Sorel-Tracy Detention Centre
Location: Sorel-Tracy, Québec
Status: Operational
Provincial/Federal/Municipal: Provincial
Value of Partnership: $265 million
Type of P3: DBFM
Date of Financial Close: 2013
Date of Substantial Completion: 2016
Handback: 2043
The Sorel-Tracy Detention Centre is a correctional facility developed for the Government of Québec to replace aging institutions while expanding overall detention capacity in the province. Located approximately 75 kilometres northeast of Montréal, the facility consolidated operations previously spread across multiple sites into a single, purpose-built complex.
The centre, which accommodates up to 300 inmates, represented Québec’s first detention-centre P3 and introduced a new model for correctional facility development in the province when it officially opened in May 2017.
The project comprises a 23,400 sq. metre detention complex organized into three primary zones: living accommodations, inmate services and administrative and staff areas. The accommodation sectors use prefabricated modular cells assembled across eight distinct pavilions distributed over a 22,900 sq. metre site. This pavilion-based configuration shortens internal travel distances, improves operational efficiency for staff and maintains strict security and safety standards.
Design and construction addressed significant geotechnical challenges. Subsurface conditions included deep unconsolidated overburden and pockets of natural and shale gas, which complicated conventional drilling methods. The project team adopted a horizontal geothermal system that leveraged the site’s available land area, reducing construction complexity and generating savings.
Security systems were integrated into the facility layout, with control stations configured to provide clear, sector-specific monitoring through the different spaces.
The detention centre achieved LEED® Silver certification, reflecting its emphasis on energy performance and sustainable design.
Partners:
Public: Société immobilière du Québec (SIQ)
Private: Horizon Justice Sorel Tracy L.P. (Fiera Axium Infrastructure, Johnson Controls L.P., Pomerleau Inc.)
