Video: Centre Block construction update 2024

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[Music plays]

(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)

[Wide shot of the Centre Block with the Centennial Flame in the foreground.]

The Centre Block is undergoing a complete rehabilitation to restore and preserve it for future

generations.

[Shot of the Peace Tower clock and the Canada flag waving on top of it.]

[Shot of a worker in a protective suit and respirator chiseling at a column.]

[Shot of a crane lifting an object above a courtyard.]

[Shot of a construction site and workers operating machinery. There is a large orange tarp in the background.]

[Shot of two workers in protective gear putting wooden wedges under a column.]

[Shot of the Peace Tower from a roof.]

Public Services and Procurement Canada and its partners have made significant progress on this project. Let’s take a look at some of the work we did between April 2023 and March 2024.

[Animation of white, grey and green chevron.]

[Drone shot of the Peace Tower clock with workers working on it]

[Shot of the Hall of Honour inside the Centre Block. There are wooden crates lining the hallway.]

The rehabilitation of Centre Block involves three distinct phases as part of this project.

(Text on screen: Deconstruct)

[Screen divided into three shots: in the top portion, there are workers in protective suits using jackhammers; in the middle portion, there are excavators working in large pit; and in the bottom portion, there is long, empty hallway with brick walls.]

The first phase, known as ‘deconstruct’, refers to demolition, abatement and excavation. It includes stripping the building to its bare structural elements.

(Text on screen: Rebuild)

[Screen divided into three shots: in the top portion, there are workers pouring concrete; in the middle portion, there is a close of up of a worker drilling into concrete; and in the bottom portion, there is a worker using machinery in the basement.]

The second phase, called ‘rebuild’, includes the construction and upgrades to the general structure of the building ensuring it performs as intended.

(Text on screen: Fit out)

[Screen divided into three shots: in the top portion a worker doing restoration work on a fresco; in the middle portion, there is a worker in a protective suit working on a stained glass window; and in the bottom portion, there are workers in protective suits removing glue from the back of a rolled up mural.]

The final phase, referred to as ‘fit out’, celebrates the return of heritage elements to their rightful places.

[Animation of white, grey and green chevron.]

[Wide shot of a large pit with excavators in front of the Centre Block.]

[Shot of excavator digging through rock and snow.]

As part of the first phase, we are excavating to build Canada’s new Parliament Welcome Centre at the steps of Centre Block.

(Text on screen: Design concept)

[3D animation showing the concept for the exterior of the Parliament Welcome Centre. It shows images of people walking into the main entrance underneath the stairs leading up to the Centre Block.]

[3D animation showing the concept interior of the Parliament Welcome Centre. The image shows people standing inside a space with white tiles on the floor and large windows on the side.]

[3D animation showing the concept for an elevator in interior of the Parliament Welcome Centre.]

It will feature exhibit space, the first ever public café and other functions to support Parliament.

[Shot of excavator digging in rock in a large excavation site.]

[Shot from inside the excavated pit looking up towards a large rock wall.]

The main excavation to dig the 23-metre deep hole for the Parliament Welcome Centre was completed in the spring of 2023.

[Shot of large machine digging holes for a new geo-exchange system.]

[Shot of a worker operating the drill from a box.]

[Wide shot of workers in front of the large drill.]

[Shot of a worker using a large red tool in front of the drill. The worker bangs on one of the drill pieces.]

Meanwhile, in January 2023, we began drilling the wells needed to install a geo-exchange system that will provide efficient heating and cooling. So far, we have drilled approximately 80% of the 260 metre deep wells. The remainder will be completed by late 2024.

[Shot of a large drill being used in the Centre Block basement. There is dirt and steam coming out of the drill.]

[Shot of an excavated basement inside the Centre Block. There are doors with windows in the background. There are also large chunks of rock throughout the basement.]

Digging will also extend underneath the Centre Block in order to connect it with the Parliament Welcome Centre.

[Wide shot of a worker standing next a large machine to pour concrete while another worker pushes a wheelbarrow full of concrete.

[Shot of a worker using a large drill in the Centre Block basement]

[Close up shot of worker using drill. He is surrounded by wood barriers.]

[Shot of the yellow temporary posts in the basement of the Centre Block.]

[Shot of then yellow temporary posts in a hallway. There is a large, red sign that reads “Authorized Personnel Only”.]

[Close up shot of worker drilling into concrete behind a metal fence.]

But before we excavate, we need to ensure the Centre Block will remain stable during this work. As of March 2024, we installed nearly half of the 800 temporary posts needed to support the building while we excavate the rock beneath. We have also completed about 15% of the first floor concrete slab.

[Animation of white, grey and green chevron.]

[Shot of exterior stones on the Centre Block.]

[Close up of stones that have been removed and tagged.]

The 365-thousand stones on the exterior of the building are getting a much-needed facelift.

[Close up shot of worker with a respirator laser cleaning stones.]

[Shot of worker with a respirator laser cleaning stone.s]

With the north wall masonry repairs completed, the stonemasons are now actively working on the east and west façades.

[Animation of white, grey and green chevron.]

[Shot of workers on top of the Peace Tower with the Canada flag waving.]

In spring 2023, a team of specialists worked on the Peace Tower’s four pinnacles.

[Shot of a worker using ropes and harnesses around the clock of the Peace Tower.]

[Shot of workers doing repair work to the Peace Tower pinnacles. In the background, there are large buildings in downtown Ottawa.]

The pinnacles needed to be wrapped and secured until they are rehabilitated.

[Shot of worker standing on top of the Peace Tower. The Ottawa River and Supreme Court building are in the background.]

[Animation of white, grey and green chevron.]

[Shot of workers in protective suits standing on scaffolding and working on a column in front of a decorative wall.]

[Shot of bare brick walls inside a room with large boarded up windows. There is a ladder in the middle of the room.]

[Shot of workers in protective suits removing a large black block from in front of a decorative wall.]

[Shot of scaffolding inside the empty Senate Chamber.]

[Close up shot of worker in protective suits using a jackhammer.]

[Shot of scaffolding inside the empty Senate Chamber.]

Inside the building we have reached a significant milestone – the demolition and abatement phase was substantially completed in December 2023. Abatement is the process of removing hazardous material.

[Shot of two workers in protective suits using a jackhammer and collecting debris.]

Nearly 12 million kilograms, or 26 million pounds of hazardous materials were removed from the building.

[Animation of white, grey and green chevron.]

[Wide shot of the excavation site in front of the Centre Block.]

Looking forward, our focus is now on the Phase 2 rebuild, starting with structural upgrades of levels 1 to 6 and the roof in summer of 2024. 

[Close up shot of worker looking at a concrete floor in front a metal fence.]

[Close up shot of a worker examining rebar.]

[Shot from inside of the Centre Block looking down onto the roof, courtyards and Library of Parliament. The Ottawa River is in the background and partially covered with snow and ice.]

[Animation of white, grey and green chevron.]

[Shot of workers wearing masks and rubber gloves while performing restoration work on small stained glass elements.]

Heritage assets continue to be restored and preserved offsite to later be re-installed in the rehabilitated building.

[Close up shot of a piece of stained glass being cleaned.]

[Shot of a worker with pliers working on a piece of stained glass.]

[Shot of worker using a brush on stained glass.]

[Shot of worker taking a 3D scan inside a large bell. Lights flash during the scanning.]

[Shot of smaller bells that have been removed sitting on a wood platform.]

This includes the Peace Tower carillon bells, stained glass windows, frescoes and murals.

[Shot of worker in a protective suit taking a photo of a stained glass window.]

[Shot of worker restoring a fresco.]

[Shot of worker using a cotton swab to clean a mural offsite.]

[Close up shot of worker repairing the face of a sculpture.]

The building’s intricate carvings are also undergoing restoration work, including recreating fleur-de-lys pieces on the exterior of the building.

[Shot of worker working on the face of a sculpture inside a studio space.]

[Shot of a fleur-de-lys carved in white stone. There is another one in the background.]

[Close up shot of a brush applying silicone to a carving.]

[Shot of a worker creating a rubber mould of a carving by applying silicone.]

[Shot of worker removing rubber mould from carving.]

The Decorative Arts team is creating rubber moulds in order to recreate sculptural works.

[Shot of large stone arches and blocks inside the Centre Block.]

[Close up shot of uncarved blocks on the walls inside the Centre Block.]

The team is also designing new sculptural works for several uncarved stones found throughout the building.

[Shot of a crane lifting a large item in front of the Peace Tower.]

[Drone shot of the Peace Tower and excavation in front of the Centre Block.]

[Drone shot of the rear of the Centre Block and Library of Parliament.]

The major work being undertaken now will ensure the Centre Block will be more accessible, sustainable and ready to meet the needs of a 21st century Parliament for years to come.

[Shot of the Centre Block project website]

[Shot of the video gallery on the Centre Block project website]

To learn about some of this work in more detail, be sure to visit the photo and video galleries on the Centre Block Project website. 

(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PSPC_SPAC)

[Music stops]

(Text on screen: ISBN 978-0-660-71762-3, Catalogue P4-124/2024E-MP4)

(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)

(Canada Wordmark)

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