Where do aerospace and defence occupiers lease office space in Ottawa?

Most cluster in Centretown. Rent runs ~36 CAD/sqft ($27 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do aerospace and defence occupiers run in Ottawa?

Typically high-end at $155–220/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a aerospace and defence occupier plan in Ottawa?

Plan ~210 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,000 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the aerospace and defence vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 3364, 5415.

What is the talent index in Ottawa?

80/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Aerospace and defence occupiers in Ottawa typically cluster in Centretown, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($155–220/sqft), and pay around 36 CAD/sqft ($27 USD) on Class A.

Preferred submarket: Centretown.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($155–220/sqft).
Plan ~210 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 36 CAD/sqft ($27 USD).
Typical lease: 10 years with 12 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Ottawa: 80/100.

Aerospace and defence office space in Ottawa

Aerospace and defence occupiers in Ottawa typically cluster in Centretown, plan ~210 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($155–220/sqft), and pay around 36 CAD/sqft ($27 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

Preferred submarket: Centretown.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($155–220/sqft).
Plan ~210 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 36 CAD/sqft ($27 USD).
Typical lease: 10 years with 12 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Ottawa: 80/100.

Where they cluster

Aerospace and defence occupiers in Ottawa typically anchor in Centretown. Tech (Shopify), advertising, design, professional services.

What they pay

Class A rent in Ottawa runs 36 CAD/sqft ($27 USD) on a 10-year lease with 12 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical aerospace and defence fit-out targets high-end specification at $155–220/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 210 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount aero/defence office in Ottawa typically targets 21,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Programme leadership and contracting teams concentrate near government anchors; cleared-personnel logistics drive submarket selection. Strong public-sector, telecom, cybersecurity, and tech talent. Carleton, University of Ottawa, and Algonquin College anchor the regional pipeline. Bilingual (EN-FR) talent supports federal and cross-border tenancy.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 26.5%. Triple-net (NNN) structures with operating cost and tax recoveries. Government of Canada leases follow PSPC standard terms with 10-year base + renewal options. Free rent of 8-12 months and TI of CAD 65-90/sqft typical on private-sector 10-year deals.

Key facts

city	Ottawa
industry	Aerospace and defence
naics	3364, 5415
preferredSubmarket	Centretown
preferredFitoutSpec	High-end
fitoutBand	$155–220/sqft
sqftPerSeat	210
classARentLocal	36 CAD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$27/sqft/yr
vacancyPct	13.6%
typicalLeaseYears	10
typicalRentFreeMonths	12
talentIndex	80
corporateTaxPct	26.5%

Frequently asked questions

Where do aerospace and defence occupiers lease office space in Ottawa?: Most cluster in Centretown. Rent runs ~36 CAD/sqft ($27 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do aerospace and defence occupiers run in Ottawa?: Typically high-end at $155–220/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a aerospace and defence occupier plan in Ottawa?: Plan ~210 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,000 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the aerospace and defence vertical?: Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 3364, 5415.
What is the talent index in Ottawa?: 80/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Class A Atlas Editorial Desk — House byline · global editorial team. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

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