Nova Centre

The Nova Centre is a mixed-use development in Downtown Halifax. It comprises a hotel, two office buildings, the Halifax Convention Centre, commericial space, and Rogers Square, a public pedestrian arcade that was formerly part of Grafton Street. It was developed at a cost of $500 million by Halifax developer Argyle Developments.

History
The Nova Centre complex occupies two city blocks in downtown Halifax. One block was formerly home to the longtime headquarters of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald newspaper.

The project received federal, provincial, and municipal public funding as it would house, in the podium levels and basement, the new Halifax Convention Centre operated by the Crown corporation Trade Centre Limited (TDL).

In 2014, Halifax Regional Council approved the sale of a section of Grafton Street, running through the Nova Centre site, to Argyle Developments at a cost of $1.9 million. This section would remain open to the public as a covered pedestrian arcade, and was rented out for events by the developer.

In October 2015, the Bank of Montreal signed a 10-year lease agreement and naming rights deal to relocate their Atlantic Canadian headquarters to complex. The north tower was alternatively named BMO Tower. The bank's flagship downtown branch is also relocated on the ground level of the building.

In April 2017, it was announced that Grant Thornton had signed a lease for 36000 sqft of space in the complex and would move there from the Cogswell Tower.

Office towers
The Nova Centre contains two interconnected office towers, the north (also known as the BMO Building) and south tower. Each building offers 14,000 square feet of space per floor, or a combined 28,000 square feet per floor.

Convention centre
The Halifax Convention Centre is a conference centre that replaced the nearby World Trade and Convention Centre as the main convention venue in the city. The larger convention facility houses 120000 sqft flexible event space that allows Halifax to accommodate conventions and events that the former convention centre could not handle. The convention centre opened on December 15, 2017.

Hotel
Sutton Place Hotels partnered with Argyle Developments on the project. Among the contractors for the project was local firm RCS Construction, based in nearby Bedford. The hotel features 262 rooms. Amenities include the Chop Steakhouse & Bar, ceiling-high windows and fitness facilities.

Rogers Square
The section of Grafton Street purchased by the developer functions as both a pedestrian passageway and as an 18,000 square foot events space. Rogers Communications partnered with Argyle Developments in a multi-year naming rights agreement.