About the Centre Block project
The Centre Block is closed for renovations. This is the largest, most complex heritage rehabilitation project ever seen in Canada and is one of the largest in the world. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) will use innovative approaches and technologies throughout the project. When the Centre Block reopens, it will be ready to meet the needs of a 21st-century Parliament for years to come.
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An essential investment for the future
PSPC is restoring and modernizing the Centre Block.
From the time the Centre Block opened in 1920, only minor repairs had been made to this iconic Canadian building. Short-term fixes were no longer a cost-effective option for preserving the building. It needed major repairs to bring it up to modern safety, environmental and accessibility standards and to make the building functional for parliamentarians. A 2010 Auditor General’s report predicted the Centre Block would experience "total failure" sometime between 2019 and 2025.
The Centre Block had outdated systems and suffered from crumbling mortar, damaged sculptures and stained glass, as well as aging water pipes. Earthquake proofing and security needed to be addressed, and the original electrical system could not safely handle the modern technology required to support the operations of Parliament.
Stone carvings damaged by water leaks (click to view enlarged image)
Ventilation systems, at the end of their useful life, need to be replaced (click to view enlarged image)
The Centre Block project is part of a group of other important reconstruction projects involving the triad (Centre Block, West Block and East Block).
Learn more about the Centre Block and its history.
The Centre Block: A Canadian icon
Cost and timeline
Read our progress report to learn about the budget, targeted completion date and the progress made so far.
A complex undertaking
The Centre Block project will include:
- restoring the building's stonework, wood, plaster, frescos, stained glass, marble and metalwork
- replacing mechanical, electrical and fire safety systems
- installing new information technology, multimedia and security systems
- upgrading committee rooms to provide additional space as well as modern technology for broadcasting and translation
- making the building more environmentally sustainable
- making the building more accessible for employees, parliamentarians and visitors
- building phase 2 of the Parliament Welcome Centre complex
- restoring the Peace Tower
- using base isolation technology to ensure that the Centre Block and the Peace Tower can meet the building code to withstand a magnitude 6.0 earthquake
Facts and figures about the Centre Block project
See visual representations of some of the work we’re doing as part of this historic project.
Format available for download: Centre Block rehabilitation project: Demolition, abatement, excavation and heritage protection (PDF, 2.49MB)
An infographic about demolition, abatement, excavation and heritage protection at the Centre Block
Image description
A digital 3D drawing of the Centre Block with the following words surrounding it:
Centre Block rehabilitation project: Demolition, abatement, excavation and heritage protection
Heritage assets protection
Restoring and preserving over 20,000 heritage assets.
200,000 artifacts uncovered and preserved.
About 1,226 square metres of linen ceiling removed for restoration.
Over 170 heritage light fixtures, some weighing over 1,540 kilograms, removed for restoration, catalogued and stored.
50 high heritage rooms to be restored, containing unique and irreplaceable works of Canadian art:
- 15 frescoes
- 10 Pusterla murals
- 17 Crisp murals
- 8 war paintings
Over 1,600 windows to be replaced, and approximately 250 stained-glass windows to be restored.
500 devices monitoring vibration and associated impacts in order to protect the heritage fabric.
Site preparation
70,000 square metres to be rehabilitated.
About 46,600 pounds of copper to be removed so that the roof can be rehabilitated and restored.
20,000 square metres of masonry surface to be rehabilitated, which represents approximately 365,000 stones.
9,427 square metres of marble floor to be removed, which represents 35,000 marble tiles.
Over 20 million pounds of designated substances (such as asbestos) to be removed.
Over 8,000 stones from the Vaux Wall removed, catalogued and stored.
Approximately 40,000 truckloads of bedrock to be excavated in order to construct the new Parliament Welcome Centre.
Format available for download: Centre Block rehabilitation project: Economic and operating benefits (PDF, 1.88MB)
An infographic about economic and operating benefits of the Centre Block project.
Image description
A digital 3D drawing of the Centre Block with the following words surrounding it:
Centre Block rehabilitation project: Economic and operating benefits
Modernizing the Centre Block
Canada's Parliament to shift from one of the worst performing assets to a model for sustainability:
- Target net-zero greenhouse gas emissions
- Reduce energy consumption by 75%
- Reduce indoor water consumption by 50%
Protect built heritage and preserve health and safety by adding base isolation system to reduce earthquake force by 60% on building.
Parliament to operate more safely and efficiently through the installation of modern security and information technology systems.
Millions of visitors come to Parliament Hill every year; the new Parliament Welcome Centre will double the capacity for visitors to come inside the Centre Block.
Making Parliament universally accessible and inclusive:
- new central entry
- improved and simplified navigation
- wider corridors
- gender-neutral washrooms
- accessible path of travel to all public spaces
Creating jobs
Investing in Canada's Parliament has helped to create more than 4,000 jobs nationally, and will create over 70,000 in areas such as:
- engineering
- construction
- architecture and interior design
- masonry
- restoration
Over 500 companies from across Canada already working on the project.
400 workers on site daily, to increase to 1,500 at the project’s peak.
Initial internships with 50 students from 10 Canadian colleges and universities to date.
New Parliament Welcome Centre
New underground complex that connects the Centre Block with the East and West Blocks to support more secure and efficient parliamentary operations.
Add 32,600 square metres of space to address the needs of parliamentarians and to improve the visitor experience.
Temporary homes for Parliament
While the Centre Block undergoes restoration and modernization, the new Senate of Canada Building houses the Senate. Similarly, Parliament Hill’s West Block is now the interim home of the House of Commons Chamber.
Restoring and modernizing the Senate of Canada Building
Restoring and modernizing the West Block
Public programming continues
The Centre Block is closed to visitors and tourists during construction, however, the Canadian flag will continue to fly on the Peace Tower throughout the project. We’re working closely with partners and stakeholders to maintain activities, including the sound and light show and Canada Day celebrations.
Although the Centre Block is closed, you can take a virtual tour or book in-person guided tours of the Senate of Canada Building and the West Block, the interim location of the House of Commons Chamber.
Parliament: The virtual experience
Renovating the Centre Block
Learn about the iconic Centre Block and the project to restore and modernize it (click to see the video)
Related links
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