Visitor Welcome Centre
Parliament Hill is one of Canada’s most important heritage sites and popular tourist attractions. To improve visitor experience and enhance security to this iconic site, a new Visitor Welcome Centre is being built.
The new building will be designed and built in two phases. Once completed, the project will link the West, Centre and East Block buildings.
On this page
Building a more welcoming experience
The Visitor Welcome Centre will be a modern four-level underground complex, designed to blend perfectly with the historical structures and natural surroundings of Parliament Hill.
In front of the main entrance, a plaza with trees and seating will offer a gathering and waiting area for visitors. From there, visitors will enter the buildings through a subtle, yet elegant, main entrance on the west side of Centre Block.
Inside, visitors will be greeted in a bright and open space that is sophisticated and engaging.
The 21st century screening facilities will help ensure the safety of visitors and those working on Parliament Hill.
The Visitor Welcome Centre will have:
- an arrival hall
- a security post
- scanning areas
- an information and ticketing desk
- an operations kiosk
- seating
- a gathering space
- washrooms
- coat storage
- a gift shop
Once screened, visitors will be able to discover the beauty and history of Canada’s Parliament buildings.
Construction of phase 1
The first phase of the Visitor Welcome Centre is being built at the same time as the West Block is undergoing rehabilitation. Both projects will be completed in time for the fall 2018 parliamentary session. The first phase of the centre will become the public entrance to the West Block.
Construction of phase 2
A second phase of the Visitor Welcome Centre is planned. This phase will expand the Centre to the east, thereby connecting the West, Centre and East Blocks.
Here is a snapshot of the Phase 1 construction:
- Scope: Build Phase 1 of the Visitor Welcome Centre
- Project status: Excavation for Phase 1 began in 2015. Construction began in 2016 and the centre will be ready to welcome its first visitors by the opening session of Parliament in the fall of 2018
- Approved budget: $129.9 million, excluding harmonized sales tax (HST). The overall budget is not limited to the construction work. The budget also includes items such as:
- planning, professional and consultant fees
- architectural design fees
- security measures
- fit-up of interior spaces
- furniture
- information technology equipment
- risks, escalation and contingencies
- Job opportunities: The overall project is estimated to help create or sustain approximately 600 jobs
- Design contract: Competitively awarded to IBI Group with Moriyama & Teshima Architects, of Ottawa, Ontario. (Consult the contract history: contract number EP758-122489/001/FE)
- Construction management services contract: Competitively awarded to PCL Constructors Canada Inc., of Ottawa, Ontario
Interesting facts
- The Visitor Welcome Centre is the first new building to be built on Parliament Hill in over 100 years
- To mark this special occasion, a cornerstone made from Queenston limestone was set at the western entrance of the Visitor Welcome Centre
- The stone weighs approximately 1,000kg and was inscribed by hand by stonemasons
- The inscription reads: “This stone was laid by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston Governor General of Canada”
The cornerstone video
Watch the cornerstone video to follow the sourcing and inscribing of the cornerstone.
Transcript of the cornerstone video
Video length: 0:38 seconds
Start of clip.
(Light instrumental music plays in the background.)
(Aerial view of Queenston, Ontario.)
(Top view of a saw cutting through a stone.)
(View of 3 men extracting the large stone from the quarry.)
(View of an excavator lifting the stone using chains.)
(Side view of a carver inscribing the stone. The inscription reads: “This stone was laid by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston Governor General of Canada.”)
(Close-up of a tool inscribing the letter “R”.)
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature is displayed.)
(Canada wordmark is displayed.)
End of clip.
A look inside the Visitor Welcome Centre
Have you heard of the Visitor Welcome Centre? Watch as 2 students invite you to take a closer look inside this site.
Visitor Welcome Centre video
Transcript of the Visitor Welcome Centre video
Start of clip.
(Light instrumental music plays in the background.)
(2 students stand in front of the West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.)
(Male student says)
You’ve heard of the West Block renovations.
(Female student asks)
But have you heard of the Visitor Welcome Centre?
(Female student says)
We asked Canada …
(Female student looks upward as 6 tweets appear on screen. She continues to say)
… and it seems like most of us don’t.
Text on screen: Nope, no idea!
Text on screen: What is that?
Text on screen: Say whaaaat?! Sounds interesting what is this place?
Text on screen (in French): No, I have not! What is it?
Text on screen: Nope!! What is it??
Text on screen: Sounds interesting, I’m intrigued! Tell me more!!
(Male student says)
So we’re here to show you.
(Male student looks towards the Visitor Welcome Centre construction site. An artist’s rendering of the completed front entrance is superimposed.)
(Aerial video of the Visitor Welcome Centre construction site.)
(Male student stands inside the Visitor Welcome Centre construction site. An artist’s rendering of the completed interior is superimposed.)
(Male student says)
The Visitor Welcome Centre will be the entrance to the West Block and the House of Commons Chamber.
(View from inside the Visitor Welcome Centre construction site. An artist’s rendering of the completed interior is superimposed.)
(Female student says)
It will house security and information for visitors to Parliament Hill.
(Female student stands below the Visitor Welcome Centre.)
(Female student says)
We invite you all to come visit this historic site once it becomes available to the public.
(View from inside the Visitor Welcome Centre construction site. An artist’s rendering of the completed interior is superimposed.)
(Artist’s rendering of the exterior of the Visitor Welcome Centre.)
Text on screen: Visitor Welcome Centre opening soon!
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature is displayed.)
(Canada wordmark is displayed.)
End of clip.