Rehabilitation of the West Block
Project Details
Scope: Complete rehabilitation of the building and the construction of a permanent courtyard infill
Project Status: Construction started in January 2011 and is estimated to be completed in 2017.
Approved project budget: $863 million in capital investment. Note *
Construction Management Services Contract: Awarded to PCL Constructors Canada Inc., of Ottawa, Ontario. Contract Number: EP758-113490
Architectural and Engineering services (design) Contract: Awarded in 1995 to the ARCOP Group/Fournier Gersovitz Moss Architects in Joint Venture.
Estimated Job Opportunities: The overall project is estimated to generate or sustain approximately 5000 private-sector jobs.
In order to ensure the preservation of this national heritage building, extensive exterior conservation and interior renovations are required.
The West Block project, undoubtedly the most complex endeavour to date, is advancing as planned, on time and on budget. Demolition and abatement are substantially complete, and masonry rehabilitation has begun.
The West Block was emptied in January 2011, and, as a result, some of the core parliamentary functions that were housed in the West Block have been temporarily moved to other buildings, while others have been permanently relocated off-site.
- Temporary relocations: offices and committee rooms were moved to the La Promenade Building, the Rideau Committee Rooms and the Government Conference Centre.
- Permanent relocations: the Food Production Facility was relocated off-site and the Confederation Room will be moved to the Sir John A. Macdonald Building once its rehabilitation is completed in 2015.
Project Status:
Completed work
- Southeast Tower
- North Towers
- Interior demolition and abatement
- Demolition and abatement are substantially complete and the demolition and removal of existing mechanical and electrical systems is complete.
- Masonry
- Masonry work on the West Block is well underway. The exterior north wall has been completed.
Ongoing work
Work is well underway on the West Block and the construction is on time to be completed in 2017, and is on budget.
Exterior work currently focuses on:
- Rehabilitation of the exterior walls masonry;
- Preliminary masonry investigations on the Mackenzie Tower;
- Rebuilding the Laurier Tower
- Replacement of windows and copper roofs; and
- Rehabilitation of the decorative ironwork.
Interior work currently focuses on:
- Mechanical, electrical and life safety systems upgrades;
- Structural and seismic upgrades;
- Interior renovation; and
- Construction of a courtyard infill.
Interior demolition and abatement work currently focuses on:
- Removal of non code-compliant structural elements and non-heritage architectural finishes and their replacement with new code-compliant systems and materials; and
- Infill repair and replacement of interior masonry walls and floor slabs.
Visitor Welcome Centre construction (Click here for more information)
Footnote
- Footnote *
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The overall budget is not limited to the construction work. The budget also includes various components such as planning, professional and consultant fees, architectural design fees, demolition work, abatement of hazardous materials, seismic upgrading, restoration of exterior masonry and roof, replacement of mechanical, IT and electrical systems, security, fit-up of interior spaces, furniture, IT equipment, risk, escalation and contingencies.
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