Over a decade of success: The Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct—Annual Report 2018 to 2019
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- Over a decade of success
- A history of success
- 1997: The Peace Tower
- 1998: Centre Block Underground Services
- 2006: Library of Parliament
- 2010: Valour Building (formerly La Promenade)
- 2010: Rideau Committee Rooms—1 Wellington
- 2015: Sir John A. Macdonald Building
- 2016: Wellington Building—180 Wellington
- 2017: Centennial Flame
- 2018: West Block
- 2018: Senate of Canada Building
- 2018: Visitor Welcome Centre Complex (phase 1)
Over a decade of success
For more than a decade, the Parliamentary Precinct’s Long Term Vision and Plan (LTVP) has focused on the rehabilitation of the Parliamentary Triad (West Block, Centre Block, and East Block), and the upgrade of numerous other assets, all of which faced serious deterioration.
During this time, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has planned and delivered a complex sequence of interdependent projects and moves throughout the precinct. This process was necessary in order to develop swing-space needed to vacate the Centre Block, and commence the largest heritage building rehabilitation project in Canadian history, all without interrupting Parliamentary operations.
Since 2006, PSPC has completed 27 key projects on time, on scope, and on budget. This includes five major projects completed since 2015: the Sir John A. Macdonald Building (2015), the Wellington Building (2016), the new Visitor Centre Phase 1 (2018) the Senate of Canada Building (2018, formerly the Government Conference Centre), and the West Block (2018).
Furthermore, PSPC leveraged the rehabilitation projects to position Canada as a leader in sustainability by reducing the precinct’s environmental footprint, while maintaining a balance between openness and security, and making an accessible and inclusive environment for parliamentarians, staff, and visitors.
A history of success
1997: The Peace Tower
The exterior masonry of the Peace Tower was restored to address deterioration.
Interesting fact - 1997: The Peace Tower
The first ever nationwide radio broadcast originated on Parliament Hill in 1927 in honour of the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation and the dedication of the Peace Tower and Carillon.
1998: Centre Block Underground Services
The Centre Block Underground Services (CBUS) construction was completed. This underground facility houses high-voltage electrical transformers and emergency power generators, advanced computers and communications facilities, storage space, and delivery reception facilities.
Interesting fact - 1998: Centre Block Underground Services
Eight tons of explosives were used during the excavation process of the CBUS construction, which was carried out 24 hours a day, from May to September 1997. Approximately 30,000 cubic meters (98,425 cubic feet) of rock was removed from the site.
2006: Library of Parliament
The full interior and exterior restoration of the Library of Parliament, a heritage building, was completed. This included the addition of a new below-grade space which provides additional functional areas for operational uses and storage.
Interesting facts - 2006: Library of Parliament
- The Library of Parliament started in the legislative libraries of Upper and Lower Canada in the 1790s
- These libraries were merged in 1841, the year the United Province of Canada was founded
- The Library of Parliament was the only part of the original Parliament Building to withstand the fire of 1916
2010: Valour Building (formerly La Promenade)
The Valour Building interior was fit-up to include 62 members’ offices for the interim relocation of Parliamentarians and space for three committee rooms.
Interesting fact - 2010: Valour Building (formerly La Promenade)
A plaque on the Valour Building honours 20 recipients of the Star of Military Valour, the highest decoration awarded during Canada’s 12-year mission in Afghanistan.
2010: Rideau Committee Rooms—1 Wellington
The construction of four new committee rooms to support the modernization of parliamentary operations were completed in the Rideau Committee Rooms at 1 Wellington. The addition of these rooms created much needed swing space which ultimately accelerated the completion of the West Block from 2022 to 2018.
Interesting fact - 2010: Rideau Committee Rooms—1 Wellington
- Built in 1992 to house the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
- Architect Michael Lundhom originally adapted an old railway tunnel running alongside the Fairmont Château Laurier to create the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
2015: Sir John A. Macdonald Building
The rehabilitation and modernization of the former Bank of Montreal Building required a full restoration. To do so, work included incorporating new heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, audio-visual systems, and other infrastructure, including the permanent relocation site of the West Block Confederation Room for parliamentary business and ceremonial functions.
Modern building support services were added including storage and loading areas, security, washrooms, and a multi-purpose room with translation and broadcasting capabilities to support parliamentary functions.
Interesting facts - 2015: Sir John A. Macdonald Building
- The Bank of Montreal completed the original building despite the Great Depression, providing jobs for hundreds of workers
- A green roof was constructed on top of the new annex to reduce the heat island effect of the building
2016: Wellington Building—180 Wellington
The rehabilitation of the Wellington Building included the construction of 70 members’ offices, 10 committee rooms, and a resource library. In addition to the restoration of the building's exterior, scope included a full restoration and modernization to the interior, which required new construction and rehabilitation. Other work included the replacement of mechanical and electrical systems, interior fit-up, and new furniture and information technology.
Interesting facts - 2016: Wellington Building—180 Wellington
- 180 Wellington was constructed in 1927 for the Metropolitan Insurance Company and substantially enlarged in 1959
- The building used to have a tennis court on the roof for employees of the Metropolitan Insurance Company
- Construction crews reused or recycled 97% of the non-contaminated waste at the site. This means approximately 21,800 metric tons of material was diverted from the landfill.
2017: Centennial Flame
Originally built as a temporary monument, the flame was lit for the first time on December 31, 1966, to open the celebrations of Canada’s 100th anniversary of Confederation.
Interesting fact - 2017: Centennial Flame
As part of the Canada 150 celebrations, the Centennial Flame monument was deconstructed and rebuilt with the addition of Nunavut’s coat of arms.
2018: West Block
The full rehabilitation of the West Block was completed, including the creation of modern offices and committee rooms for Parliamentarians, and the construction of a permanent courtyard infill to contain the House of Commons Chamber during the rehabilitation of Centre Block.
Interesting facts - 2018: West Block
- Almost half of the building’s 140,000 stones had to be removed, numbered, and reinstalled
- Laser technology was used to clean the stone by vaporizing the contaminants and providing a uniformly clean surface
2018: Senate of Canada Building
The construction of the Senate of Canada Building, the Senate’s temporary home during the rehabilitation of the Centre Block was completed. Originally Ottawa’s central train station, this building served until recently as the Government Conference Centre. The original train station’s spaces were restored and repurposed offering modern, efficient spaces for Senate use. The interim Senate Chamber is in what used to be the train station’s concourse.
Interesting facts - 2018: Senate of Canada Building
- There is a bee hive for pollinator bees located on the east side of the Senate of Canada, promoting bee health and sustainability
- The exterior of the building is composed of ashlar, finely dressed, Indiana limestone
- Marble from Vancouver Island was used to construct the new stairs connecting the mezzanine outside the Chamber gallery to the first floor
- The original marble in the Senate of Canada Building comes from Quebec
2018: Visitor Welcome Centre Complex (phase 1)
Phase 1 of the Visitor Welcome Centre Complex was completed. The Visitor Welcome Centre is the first new building on Parliament Hill, within the Parliamentary Triad, in more than 100 years. The facility improves the visitor experience to Parliament Hill, one of Canada’s most important heritage sites and most popular tourist attractions. The complex also enhances security to this iconic site, providing a new, fully accessible facility to greet visitors to Parliament Hill with an improved physical security systems as well as provides indoor access for material handling in support of parliamentary operations.
Interesting fact - 2018: Visitor Welcome Centre Complex (phase 1)
Over 30,000 cubic metres of rock was removed and the excavation reached a depth of 20 metres below street level.
Stone carvings discovered during West Block's rehabilitation
During the rehabilitation of the Sir John A. Macdonald building, workers uncovered a stone carving about 150 centimetres tall and 100 centimetres wide, with no indication of the artist or the origin.
The carving features the Bank of Montreal's coat of arms, supported by two Indigenous peoples. The bank's motto, Concordia Salus, meaning "prosperity through harmony," surrounds the emblem. A beaver, the symbol of hard-working Canadians, sits on top of the coat of arms. The carving has a painted bronze finish, with details in green, red, and gold.
An archival photograph revealed that a large stone tablet once sat on the building's 1872 outer façade. Although the poor quality of the picture cannot confirm it is the same stone carving as described above, there is a high probability that it is. The stone carving was removed by stonemasons and sent to the Canadian Museum of History for future research and study and for potential display at the museum or elsewhere.
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