Annexes—The Long Term Vision and Plan Annual Report 2015 to 2016
Wellington Building renovation
The Wellington Building was completed in 1927 as headquarters for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. An impressive example of Beaux-Arts design and a recognized heritage building, the Wellington Building is an important and substantial building within the Precinct with over 45,000 m² of space. The Government of Canada purchased the building in 1973.
Scope of work
The building is being completely renovated and rehabilitated for parliamentary accommodations, to include 10 committee rooms and 70 parliamentary office units. In addition, the work includes the removal of hazardous materials, upgrading of all building systems, restoration of masonry, windows and roof, seismic upgrading of the structure, and reconstruction of the interior of the building for flexible parliamentary uses.
Project schedule and status
- As of March 31, 2016, the project was substantially complete
- This project is scheduled for construction completion in 2016
Accomplishments in fiscal year 2015 to 2016
- The building envelope, landscaping work and the office fit up were completed
- The installation of building components and connectivity continued with the full delivery and installation of the office furniture
- The commissioning of building systems and the installation of information technology (IT) cabling, multimedia/network equipment and communication technology are underway
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2016 to 2017
- The building will be occupied and fully operational by fall 2016
Budget
- Project authority: $425.2 million
- Expenditure authority: $425.2 million
- Fiscal year 2015 to 2016 budget: $95.0 million
- Fiscal year 2015 to 2016 expenditures: $95.1 million
- Total expenditures to date: $394.0 million (as of March 31, 2016)
West Block rehabilitation
The design and construction of West Block began in 1859, officially opening in 1866 for government offices. Two additions were later made: the Mackenzie Wing and Tower in 1878 and the Laurier Tower and link in 1906. Major renovations to the interior and exterior of the building were done in 1965.
Scope of work
West Block will be used by the House of Commons during the rehabilitation of Centre Block. To accommodate these functions, West Block will be fully rehabilitated including structural restoration, seismic reinforcement, and upgrading of all building systems to current standards. The building will be used for parliamentary offices, meeting and committee rooms, and will include the construction of a new courtyard infill to be used as the interim House of Commons Chamber. The long term use of the West Block, following the return of the House of Commons Chamber to Centre Block, has been considered in the project's planning and design.
Project schedule and status
- As of March 31, 2016, this project was 72% complete and on schedule
- This project is scheduled for construction completion in 2017
Accomplishments in fiscal year 2015 to 2016
- Interior structural upgrades, including seismic, were completed while construction progressed on the north court structure
- The excavation for the interim House of Commons Chamber courtyard infill was completed and construction progressed on the infill structure
- Design and mock-ups were completed for the infill glass roof and rehabilitation work on the exterior masonry and existing roof advanced significantly
- Progress was also made on the installation of the mechanical and electrical systems
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2016 to 2017
- The construction of the courtyard infill and north court structures will be completed
- The installation of the glass roof will be underway
- Rehabilitative work on the existing roof and the exterior masonry will be completed and new and restored windows installed
- By March 31, 2017, this project is expected to be approximately 87% complete
Budget
- Project authority: $862.9 million
- Expenditure authority: $862.9 million
- Fiscal year 2015 to 2016 budget: $156.9 million
- Fiscal year 2015 to 2016 expenditures: $134.9 million
- Total expenditures to date: $477.2 million (as of March 31, 2016)
Visitor Welcome Centre—phase 1
The construction of a new Visitor Welcome Centre—phase 1 is part of the rehabilitation plans for Parliament Hill. It will be constructed mostly below-grade, and will be designed to be compatible with, but distinct from, the historical structures of Parliament Hill and to be sensitive to its natural surroundings.
Scope of work
The Visitor Welcome Centre—phase 1 will provide visitor welcome services, security screening services, shipping and receiving facilities for the West Block, and a utility pathway between adjacent buildings. The Visitor Welcome Centre—phase 1 is being constructed in parallel with the rehabilitation of West Block.
Project schedule and status
- As of March 31, 2016, this project was 54% complete and on schedule
- This project is scheduled for construction completion in 2017, in conjunction with West Block
Accomplishments in fiscal year 2015 to 2016
- Design and excavation were completed
- Construction of the concrete structure is underway
- Overall Project Approval increased from $109.9 to $129.9 million to address additional functional, infrastructure and emergency management requirements
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2016 to 2017
- The concrete structure will be completed summer of 2016
- The installation of the mechanical and electrical systems will commence
- By March 31, 2017, this project is expected to be approximately 82% complete
Budget
- Project authority: $129.9 million
- Expenditure authority: $129.9 million
- Fiscal year 2015 to 2016 budget: $14.7 million
- Fiscal year 2015 to 2016 expenditures: $14.7 million
- Total Expenditures to date: $34.3 million (as of March 31, 2016)
Senate interim accommodations (Government Conference Centre)
Originally built in the early 1900s as Ottawa's central train station, this grand Beaux-Arts building was purchased by the Government of Canada and converted to a government conference centre in the late 1960s. A classified heritage building located adjacent to the National War Memorial and alongside the historic Rideau Canal, the Government Conference Centre (GCC) has been the site of many significant national and international events.
Scope of work
The building, which has not had major work since the 1970s, will be fully rehabilitated to provide interim Senate accommodations while Centre Block undergoes its much needed rehabilitation beginning in 2018. During that period, the GCC will be home to the interim Senate Chamber, 21 parliamentary office units and three committee rooms. Work will include abatement of hazardous materials, seismic and exterior building upgrades, complete replacement of building systems, and the reconfiguration and renovation of the interior space for parliamentary functions.
Project schedule and status
- As of March 31, 2016, this project was 31% complete and ahead of schedule
- This project is scheduled for construction completion in 2018
Accomplishments in fiscal year 2015 to 2016
- Overall building design development was completed
- The majority of construction tender packages were awarded, including the major packages for both mechanical and electrical building systems
- Abatement and demolition work were completed and new structural installations are underway with new shearwall construction and structural steel installations
- Excavation of a new basement space in the Ticketing Block is nearing completion
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2016 to 2017
- All remaining design packages will be awarded and exterior heritage masonry rehabilitation will be completed
- Excavation and foundations will be completed for the east addition, including the new loading facility and the main entrance block (MEB) exterior stairwell
- Structural steel for the new Senate Chamber and Committee Rooms and the new concrete slabs and slab in-fills in the MEB will be completed
- Major heritage plaster rehabilitation will commence and the mechanical and electrical building systems installation will begin with a target of “permanent power on” and “mechanical and electrical major equipment testing” by fiscal year end
- By March 31, 2017, this project is expected to be approximately 48% complete
Budget
- Project authority: $273.3 million
- Expenditure authority: $223.6 million
- Fiscal year 2015 to 2016 budget: $36.5 million
- Fiscal year 2015 to 2016 expenditures: $36.8 million
- Total expenditures to date: $56.1 million (as of March 31, 2016)
Risk management
The delivery of a program as complex and multifaceted as the Long Term Vision and Plan (LTVP) requires rigorous risk management. This includes the Parliamentary Precinct Branch's (PPB) own processes, as well as the third party oversight by both government and private sector specialists. Key elements include:
Contracting: Public Services and Procurement Canada's (PSPC) Integrity Framework is intended to increase departmental due diligence in its dealings with third parties in order to reduce fraud against the Crown. Major construction work on Parliament Hill is contracted through a transparent, two-stage process to promote competition. All contractors on Parliament Hill must obtain a security clearance. At PSPC, the technical authority is clearly separate from the contracting authority. The independent fairness monitors review and report on major procurements and provide independent assurance to departmental management, client departments, government suppliers, Parliament, and Canadians that PSPC's large and complex procurement activities are conducted in a fair, open, and transparent manner. These reports are published on the PSPC website.
Audit regime: The Auditor General has audited PSPC on its work in the Precinct three times since the 1990s. The department retained a private firm in 2012 to assess the project management practices for the key Major Capital projects, including West Block and 180 Wellington. The audit observed sound project management systems, controls, outputs, and practices in all projects. A second firm was retained to conduct cost audits of amounts invoiced by construction managers; the West Block, Sir John A. Macdonald and Wellington projects received clean audit reports. In addition, internal audits are conducted on a regular and ongoing basis.
Cost, schedule and design quality management: Cost estimates, schedules and design quality management are developed by a prime consultant for each project, and are then reviewed, assessed, and challenged by internal and external experts. Estimates are also reviewed on a monthly basis by independent costing experts.
The National Project Management System (NPMS): As part of a comprehensive project management process, NPMS has ensured that projects continue to be delivered using an accountable and cost-effective methodology. The requirement to produce a ‘lessons learned' document at the end of each project provides staff with an understanding of the time, effort and costs associated with risk management. In addition, these reviews serve as reminders of the importance of adhering to applicable policies and dealing with issues in a timely manner.
The rehabilitation of the buildings within the Precinct is of a scale and complexity unrivalled in Canada. Given the extent of the interventions, PPB has used pilot projects on many buildings to obtain valuable information about building conditions and reduce the likelihood of time, scope, or budgetary risks for major projects. Early work on the West Block's North Towers provided invaluable insight into the extent and nature of the program required for the full West Block rehabilitation. PPB also partnered with the Universities of Calgary, Alberta and Manitoba to tap into their knowledge and facilities for leading-edge seismic testing of replica walls made of the same stone as the Parliament Buildings. This provided research and evidence for the large-scale structural reinforcement of heritage masonry walls.
Public Services and Procurement Canada's National Project Management System
The National Project Management System (NPMS) is Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)'s project management framework for real property projects and IT-enabled projects. The NPMS framework defines key principles and provides the directives, roadmaps, deliverables and tools needed to successfully deliver projects on scope, on time and on budget.