July 1 to September 30, 2024: 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 5
- 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 2
- Schedule is in line with the planned approved schedule with a rating of 7
Construction progress
Current construction activities for the Centre Block project.
Parliament Welcome Centre
In this period, we completed the drilling of all 92 geo-exchange wells. On the far west side of the excavation site, we are preparing to install cranes to deliver materials and equipment when we start to build the structure this fall.
Status: On track
Main excavation: Complete
Geo-exchange wells: Complete
Centre Block: Interior
We started the structural rebuild above level 1. We continue to make progress in rebuilding the level 1 concrete slab and drilling support posts in the basement.
Basement support posts: 76% complete
Centre Block: Exterior
Stonemasons continue to work on the east and west façades. Scaffolding in the west courtyard is complete, and we started building scaffolding in the east courtyard. We will use this scaffolding while we rebuild the roof.
Status: On track
Overall completion: About 18.5% complete
East façade: 39.5% complete
West façade: 26.5% complete
North façade: 100% complete
Cost update
Spending to date on the Centre Block project is about $975 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 September 15, 2024.
Text version of Dollars spent against dollars budgeted graph
| Spent to date | Budget | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre | $975,000,000 | $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.
Checkmark= Completed; Circle= 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
- Completed: Begin excavation for the northeast section of the PWC
- Completed: Begin repairing the masonry on the west façade
- Completed: Install decorative tarps on the west façade
- Completed: Substantially complete the demolition and abatement
- Completed: Start the contracting process for elevators and escalators for both buildings
- Completed: Complete the 50% design development for the landscape
- Completed: Restore 50% of the stained glass windows
2024
Winter
- Completed: Install 50% of the support posts to support the Centre Block during excavation work
- Completed: Complete the 50% design development for the Centre Block and the PWC
- Completed: Begin designing the temporary shoring that will support the structure while we rebuild levels 1 to 6
- Completed: Start the contracting process for the structural demolition and rebuild of levels 1 to 6 and the penthouses of the Centre Block
Spring
- Completed: Start the contracting process for the Centre Block’s replica windows
- In progress: Complete 20% of the 100% target of temporary concrete shear walls to support the Centre Block during excavation work
- In progress: Complete 20% of the 25% target of the level 1 concrete slab rebuilding
- Completed: Start the contracting process for the new Parliament Welcome Centre’s structural build scope
Summer
- Completed: Complete west façade and west courtyard scaffolding, which will be used to support exterior work and the rebuilding of the sloped (mansard) roof
- Completed: Start structural work on levels 1 to 6 of the Centre Block
- Completed: Complete about 25% of the level 1 concrete slab rebuilding
Fall
- In progress: Complete construction documents for the Centre Block’s sloped (mansard) roof
- In progress: Complete the remaining temporary concrete shear walls to support the Centre Block during excavation work
- In progress: Complete about 40% of the level 1 concrete slab rebuilding
- In progress: Start the structural build of the Parliament Welcome Centre
2025
Winter
- In progress: Complete the design development for the landscape
- In progress: Complete drilling of the support posts in the Centre Block basement
- Completed: Complete the restoration of the 22 carillon bells
- In progress: Complete about 50% of the level 1 concrete slab rebuilding
- In progress: Start rebuilding the sloped (mansard) roof, starting on the west side
Spring
- In progress: Begin excavating for the Centre Block basement levels
- In progress: Complete scaffolding in the east courtyard, which will be used to support exterior work and the rebuilding of the sloped (mansard) roof
- In progress: Start building scaffolding on the south façade
- In progress: Complete Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre design engagements and finalize decisions to complete the design development in fall 2025
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.
Garden concept for the landscape
The new landscape design for Parliament Hill will pay homage to past traditions as well as create new gardens with trees and plants that reflect the region’s flora. Vibrant plant species, resilient to changing environmental conditions, will be arranged to highlight the seasons and support local ecosystems.
The Perimeter Gardens will be an extension of the escarpment. They will focus on reconnecting visitors to Canada’s forests through the use of native plants and trees. The Edge Gardens will invoke the look of a pretty meadow, including the addition of trees to provide much-needed shade for visitors. The Greenswards will provide additional lawn and shade. To enhance the visitor experience, we will plant the Formal Gardens, which will have seasonal plants, such as tulips, from the Queen’s Gates to the Peace Tower, to welcome visitors.
Map of the gardens
Long description
A map of the Parliamentary Precinct indicating the locations of the various gardens. The Perimeter Gardens (1) surround the Library of Parliament and the Centre Block. A section of the Perimeter Gardens is also featured to the right of East Block. The Formal Gardens (2) flank either side of the Peace Tower and each side of the Queen’s Gate. The Edge Gardens (3) sit in front of the new Parliament Welcome Centre Entrance. These gardens also extend along the outer edge of the Great Lawn near the West and East Blocks, as well as along Wellington Street. The Greenswards (4) extend around the Library of Parliament and the Centre Block. The Greenswards are also featured near the back of the West Block, and near the East Block. A section of the Greenswards is featured along Wellington Street, behind sections of the Formal Gardens and Edge Gardens.
Conceptual photos of the gardens
Edge Gardens
Long description
A collage of 2 conceptual photos of the Edge Gardens. The top photo shows a woman with a stroller walking in front of various flowers, with the Parliamentary Precinct visible in the background. Trees can be seen on the edge. The bottom photo shows a different view of the Edge Gardens, with flowers in the foreground, and the precinct and a sprawling green lawn in the background.
Perimeter Gardens
Long description
A collage of 6 conceptual photos of the Perimeter Gardens. The photos show diverse people sitting and walking throughout the Perimeter Gardens, from different angles and throughout the seasons.
Formal Gardens
Long description
A collage of 2 conceptual photos of the Formal Gardens. The top photo shows a view of the entire south façade with red tulips at the base of the Peace Tower and along the top of the Vaux Wall. The bottom photo shows a zoomed-in view of red tulips from the top of the Vaux Wall and to the right of the Peace Tower entrance, with various people walking down the steps.
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