Rehabilitating the West Block

At a glance

In order to ensure the preservation of this national heritage building, extensive exterior conservation and interior renovations are required.

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: parliamentary offices and committee rooms were moved to The Valour Building (formerly La Promenade), 1 Wellington Building and Library and Archives Canada.
• Permanent relocations: the Confederation Room will be moved to the Sir John A. Macdonald Building once its rehabilitation is completed in 2015.

The West Block project, undoubtedly the most complex endeavor to date, is advancing as planned, is tracking on time to be completed in 2017, and on budget. Demolition and abatement are substantially complete, and exterior masonry rehabilitation is well underway.

Completed work

• Southeast Tower
• North Towers
• Demolition and abatement are substantially complete, including the removal of existing mechanical and electrical systems.
• Masonry and roof rehabilitation in the Courtyard and North Court areas are complete.

Current work

The following will enable the West Block and its adjacent Visitor Welcome Centre to be completed in 2017.

Exterior work currently focuses on:

• Rehabilitating the east and south facing exterior masonry walls and roofs;
• Rehabilitating the masonry of the Mackenzie Tower;
• Rehabilitation of the Laurier Tower;
• Replacing windows;
• Rehabilitating and re-installing the decorative ironwork, as roofs are completed; and
• Excavation activities in the Courtyard and North Court area.

Interior work currently focuses on:

• Rehabilitating the interior masonry, as well as, other significant structural and seismic upgrades; and
• Replacing the mechanical, electrical and life safety systems.

Visitor Welcome Centre construction