Centre Block Rehabilitation Project

Once-in-a-Century Project to Renew Canada’s Most Iconic Building

Built a century ago after the original Parliament building was destroyed by fire, Centre Block houses the Senate of Canada, House of Commons, and Library of Parliament. It also includes the Memorial Chamber that commemorates Canadian citizens who gave their lives in military service. It’s one of the country’s most important heritage sites and a leading tourist destination.

Centre Block and selected sections of Parliament Hill are undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation to meet the contemporary and operational requirements of the Parliament of Canada. The rehabilitation is a complex blend of heritage conservation with appropriate and sensitive contemporary interventions, including upgrades to address its seismic integrity, physical security, accessibility, and sustainability, and the renewal of all base building systems, accommodations and building finishes.

The rehabilitation project will also include the construction of the new Parliament Welcome Centre (PWC), a multi-level underground structure that will be an expansion to Centre Block, offering a welcoming arrival to Parliament, providing a strong sense of place for visitors, and offering an alternative experience for those unable to take a guided tour of Centre Block.

WSP is leading the joint venture partnership, branded as CENTRUS, and providing engineering and design management services. HOK, our partner in this joint venture is leading all architectural and conservation efforts with strong support from associate architects Architecture49.

The CENTRUS team is located close to the site with the construction management team, our client and user representatives in an integrated project delivery office.

Innovative Solutions

Building Information Modelling (BIM) experts are providing cutting-edge tools to the design team to deliver this project creating a digital, 3D model of the Centre Block building. The BIM is built by layering information and images from multiple stages in the project with the aim of creating an immersive record to support design work. The design team can view this information through virtual-reality software allowing exploration of the various layers and areas of the building.

Structural engineers are developing a seismic upgrade design using base isolation to protect Centre Block from seismic events. This involves installing more than 500 base isolators below Centre Block and the Peace Tower.

Mechanical, Electrical and Connectivity engineers are designing a new service distribution and ventilation strategy that will minimize interventions and impact to the interior decorative program and meets modern requirements.

Seeing the Future More Clearly

All buildings are a product of their time; however, the very act of designing and building also implies a promise to the future. With this long-term perspective in mind, Future Ready® is embedded into the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project to support the CENTRUS team to see the future more clearly through research and understanding key trends relating to resources, climate, society and technology; design for it today by integrating future trends into design discipline work; and lead in innovation by positioning the project as a modern, sustainable design that is reflective of Canada as an open, accessible and diverse society.

Learn more about the Centre Block project on the Public Services and Procurement Canada website.
Read or watch the NCC Board of Director’s approval of the schematic design for Centre Block and Parliament Welcome Centre.