Parliament Hill Rehabilitation

History

In 2002, an extensive $1 billion renovation project began across the parliamentary precinct, specifically focusing on masonry restoration, asbestos removal, vehicle screening, parking, electrical and mechanical systems, and improved visitors' facilities. The Library of Parliament and Peace Tower, as well as some exterior areas of masonry on the Centre Block have so far been completed, though focus has shifted to the West Block due to its rapidly deteriorating cladding. Before 2018, when the Centre Block is slated to be closed for five years in order to carry out an extensive interior restoration and upgrade, the inner courtyards of the East and West Blocks will be enclosed and fitted with temporary chambers for the Senate and House of Commons.

In 2007, the government approved an updated Long-Term Vision and Plan to be carried out through a series of five-year programs. Each program includes primary projects to rehabilitate key heritage buildings, urgent building repairs to ensure the ongoing viability of buildings and to address health and safety issues, and planning activities to develop the next five-year program. The first priority as outlined in the Long-Term Vision and Plan is to renovate the core historic Parliament buildings-the triad of the West Block, Centre Block, and East Block. The Centre Block cannot be renovated while occupied, its occupants will be relocated and use the East and West Blocks as interim space. However, these buildings also need rehabilitation work, which will have to be done first. Before this work can take place, however, the functions displaced from the East and West blocks need to be relocated in interim or new accommodation.

Timeline

In 1988, the East Block 1910 Wing restoration begins. It was completed in 1997.

In 1992, the West Block project receives preliminary approval. The project receives final approval in 1997, is postponed in 1998, and receives revised preliminary approval in 2005.

In 1993, the Peace Tower masonry repair begins. It was completed in 1997.

In 1995, the Centre Block South façade restoration begins. It was completed in 1998.

In 1997, the construction of Centre Block Underground Services rehabilitation begins. It was completed in 1998.

In 2001, the preliminary approval of new construction, the Bank Street Building, was granted. The Bank Street Building construction was cancelled in 2005.

In 2002, the Library of Parliament rehabilitation begins. It was completed in 2006.

In 2005, projects to provide swing space or relocate functions for West and East blocks begin. These projects are ongoing as of 2015.

Centre Block

Planning for the major rehabilitation of Centre Block is currently underway. The building will have to be emptied prior to initiating the rehabilitation. Until the major rehabilitation begins, ongoing maintenance and repair work is being carried out.

The Centre Block is scheduled to close in 2018.

East Block

The exterior rehabilitation work underway on the East Block aims to preserve the building's distinctive characteristics. Planning and building investigation work is underway and will include an upgrade to the masonry work on the 1867 Wing of the building. Rehabilitation work has also begun on the Northwest Tower, which will include structural and seismic reinforcement and the installation of a new copper roof.

The East Block is scheduled to re-open in 2022.

West Block

Both the interior and the exterior of the building will be rehabilitated, which will include the restoration of the masonry, modernization of life-safety systems and seismic upgrades. The rehabilitation will include construction of a permanent courtyard infill and the first phase of a visitor welcome centre. Public Works and Government Services Canada will enclose the courtyards of the East and West Blocks for use as temporary legislative chambers while the Centre Block is out of commission.

The West Block is scheduled to re-open in 2017.

Wellington Building

The Wellington Building, located at 180 Wellington Street is being renovated to extend its lifecycle by upgrading its infrastructure and safety systems. The complete renovation and modernization of the building will transform it from an administrative office space into parliamentary accommodations so that the East Block and the Centre Block can be emptied and fully restored. Once completed, it will house 69 parliamentary offices and 10 committee rooms. The work began in 2010 and focused on demolition, abatement and seismic reinforcement. In 2011, masonry, windows and roof work began, and work on the re-construction of the interior of the building to convert it to parliamentary accommodations is underway.

The Wellington Building is scheduled to re-open in 2016.

Sir John A. Macdonald Building

The building on the southwest corner of Wellington and O’Connor, known to most in Ottawa since it was built in 1930 as the Bank of Montreal building is expected to open 2016. The Beaux-Arts façade has been largely kept with a modern addition to its west at a cost of just under $100 million. It will house government ceremonial and committee rooms.