Integrated Parliamentary Campus: The Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct—Annual Report 2018 to 2019
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Update to the Long Term Vision and Plan
The Long Term Vision and Plan (LTVP) is currently being updated in conjunction with the Parliamentary partners, leveraging the development of a Campus Master Plan. This plan shifts from a building-by-building approach towards a modernized integrated parliamentary campus, while continuing to restore the remaining buildings within the precinct. This update will take advantage of opportunities guided by a new urban context, and the redevelopment of the precinct properties south of Parliament Hill, between Sparks and Wellington Streets. The LTVP update will guide decision-making about future growth, development, rehabilitation, and infrastructure with the underlying objective of building an integrated parliamentary campus that acknowledges important connective infrastructure issues including, accessibility, sustainability, security, and the movement of people, goods and vehicles.
The Long Term Vision and Plan Strategic Directions
This set of 5 strategic directions provides a framework to guide the update to the LTVP. How these strategic directions will be realized in the updated LTVP will be developed in the next phase of work, phase 2. This next phase will be the result of the collaborative work of the project leadership team, a consulting team, the Parliamentary partners, and stakeholder working groups over the course of the coming months. This collective work will identify functional, flexible, integrated and creative approaches to realize the full potential of the precinct and its important role in the nation’s capital.
Objective: Sustaining the activities of the Parliament of Canada
The Parliamentary Precinct is the symbolic heart of Canada. It is central to the country’s history as a nation and is home to our federal parliamentary system including the institutions of the Senate, House of Commons, and Library of Parliament. It continues to be the place where Canadians gather for national celebrations and expressions of democracy. The Long Term Vision and Plan (LTVP) provides a long-term approach for rehabilitating the precinct’s heritage buildings, meeting Parliamentary accommodation requirements, and providing a secure and welcoming environment for parliamentarians, staff, and visitors.
Strategy: Evolve to a campus approach for a modern Parliament
The LTVP Update will consider all buildings and lands north of Wellington Street, as well as the three blocks south of Wellington (between Elgin Street, Bank Street and north of Sparks Street) as a single, inclusive campus to facilitate more effective planning, development and support efficient Parliamentary operations. This will include:
Parliamentary accommodations
Shifting the focus of new development opportunities for permanent accommodations from lands north of Wellington to Blocks 1, 2 and 3 while continuing the important rehabilitation work of existing assets north of Wellington Street. Changing threat levels.
Infrastructure planning
Implementing integrated systems within the Campus and consolidating functions for greater efficiency, including material handling, waste management, food services, support services, surface and underground movement systems, storm water management, etc.
Security
Integrating a comprehensive security plan for the campus, including the identification of security zones. Holistic physical security design requirements will be developed (with respect for institutional independence) for seam less protection, detection and response as well as addressing changing threat levels.
Innovation
Exploring proactive ways of integrating innovation in the way parliamentary functions and accommodations are provided and deployed in the precinct, including technological change and advances in how administrative space is used.
Future growth
Considering strategies for future growth beyond the timeframe of the LTVP Update, along with potential opportunities to protect Parliament and provide for future requirements that have yet to be defined.
Support
Leadership in environmental sustainability
The LTVP Update will incorporate a comprehensive campus wide sustainability strategy with measurable and achievable targets in support of Government programs and commitments. This will include: exploring opportunities to reduce Parliament’s ecological footprint through the use of clean energy sources, implementing more efficient and sustainable water and waste management, reviewing space standards and identifying transportation demand strategies.
Enriching the visitor experience
The LTVP Update will identify and incorporate new standards, guidelines and best practices regarding visitor experience to contribute to a world class capital city and provide a memorable visitor experience. This will include identifying designated universally accessible routes for the grounds and exploring opportunities for greater integration between Parliament Hill and surrounding areas, including support to the revitalization of Sparks Street and re-imagining Wellington Street to improve its aesthetic appeal and walkability.
Responsible stewardship
Looking to the future, the continued good stewardship of the Parliamentary Campus remains paramount. The LTVP will identify ways to achieve multiple objectives simultaneously and maximize Canadians’ investment in preserving our cultural heritage and protecting the dignity of Parliament.
Engaging Canadians
The future of the Parliamentary Precinct—the heart of our country’s democracy—must be envisioned with the hopes of all Canadians in mind. In support of the Government of Canada’s commitment to an open, transparent government, a public engagement strategy will be developed to support the LTVP Update to ensure that the precinct continues to be a welcoming and meaningful place that reflects the values and aspirations of all Canadians.
Blocks 1, 2 and 3
Expropriated by the Government of Canada in 1973, the buildings and lands situated within Blocks 1, 2, and 3 were initially acquired to enhance security on Parliament Hill, provide future accommodations for the needs of Parliament and the Government.
Developed at different times ranging from 1859 to 1968, the buildings within Blocks 1, 2, and 3 are generally in poor condition, and underutilized and in need of work. The blocks provide a unique opportunity to redevelop assets in order to accommodate Parliamentary users during the redevelopment of core buildings in advanced states of deterioration, such as the Confederation Building and the East Block. As part of a multi-decade strategy to modernize the precinct through rehabilitation work, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) identified the 3 blocks as unique development opportunities that would be central to the increasing parliamentary accommodations challenges.
Blocks 1, 2 and 3 boundaries
Image description of Blocks 1, 2 and 3 boundaries
Located immediately south of Parliament Hill, Blocks 1, 2 and 3 are comprised of 26 buildings and lands bounded by Wellington, Elgin, Sparks, and Bank Streets. From east to west, Block 1 is located between Metcalfe and Elgin Streets, Block 2 is located between Metcalfe and O'Connor Streets, and Block 3 is located between O'Connor and Bank Streets.
The Integrated Parliamentary Campus strategy
The 3 step strategy for transforming the precinct into a single integrated parliamentary campus includes:
- Restoring and modernizing aging assets along Sparks and Wellington Streets, including the transformation of 100 Wellington into a national space for Indigenous peoples
- Leveraging restored and new assets to create swing space to support the rehabilitation of core buildings such as the East Block, Confederation building, and the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council buildings
- Using the restored and new assets to consolidate accommodations of Parliament, its administration, and the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council
The path forward
Through upcoming projects, PSPC, Parliamentary partners, and stakeholders will continue to work collaboratively to identify functional, integrated, and creative approaches to realize the full potential of the precinct as a campus, and its key role in the nation’s capital. This will allow the LTVP to reflect evolving government and parliamentary priorities, while guiding decision-making for future growth, development, rehabilitation, and support infrastructure for an integrated parliamentary campus.
Moving forward, the next phase of work will include the Centre Block rehabilitation, redevelopment of the three city blocks across from Parliament Hill, (Sparks and Wellington Street), also known as Blocks 1,2,3, as well as other projects.
The redevelopment of Blocks 1, 2 and 3, is comprised of multiple inter-related projects that aim to restore and modernize aging and underutilized Crown assets. This addresses longer-term accommodations demands by providing swing space during the rehabilitation of the Confederation Building, East Block, and other assets such as the Office of the Prime Minister and the Privy Council. The strategy also supports the shift towards an integrated parliamentary campus by providing the opportunity to consolidate operations and enable the repatriation of leased parliamentary administration space into a modern campus that will meet and exceed standards in areas such as security, accessibility, and sustainability. The timing and sequencing of projects is designed to ensure sufficient space exists at all times to meet the requirements of Parliament and support the continuation of parliamentary operations.
Block 2 Design Competition
To support the campus objective, PSPC plans to launch an architectural design competition to redevelop the city block facing Parliament Hill bounded by Wellington, O'Connor, Sparks and Metcalfe Streets (Block 2), which consists of 11 buildings, many of which are in poor condition. PSPC has engaged the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada to oversee the design competition, including the nomination of an independent jury to select the winner. Leveraging a design competition will bolster innovative ideas and promote design excellence, all of which reflect the significance of the site. In fact, the original Parliament Buildings were the result of a design competition held in 1859. It will also enable PSPC to transform aging and underutilized Crown-buildings into a sustainable and integrated campus that meets the needs of a modern Parliament, while building a respectful complement to Parliament and Canada's capital.
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