Ontario Construction News staff writer
The project to convert what was Ottawa’s main train station into the Senate of Canada Building has received international architectural accolades, calling it a “breath-taking restoration” effort.
Public Services and Procurement Canada, Diamond Schmitt Architects, and KWC Architects were recognized last Friday with a 2020 Civic Trust Award in Manchester, England, for their work on the Senate of Canada Building. The awards are the longest-running awards program for the built environment that recognize international projects demonstrating excellence in architecture, sustainability, inclusiveness and universal design.
“A breath-taking restoration project with highly refined new build intervention which knits the existing architecture with serious skill,” said the judges of the project.
The building was a finalist in two of the three categories: Civic Trust Award and Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design. In the latter category, it was the only project in North America to be recognized.
Then old train station now houses the Senate of Canada in a restored and modernized facility. Before its renewal, the building was in poor condition at the end of its usable life. Major building systems were all replaced, the exterior masonry was restored, the structure was reinforced and the interior was completely modernized to support a modern Parliament. Heritage elements such as the vaulted plaster ceiling, the brass windows and columns were all restored to their original glory.
Accessibility and sustainability were key priorities for this project. The restored and modernized Senate of Canada Building includes barrier-free access throughout and accessible elevators and washrooms. Original building materials were conserved wherever possible and more than 90 per cent of construction project waste was diverted from landfills.
To date, restoration and modernization projects in the Parliamentary Precinct have received 60 local, national and international awards recognizing excellence in such areas as architectural design, sustainability and heritage conservation.
“This project challenged us to redefine historic spaces in a contemporary way, introduce a new program in a heritage building and convey Canadian identity through contemporary interpretations of our national symbols and iconography. It is an honour to be recognized at an international level with a Civic Trust Award,” said Martin Davidson, Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects.
Quick facts:
A total of 56 successful international projects were selected for the 2020 Civic Trust Awards from 250 applications
- The Senate of Canada Building has received a total of 10 awards since its completion in 2018
- The restoration of the Senate of Canada Building created approximately 1,500 good jobs for construction workers, skilled tradespeople, engineers, architects and other suppliers.