This video documents the monumental renovation of Canada's Parliament Centre Block in Ottawa, a historic Gothic Revival building dating back to 1927. The project, the largest heritage rehabilitation in the country's history, addresses significant structural deterioration, a lack of modern security, and vulnerability to earthquakes. Key engineering feats include a massive 23-meter-deep excavation for a new underground Welcome Centre, the complex process of underpinning the entire building to add basement levels, and the novel installation of over 500 base isolators for seismic protection. The restoration also involves the meticulous, high-tech cleaning of 365,000 exterior stones with lasers and the preservation of over 20,000 interior heritage assets, from stained glass windows to sculptures. Scheduled for completion in 2031, the project aims to preserve the national icon while modernizing it for the next century of service.
Renovating a Landmark: The Monumental Upgrade of Canada's Parliament
00:04 Project Kick-off: On July 30, 2020, a massive construction project began to renovate the Parliament Centre Block in Ottawa, addressing the century-old building's significant deterioration.
03:00 Reasons for Renovation: The upgrade is necessary due to eroded concrete, water infiltration, rusting structural steel, and a lack of modern earthquake protection and security measures for the millions of annual visitors.
03:50 A $5 Billion Endeavor: The project is the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation in Canadian history, with a budget of $5 billion.
04:13 Massive Underground Excavation: A 23-meter-deep pit was created in front of the building between 2020 and 2023 using controlled blasting. This required 40,000 truckloads to remove the excavated material and will house a new Welcome Centre.
04:53 Building a Basement Underneath an Icon: In a major engineering challenge, workers are excavating underneath the existing Centre Block to add basement levels, requiring the entire building to be separated from its foundation and placed on temporary supports.
05:06 Advanced Seismic Protection: Over 500 base isolators will be installed between the building and its new foundation. These act as giant shock absorbers to protect the historic structure from earthquakes—a first-of-its-kind application for such a building.
06:16 High-Altitude Restoration: Specialists abseiled down the Peace Tower to secure its four pinnacles and install some of the 500 vibration monitors used across the site to prevent construction-related damage.
07:26 Laser-Precision Cleaning: The exterior's 365,000 stones are being cleaned using high-energy lasers that vaporize dirt and deposits without harming the original stonework.
07:40 Preserving National Treasures: Inside, the building has been stripped to its structural elements for a complete restoration of over 20,000 heritage assets, including 250 stained glass windows, hundreds of sculptures, and 50 unique rooms.
08:35 Parliament Relocated: While construction is underway, the House of Commons has temporarily moved to the West Block, and the Senate is operating from the Senate of Canada building.
08:50 Project Timeline: Construction is set to be completed in 2031, with the fully modernized Centre Block and new Welcome Centre expected to reopen in 2032.