April 1 to June 30, 2023: Quarterly progress report on the Centre Block project
We’re restoring and modernizing the Centre Block. We’re also designing and building the Parliament Welcome Centre. It's the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation ever seen in Canada. We estimate the cost to be between $4.5 billion and $5 billion. We aim to complete construction between 2030 and 2031. The Centre Block will reopen about 1 year later. This will allow Parliament to do testing and get the building ready for operations.
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Project health
The following graph provides an overview of the project health based on approved cost, scope and schedule, each ranging from 0 (low impact of affecting the project) to 10 (high impact of affecting the project), within the quarterly reporting period. The Long Term Vision and Plan annual reports provide an assessment of the overall project health.
Text version for project health graph
Project health is represented by 3 elements: scope, cost and schedule. Each element’s status ranges from 0 to 10, where:
- 0 to 4 represents the project progressing in line with the planned approved cost, scope and schedule within the reporting period
- 5 to 8 represents the project progressing but experiencing challenges that may impact the cost, scope and schedule within the reporting period
- 9 to 10 represents the project progressing but experiencing challenges that have a high likelihood of impacting the cost, scope and schedule within the reporting period
Current status:
- Overall, the project is progressing in line with the planned approved cost, scope and schedule with a rating of 4
- Scope is in line with the planned approved scope with a rating of 1
- Cost is in line with the planned approved cost at a rating of 1
- Schedule is in line with the planned approved schedule with a rating of 6
Construction progress
Current construction activities for the Centre Block project.
Parliament Welcome Centre
In spring 2020, we began excavating for the new Parliament Welcome Centre. In spring 2023, we completed the main excavation work.
Now that the main excavation work is complete, we are drilling geo exchange wells and making the underground connection to phase 1 of the Visitor Welcome Centre. We are installing a geo exchange system to heat and cool the new Parliament Welcome Centre. To date, we have drilled 23 of 92 wells needed to install the system. Each well is 260 metres deep.
In fall 2023, we will begin excavating the final section of the Parliament Welcome Centre. This final excavation site is located on the east side of the Centre Block.
Status: On track
Main excavation: Complete
Geo-exchange wells: About 25% complete
Demolition and abatement
Demolition and abatement activities inside the Centre Block are progressing well. The demolition and abatement of the House of Commons Chamber was completed in April, and that of the Senate Chamber will be completed over the summer. These activities only begin once heritage features are either carefully removed or protected in place. To date, about 10 million kilograms (22.5 million pounds) of hazardous materials have been removed.
Preparing the interior of the building
Status: On track
Completion: About 90% complete
Masonry conservation
We're restoring and repairing the masonry exterior of the Centre Block. Stonemasons have begun work on the east façade. In fall 2023, the work will start on the west façade.
Preparing the exterior of the building
Status: On track
Overall completion: About 10% complete
East façade: 6% complete
Cost update
Spending to date on the Centre Block project is at about $604 million.
The overall budget was established based on a cost report completed in 2021. The report was provided by an independent consultant who validated the method we used to establish cost for the construction.
Centre Block project due diligence report: Cost report
Dollars spent against dollars budgeted (in billions of dollars)
Financial data as of June 15, 2023.
Text version of Dollars spent against dollars budgeted graph
| Spent to date | Budget | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre |
$604,000,000 | $4,500,000,000 to $5,000,000,000 |
Note: Please refer to the Long Term Vision and Plan annual report for expenditures related to the overall project
The Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct: Annual reports
Key milestones
The following timeline illustrates the major milestones we are working on this year.
= Completed; = In progress
2021
Spring
- Completed: Approve cost, scope and schedule
2022
Spring
- Completed: Finalize schematic design
Summer
- Completed: Obtain federal land use approval of schematic design
- Completed: Begin installing structural support to excavate the basement
Fall
- Completed: Begin conserving heritage assets
- Completed: Begin detailed excavation for the Parliament Welcome Centre (PWC)
- Completed: Complete masonry repairs on the north wall façade
2023
Winter
- Completed: Begin drilling geo-exchange wells for the PWC
- Completed: Begin installing temporary posts to support the basement excavation
- Completed: Begin scaffolding work on the east façade
- Completed: Complete main excavation for the PWC
Spring
- Completed: Begin repairing masonry on the east façade
- Completed: Begin removing and replacing the structural floor slab on level 1
- Completed: Install decorative tarps on the east façade
- Completed: Obtain federal land use approval of the landscape design
Summer
- Completed: Begin restoring the 22 carillon bells and keyboard that were transported to the Netherlands
- Completed: Begin scaffolding work on the west façade
- Completed: Complete the drilling of geo-exchange wells south of the PWC (accounts for about 45% of the wells)
- Completed: Complete the demolition and abatement of the Senate Chamber and dining room
- Completed: Excavate for the future connection to phase 1 of the Visitor Welcome Centre
Fall
- In progress: Begin excavation for the northeast section of the PWC
- In progress: Begin repairing the masonry on the west façade
- In progress: Excavate for the future connection to phase 1 of the Visitor Welcome Centre
- In progress: Complete the demolition and abatement
2024
Winter
- In progress: Restore 50% of the stained glass windows
- In progress: Install 50% of the temporary posts to support the Centre Block during excavation work
2030 to 2031
- In progress: Complete main construction
Project spotlight
Each quarter, we highlight an element of work being done on the Centre Block or the Parliament Welcome Centre.
Geo-exchange system
The Centre Block will be transformed from one of our highest greenhouse gas emitting buildings to a carbon-neutral facility. To help us achieve our carbon neutral goal, we are installing a geo-exchange system. The system uses the earth as a sponge, removing the heat from the building in the summer to help keep it cool. The heat removed in the summer is stored in the ground. That heat is later pulled from the ground to heat the building in the winter.
The system exchanges energy with the earth by moving a liquid (water and biodegradable antifreeze) through pipes. In total, there will be more than 50,000 metres of pipe connecting the 92 wells to the heat pumps. The wells are 260 metres deep in the ground. Geo-exchange will make the Centre Block more energy efficient, and the future Parliament Welcome Centre will use less energy.
