Place Québec: Inauguration of New Spaces at 900 boul. René-Lévesque Est and Heated Bus Station at Station colline Parlementaire

QUÉBEC CITY, Dec. 12, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ, owner of Place Québec through Société en commandite 880 HonoréMercier, inaugurated the new spaces at 900 René-Lévesque Est, as well as the new colline Parlementaire heated bus station completed in collaboration with the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC).

When the Centre des congrès de Québec announced an expansion in 2011 and acquired part of the Place Québec shopping mall, extensive renovation and modernization work was carried out over a 16-month period both in the building at 900 René-Lévesque and in the shopping mall. The electrical room and telecommunications equipment were replaced, while the escalators, main entrance, food court and entrances to the Delta Hotel and the Marie-Guyard building were modernized. At the same time, the RTC transformed the old bus shelter into a state-of-the-art station, offering commuters more comfortable, heated, modern facilities equipped with WiFi access.

"We just finished extensive work, mainly in the underground portion of the building at 900 René-Lévesque, which may have caused users and workers inconvenience due to the closure of some access points. So, today, we would like to thank the general public for their patience and cooperation during this time. We're very proud of the end result, a building that is now modern and up-to-date. We wanted to encourage public transit by providing a new, heated bus station where it will be much more comfortable to wait for a bus," said the Fonds immobilier's President and CEO Normand Bélanger.

For his part, Rémy Normand, the newly appointed president of the RTC, is very pleased with the support provided by the Fonds immobilier to develop public transit. "It takes much more than efficient bus service to make public transit appealing. You need modern infrastructures that are well-equipped and comfortable. Companies that make it easier for employees or customers to use public transit are increasingly finding that it gives them an edge in a competitive market," said Mr. Normand.

Space for rent
New mall tenants include La Prep restaurant, scheduled to open its doors in spring 2014, and the Le Comptoir banner, which will have a convenience store and dry cleaning and alteration services. Some strategically-located commercial space is still available for rent. The new tenants will be announced in the months ahead.

About the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ
Created in 1991 by the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ promotes economic growth and employment in Québec by strategically investing in profitable and socially responsible real estate projects, in partnership with other industry leaders. Over the last 20 years, the Fonds immobilier has invested upwards of $1 billion in 300 such projects, creating and preserving some 26,300 in Québec. For more information, visit www.fondsimmobilierftq.com.

Image with caption: "Rémy Normand, RTC President, and Normand Bélanger, President and CEO of the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ. Photo : Gabriel Rancourt (CNW Group/Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131212_C9905_PHOTO_EN_34918.jpg

SOURCE: Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ

Information for journalists:

Josée Lagacé, Director, Communications and Marketing
Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ
Tel.:   [phone]
Mobile:  [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

Julie Drolet, Head of Communications and Public Affairs
Communications and Marketing
Réseau de transport de la Capitale
Tél. : [phone], extension 4946
Courriel : [email protected]