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West Memorial Building: Rehabilitation

Learn about the project to restore the West Memorial Building, a classified heritage building.

On this page

Project overview

Location

344 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
Locate the West Memorial Building on a map

Type of project

Rehabilitation

Lead department

Public Services and Procurement Canada

Prime Consultant

We awarded a contract for design and architectural services through a competitive procurement process to Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.

Construction Manager

We awarded EllisDon Corporation the construction management contract through a competitive procurement process.

Value

A budget of over $1 billion has been identified for the entire program of work, which also includes restoring and modernizing the Supreme Court of Canada Building.

Project status

Construction stage

Next steps

The construction stage will continue until 2026.

Project description

The program of work includes modernizing and conserving the West Memorial Building and the Supreme Court of Canada Building.

The West Memorial Building will host the occupants and visitors of the Supreme Court of Canada Building while we restore and modernize that building.

The West Memorial Building’s location, prominence and size make it a suitable selection for this role. The building has 20,000 square metres of useable space.

After the Supreme Court of Canada Building Rehabilitation project is complete, we will use the West Memorial Building as long-term office space for future federal government occupants.

The West Memorial Building was built between 1954 and 1958. The government built it to honour Canadians who served their country during the Second World War.

The building has been vacant since 2008 and has never undergone major repairs or renovations.

To make the building a secure, modern and functional workspace for the operations of the Supreme Court and Federal Courts, major construction work will address the following:

Construction

In April 2020, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) received the construction permit and began construction activities following strict COVID-19 safety measures. The construction stage will continue until 2026.

This project will modernize the West Memorial Building to meet current building codes and conserve important heritage characteristics.

Construction activities underway

We are carrying out the following work:

Refer to the photo gallery below for images of ongoing construction.

Interior fit-up and construction milestones to be completed

Photo gallery

View photos of the building before and during construction. You can also look at architectural renderings of what it will look like once complete.

Click on the image to view a larger version.

State of building in 2017

  • Enlarged image of the side view of the West Memorial Building from Bay Street.
  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building on the corner of Sparks Street and Bay Street.
  • Enlarged image of front view of the West Memorial Building, corner of Wellington Street and Bay Street (west side of the building).
  • Enlarged image of the 6th floor of the West Memorial Building before the start of the construction work.
  • Enlarged image of the Minister’s suite in the West Memorial Building before the start of the construction work.
  • Enlarged image of the deterioration in one of the staircases in the West Memorial Building.
  • Enlarged image of the hallway in the West Memorial Building leading to unfinished construction/deconstruction work.
  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building looking south.

Ongoing construction

  • Enlarged image of the pneumatic control building system that was used to heat and cool the West Memorial Building.
  • Enlarged image of the close-up of a decaying hand rail connection to the walls of the roof above the loading bay.
  • Enlarged image of the scaffolding and tarps allowing workers to be safe as well as protected from the elements as they work.
  • Enlarged image of worker wearing protective equipment removing lead paint on steel.
  • Enlarged image of the the old roofs were removed and are being replaced with new steel roofs.
  • Enlarged image of the installation of bars to reinforce concrete shear walls to reduce lateral sway and increase protection.
  • Enlarged image of the digging and removing contaminated soils will contribute to a cleaner and safer environment for the future tenants.
  • Enlarged image of the fire-rated plywood was installed to protect heritage marble on walls and floors.
  • Enlarged image of stone masons removing decayed mortar that can cause damage to the building by allowing water to seep in.

Future state 3D architectural renderings

  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building new site entrance.
  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building entrance vestibule.
  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building information desk.
  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building gallery.
  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building Grand Hall.
  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building Grand Hall wide angle.
  • Enlarged image of the Federal Court view from the back of the court room.
  • Enlarged image of the Federal Court view from the stand.
  • Enlarged image of the Supreme Court of Canada view from the back of the court room.
  • Enlarged image of the Supreme Court of Canada.
  • Enlarged image of the Supreme Court of Canada chamber.
  • Enlarged image of the West Memorial Building from Lyon Street.
  • Enlarged image of the Bird’s-eye view of West Memorial Building from Sparks Street.

Benefits to Canadians

This construction project is providing local and national economic benefits. It has created many jobs in the following industries:

Over the long term, the space will be used to consolidate government operations and reduce the amount of office space leased by the Government of Canada for its employees.

This project makes it possible to add new green measures to the heritage building. This aligns with the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

The design for the West Memorial Building project received a certificate of achievement for green design. The design was rated with 4 Green Globes in July 2020.

Project background

Memorial Colonnade

As part of a separate project, we are repairing, conserving and protecting the Memorial Colonnade, which links the East and West Memorial Buildings.

The main entryway to the West Memorial Building is adjacent to the Memorial Colonnade. As such, we need to finish the Memorial Colonnade project before occupants can move into the West Memorial Building.

The Memorial Colonnade project is at the construction phase. A construction schedule has been issued by the Construction Manager indicating a completion date of 2025.

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