The complete rehabilitation of Centre Block and the Parliament Hill landscape is underway to restore and modernize this iconic building and site.
CENTRUS - a WSP-HOK joint venture - is leading the design of the expansion, conservation and rehabilitation of Centre Block.
Built nearly 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.
As defined in the Long-Term Vision and Plan for Ottawa’s Parliamentary Precinct, the Centre Block rehabilitation project emerged from two decades of planning. The vision is to modernize the physical setting, security and support infrastructure while honouring Centre Block’s heritage as the epicenter of Canadian democracy.
The design is reorganizing and renovating the entire 1922 Beaux Arts Parliament building, its iconic 302-foot-tall Peace Tower, and the adjacent grounds. This includes construction of a new underground Parliament Welcome Centre on Parliament Hill. The restoration is a complex blend of heritage conservation with appropriate and sensitive contemporary interventions such as new mechanical, electrical and security systems, as well as a comprehensive seismic upgrade strategy.
WSP is leading the joint venture partnership, branded as CENTRUS, and providing principal engineering and project management services. HOK, our partner in this JV 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.
