Video: The Vaux Wall on Parliament Hill: How we removed and protected it during construction

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[Music plays]

(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)

(Text on screen: This footage was recorded prior to the Government of Canada’s physical distancing guidelines. Canadians are encouraged to continue to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.)

[Shot of Jeff Meek, speaking wearing a white construction hat.]

(Text on screen: Jeff Meek, Centre Block Project Manager, Public Services and Procurement Canada.)

My name is Jeff Meek, I'm a Project Manager with Public Services and Procurement Canada on the Center Block Rehabilitation Project. 

[Shot of the front entrance of the Parliament building. Wooden braces are secured to the top of a wall near the entrance.]

[Wide angled shot of the Parliament building. The image zooms in and highlights the Vaux wall.]

[Shot of Visitor Welcome Centre and Centre Block with an animation of two arrows showing the Vaux wall emplacement.]

(Text on screen: Visitor Welcome Centre Phase One and Visitor Welcome Centre Phase Two: is a new modern underground facility that will link the West, Centre and East Blocks on Parliament Hill.)

So, the Vaux Wall is being removed in preparation for the major rehabilitation activities coming up namely the visitors Welcome Center Phase 2, which is going to be occurring in front of the Center Block of Parliament.

[Shot of David Edgar, speaking wearing a white construction hat.]

(Text on screen: David Edgar, Lead Conservation Officer, Public Services and Procurement Canada.)

The wall is complex because it's comprised of many components every individual stone which was made by hand

[Close-up shot of a stone with a chalk written number.]

[Shot of another stone with a chalk written number.]

[Shot of stone details.]

[Shot of David Edgar, speaking wearing a white construction hat.]

[Shot of a forklift and three workers gently lifting a large stone with straps.]

People think of stone and rock is being tough but the stone is actually quite delicate and there is some quite delicate carvings, delicate detailed geometric work and that work needs to be preserved.  So, the work is meticulous and slow and careful. 

[Close-up shot of the stone in straps being moved helped by workers.]

[Jeff Meek speaks.]

[Shot of another view of the stone in straps being moved helped by workers.]

[Close-up shot of a stone being identified by a paper label that is being attached by gloved hands.]

[Shot of two workers setting down a stone on a wooden palette.]

[Shot of a worker placing a small stone in a steel meshed box.]

[Shot of several steel meshed boxes filled with stones.]

The Vaux Wall is disassembled by our specialist team with our contractor, it is tagged documented in place, removed and protected and then placed in storage for the duration of the program where it will stay until we reassemble it in the final phases of the Centre Block. 

[Shot of Jeff Meek, speaking wearing a white construction hat.]

[Close-up shot of the front of the West Block.]

[Close-up shot of the Parliament tower.]

[Shot of Jeff Meek, speaking wearing a white construction hat.]

[Pan shot of several workers outside the front of the Parliament building entrance.]

I'm very proud to be working on the Centre Block job I actually participated in the West block rehabilitation program so, as a young professional being able to work on two Canadian Parliament Buildings in my career is phenomenal.  So, to work with our team and to deliver this for public services and for Canadians is something I'm very proud of.

[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)

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