Ikea is building its largest Canadian store in Ottawa.

The new 398,000-square-foot store is expected to open in the fall of 2011.

The store is being built at the Pinecrest shopping centre, near Highway 417 and Greenbank Road — the same plaza where the current store is — but it will be at a different location on the site.

This building could be described as a sprawling, pre-fabricated-looking big blue monstrosity.. A smaller version of the West Edmonton Mall.

Ikea states that, “besides offering nearly 9,500 exclusively designed products, the new Ottawa store will feature 50 room settings, a new children's play area, a 640-seat restaurant, and over 1,200 parking spaces”

“In line with IKEA's policy to have a positive impact on people and the environment, the new store will incorporate many sustainable and environmental features such as high efficiency heating and cooling systems“ along with, “water conservation plumbing fixtures, and skylights that will allow for more natural light thereby reducing the lighting provided by fixtures”

Too bad Ikea has appeared to give relatively little consideration for the outside appearance of the building itself.

Congrats to Ikea for building what could be described as the ugliest building in Ottawa. Well, I suppose the U.S. Embassy around the Byward Market, has had that title long enough. It is apparent that the City Council who had approved that building has not concerned about the architectural beautification of our nation’s capital.

Way to go, Ottawa City Council.