Design concept selected for Block 2
On May 16, 2022, we announced the winner as well as the second- and third-place finalists of the architectural design competition for the city block across from Parliament Hill. See the design concepts and learn about the winner.
On this page
About the final stage of the design competition
On April 11, 2022, the 6 short-listed competitors submitted and presented their design concepts to the jury.
The jury evaluated all submissions and recommended the winner as well as the second- and third-place finalists.
Winner
On May 16, 2022, Team 8003, Zeidler Architecture Inc. (Toronto, Canada) in association with David Chipperfield Architects (London, United Kingdom), was named the winner of the architectural design competition for Block 2.
Government of Canada names winner in Block 2 design competition
The design from Zeidler Architecture Inc. in association with David Chipperfield Architects. (Click the image to view enlarged version.)
Description provided by the team:
“Our proposal weaves together old and new to create a rich tapestry of past, present, and future. In the spirit of responsible stewardship, existing structures are given fresh purpose. The value of this built heritage is unlocked by a new net-zero building and public spaces that represent a bold new architectural expression of Canadian identity.”
Video of the winning design
Watch this video to see a scale model of the winning team’s design.
Transcript of submission by Zeidler Architecture Inc. in association with David Chipperfield Architects
Start of video
[Music plays]
(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)
[Shot of a maquette in the background with text on screen.]
(Text on screen: Block 2. Architectural Design Competition. Submission by: Zeidler Architecture Inc. in association with David Chipperfield Architects)
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Two different close-up shots of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Arial pan shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side with Parliament Hill in the background.]
[Close-up shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side.]
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Music stops]
(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)
(Canada Wordmark)
End of video
Second-place finalist
Team 8001, NEUF Architects (Ottawa, Canada) in joint venture with Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Paris, France), is the second-place finalist in the architectural design competition for Block 2.
The design from NEUF Architects in joint venture with Renzo Piano Building Workshop. (Click the image to view enlarged version.)
Description provided by the team:
“Our proposal…for the redevelopment of Block 2 uses this specific binary urban condition as a starting point and driver for design decisions… The driving consideration for the Block 2 north elevation is ensuring the primacy and dignity of the future Indigenous Peoples’ Space… The volumes are crowned with a forest landscape as a signal, at the heart of the precinct, for a greener path forward.”
Video of the second-place design
Watch this video to see a scale model of the design.
Transcript of submission by NEUF Architects in joint venture with Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Start of video
[Music plays]
(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)
[Shot of a maquette in the background with text on screen.]
(Text on screen: Block 2. Architectural Design Competition. Submission by: NEUF Architects in joint venture with Renzo Piano Building Workshop)
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Two different close-up shots of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Arial pan shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side with Parliament Hill in the background.]
[Close-up shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side.]
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Music stops]
(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)
(Canada Wordmark)
End of video
Third-place finalist
Team 8005, Watson MacEwen Teramura Architects (Ottawa, Canada) in joint venture with Behnisch Architekten (Boston, United States), is the third-place finalist in the architectural design competition for Block 2.
The design from Watson MacEwen Teramura Architects in joint venture with Behnisch Architekten. (Click the image to view enlarged version.)
Description provided by the team:
“Our proposal for Block 2 holds that a building for transparent decision making should be equally democratic in its organization. Our design is not meant to be monumental. Rather, it offers diverse, egalitarian spaces – formal and informal, built and natural, large and small – for congregation, representation, and dialogue.”
Video of the third-place design
Watch this video to see a scale model of the design.
Transcript of submission by Watson MacEwen Teramura Architects in joint venture with Behnisch Architekten
Start of video
[Music plays]
(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)
[Shot of a maquette in the background with text on screen.]
(Text on screen: Block 2. Architectural Design Competition. Submission by: Watson MacEwen Teramura Architects in joint venture with Behnisch Architekten)
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Two different close-up shots of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Arial pan shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side with Parliament Hill in the background.]
[Close-up shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side.]
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Music stops]
(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)
(Canada Wordmark)
End of video
Other design concepts
The design concepts for the remaining short-listed teams are shown below. The teams are listed by the identification numbers used in the competition.
Team 8002
Diamond Schmitt Architects (Toronto, Canada) in joint venture with Bjarke Ingels Group (New York, United States), KWC Architects (Ottawa, Canada) and ERA Architects (Toronto, Canada)
The design from Diamond Schmitt Architects in joint venture with Bjarke Ingels Group, KWC Architects and ERA Architects. (Click the image to view enlarged version.)
Description provided by the team:
"Our proposal blends the dualities of its site. It creates a dignified urban frame on Wellington Street for Parliament Hill and the Parliamentary Precinct to the north, while it bounds Ottawa’s commercial core to the south and enriches the cosmopolitan atmosphere on Sparks Street."
Video of Team 8002’s design
Watch this video to see a scale model of Team 8002’s design.
Transcript of submission by Diamond Schmitt Architects in joint venture with Bjarke Ingels Group, KWC Architects and ERA Architects
Start of video
[Music plays]
(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)
[Shot of a maquette in the background with text on screen.]
(Text on screen: Block 2. Architectural Design Competition. Submission by: Diamond Schmitt Architects in joint venture with Bjarke Ingels Group, KWC Architects and ERA Architects)
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Two different close-up shots of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Arial pan shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side with Parliament Hill in the background.]
[Close-up shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side.]
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Music stops]
(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)
(Canada Wordmark)
End of video
Team 8004
Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes Inc. (Montréal, Canada)
The design from Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes Inc. (Click the image to view enlarged version.)
Description provided by the team:
"Our proposal for Block 2 seeks to instill a new national narrative rooted in this unique yet universal sense of interconnectedness, while integrating perennial Canadian values of openness, justice, and transparency. As a historic opportunity for symbolic reparation, our architectural vision for [Block2] is based on a will to restore, reconcile, and renew a shared belonging to Canada."
Video of Team 8004’s design
Watch this video to see a scale model of Team 8004’s design.
Transcript of submission by Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes Inc.
Start of video
[Music plays]
(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)
[Shot of a maquette in the background with text on screen.]
(Text on screen: Block 2. Architectural Design Competition. Submission by: Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes Inc.)
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Two different close-up shots of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Arial pan shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side with Parliament Hill in the background.]
[Close-up shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side.]
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Music stops]
(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)
(Canada Wordmark)
End of video
Team 8006
Wilkinson Eyre (London, United Kingdom) in association with IDEA Inc. (Ottawa, Canada)
Wilkinson Eyre in association with IDEA Inc. (Click the image to view enlarged version.)
Description provided by the team:
“Our proposal…presents a new identity embracing all the peoples of Canada through a series of buildings which do not employ the architectural motifs of empire. This new identity reflects the broad diversity of modern-day Canadians based on mutual respect, and a shared connection with nature, the seasons, Canada’s distinct regions and its unique landscapes.”
Video of Team 8006’s design
Watch this video to see a scale model of Team 8006’s design.
Transcript of submission by Wilkinson Eyre in association with IDEA Inc.
Start of video
[Music plays]
(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)
[Shot of a maquette in the background with text on screen.]
(Text on screen: Block 2. Architectural Design Competition. Submission by: Wilkinson Eyre in association with IDEA Inc.)
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Two different close-up shots of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Arial pan shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side with Parliament Hill in the background.]
[Close-up shot of the Block 2 maquette submission from the Sparks Street side.]
[Arial shot behind Parliament Hill showing Centre, East and West Block looking towards the Wellington Street side of the Block 2 maquette submission.]
[Music stops]
(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)
(Canada Wordmark)
End of video
More information
For more information or to watch a video of the competitors talking about their designs, please visit the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s page Renewal of Block 2: Virtual presentation.