July 1 to September 30, 2025: Quarterly progress report update 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 5
- 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
We’re making steady progress on building the new structure. This quarter, we reached a big milestone by starting to pour concrete for the lowest basement level. On the east side, we’re continuing to pour the foundation walls, columns and elevator pits.
Status: On track
Main excavation: Complete
Geo-exchange wells: Complete
Structural build: 10% complete
Centre Block: Interior
On levels 1 and 6, concrete slabs are being removed and rebuilt. On levels 2 to 5, temporary bracing continues to be installed to keep the building stable throughout this rebuild process.
Excavation in the east courtyard for the new basement levels started ahead of schedule this quarter. Excavation is now progressing in both courtyard areas.
Status: On track
Basement support posts: Complete
Structural rebuild: 20% complete
Basement excavation: Approximately 770 truckloads
Centre Block: Exterior
Stonemasons continue to work on the east and west façades. On the west side, work continues with the removal of the existing old copper.
The installation of the scaffolding in the centre courtyard has now been completed, allowing for the building of additional temporary roof enclosures to begin. The scaffolding will support masonry repairs and the roof rebuild.
Status: On track
Overall masonry: About 22% complete
Overall roof removal: About 5% complete
Cost update
Spending to date on the Centre Block project is about $1.412 billion.
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 14, 2025
Text version of Dollars spent against dollars budgeted graph
| Spent to date | Budget | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre | $1,412,000,000 | $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: Approved cost, scope and schedule
2022
Spring
- Completed: Finalized schematic design
Summer
- Completed: Obtained federal land use approval of schematic design
- Completed: Began installing structural support to excavate the basement
Fall
- Completed: Began conserving heritage assets
- Completed: Began detailed excavation for the Parliament Welcome Centre (PWC)
- Completed: Completed masonry repairs on the north wall façade
2023
Winter
- Completed: Began drilling geo-exchange wells for the PWC
- Completed: Began installing temporary posts to support the basement excavation
- Completed: Began scaffolding work on the east façade
- Completed: Completed main excavation for the PWC
Spring
- Completed: Began repairing masonry on the east façade
- Completed: Began removing and replacing the structural floor slab on level 1
- Completed: Installed decorative tarps on the east façade
- Completed: Obtained federal land use approval of the landscape design
Summer
- Completed: Began restoring the 22 carillon bells and keyboard that were transported to the Netherlands
- Completed: Began scaffolding work on the west façade
- Completed: Completed the drilling of geo-exchange wells south of the PWC (accounts for about 45% of the wells)
- Completed: Completed the demolition and abatement of the Senate Chamber and dining room
- Completed: Excavated for the future connection to phase 1 of the Visitor Welcome Centre
Fall
- Completed: Began excavation for the northeast section of the PWC
- Completed: Began repairing the masonry on the west façade
- Completed: Installed decorative tarps on the west façade
- Completed: Substantially completed the demolition and abatement
- Completed: Started the contracting process for elevators and escalators for both buildings
- Completed: Completed 50% of the design development for the landscape
- Completed: Restored 50% of the stained glass windows
2024
Spring
- Completed: Started the contracting process for the Centre Block’s replica windows
- Completed: Completed 20% of the 100% target of temporary concrete shear walls to support the Centre Block during excavation work
- Completed: Completed 20% of the 25% target of the level 1 concrete slab rebuilding
- Completed: Started the contracting process for the new PWC’s structural build scope
Summer
- Completed: Completed west façade and west courtyard scaffolding, which will be used to support exterior work and the rebuilding of the sloped (mansard) roof
- Completed: Started structural work on levels 1 to 6 of the Centre Block
- Completed: Completed about 25% of the level 1 concrete slab rebuilding
Fall
- Completed: Completed construction documents for the Centre Block’s sloped (mansard) roof
- Completed: Completed the remaining temporary concrete shear walls to support the Centre Block during excavation work
- Completed: Completed about 30% of the 40% of the level 1 concrete slab rebuilding
- Completed: Started the structural build of the PWC
2025
Winter
- Completed: Completed 100% of the design development for the landscape
- Completed: Completed 95% of the targeted 100% of the drilling of support posts in the Centre Block basement
- Completed: Completed the restoration of the 22 carillon bells
- Completed: Completed about 33% of the targeted 50% of the level 1 concrete slab rebuild
- Completed: Started rebuilding the sloped (mansard) roof, starting on the west side
- Completed: Installed the second tower crane in the middle of the PWC excavation site
Spring
- Completed: Began excavating the Centre Block basement levels, starting in the west courtyard
- Completed: Completed scaffolding in the east courtyard, which will support exterior work and the rebuilding of the sloped (mansard) roof
- Completed: Started building scaffolding on the south façade
- In progress: Complete Centre Block and PWC design engagements and finalize decisions to complete the design development in fall 2025
- Completed: Started construction of a new underground duct bank across the front lawn to relocate and upgrade existing infrastructure for future Parliament Hill use (to avoid disruptions during busy summer periods, this work will be done in phases, starting from the west side)
- Completed: Installed the third tower crane on the east side of the PWC excavation site to support the ongoing construction
Summer
- Completed: Started restoring the fresco paintings for future reinstatement in the Leader of the Opposition’s office
- Completed: Began restoring heritage woodwork from the Pearson Special Heritage rooms
- Completed: Started restoring heritage marble flooring and wainscotting
- Completed: Finished removing the copper roof on the northwest side
- Completed: Demolished 3 of the planned 4 elevator penthouses in preparation for rebuild
- Completed: Began transferring the building’s weight onto structural posts to prepare for excavation, starting on the east side (originally planned for fall 2025)
- Completed: Completed approximately 50% of the basement footings and 25% of the basement level 3 (the lowest level) concrete slab of the PWC to improve construction sequencing
Fall
- In progress: Finalize design development for the Centre Block and PWC
- In progress: Complete approximately 50% of the basement level 3 concrete slab of the PWC
- In progress: Finish drilling 100% of the support posts in the Centre Block basement
- In progress: Substantially complete exterior masonry restoration on the west and east façades
- In progress: Begin construction of new concrete slabs on levels 5 and 6
- In progress: Remove about 15% of the roof in preparation for rebuilding
2026
Winter
- In progress: Complete 55% of the level 1 concrete slab rebuild
- In progress: Complete 75% of the erection of the south façade scaffolding
- In progress: Conclude construction of a new underground duct bank across the front lawn, with landscape reinstatement to follow in spring 2026
- In progress: Finish pouring the foundational footings for the PWC
Spring
- In progress: Strengthen the foundation of the Peace Tower structure
- In progress: Start installation of the steel frame around the Peace Tower to support exterior construction activities
- In progress: Commence the removal of the masonry in the west and east courtyards as part of the masonry restoration scope
2030 to 2031
- In progress: Complete main construction
Project spotlight
Each quarter, we highlight an element of work being done on the Centre Block project.
A towering transformation to begin in 2026
In 2026, the Peace Tower will look strikingly similar to photos from 1916, when the original tower was being built. A 100% Canadian steel frame will be erected around the 92-metre tower to enable the start of masonry repairs, window replacements and structural reinforcements. Drill rigs will be placed at the top of the Peace Tower to meticulously drill and install structural posts from the top to the bottom to strengthen the tower.
Tarping of the front façade will follow once the scaffolding is installed. Visitors to Parliament will continue to enjoy the Peace Tower flag, which will remain visible throughout construction.
Side-by-side images compare what the Peace Tower looked like in 1916 and what it’s expected to look like in 2026. On the left, a historic black-and-white postcard shows the original Centre Block after the 1916 fire, with the Peace Tower surrounded by heavy wooden scaffolding. On the right, a conceptual rendering shows the Peace Tower in 2026, enclosed in a tall steel frame, with cranes overhead to support major restoration work. The historic image is courtesy of Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.