur.