Key decisions: Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs—February 27, 2020

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The restoration and modernization of the Parliamentary Precinct is a recognized success guided by a Long Term Vision and Plan (LTVP) on which significant progress is being made. While completed projects have focussed mainly on individual institutions (such as, West Block for the House of Commons; Senate of Canada Building for the Senate), the current and forthcoming program work involves consensus amongst all partners. The continued success of the LTVP rests on creating a common forum for decision-making.

The following are the key decisions required within a 12-month timeframe for the Centre Block and phase 2 of the Visitor Welcome Centre. These critical path decisions are related to the use of Centre Block by parliamentarians and are required to continue advancing design work. Options on the decision points outlined below have been developed to support decision making. In addition, models incorporating the below options have been developed to illustrate how the different elements can fit together.

Table 1: Key decisions for the Centre Block

Topic

Decisions required

Timing

House of Commons Chamber

Whether to increase the size of the chamber to accommodate growth of members of parliament (MPs) over time and parliamentary requirements, or to modernize the chamber within its existing footprint and adjust the way the chamber functions. Related decisions are required on the size and configuration and functionality of the lobbies as well as the seating capacity in the gallery.

Winter/spring 2020

Courtyards

Whether to infill the courtyards to provide additional space for parliamentary functions (for example, parliamentary offices).

Winter/spring 2020

Committee / Caucus and multi-purpose rooms

Decision required on the number, size and location of these facilities that serve the House of Commons and Senate.

Winter/spring 2020

Parliamentary offices

Decision required on the overall number, location and standards for offices for both the House of Commons and the Senate.

Winter/spring 2020

Impacts to Base Building Design

Members requirements for areas/services that impact base building areas such as washrooms, showers, smudging space, doors, wayfinding and signage.

Winter/spring 2020

Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council

Decision required on where to locate space for the Office of the Prime Minister and the Privy Council.

Winter/spring 2020

Ceremonial Experience

Decision on functional requirements for areas of parliamentary tradition, ceremonial and historical significance:

  • Confederation Hall
  • Hall of Honour
  • Speaker’s Portrait Hall
  • Prime Minister Portrait Hall
  • Reading room
  • Railway Committee room
  • Commonwealth room
  • Memorial chamber
  • Ceremonial lounge
  • Press gallery hot room
  • Parliamentary dining room
  • public circulation

Summer 2020 to spring 2021

Members support services

Members requirements for support services such as:

  • postal/printing unit
  • health unit
  • source plus
  • social media venues/studio
  • coatrooms/lockers

Spring 2020

Other elements key to parliamentary operations

Decisions required on elements that will affect how the restored and modernized Centre Block will operate, including:

  • circulation
  • restaurant and food services support
  • family support
  • accessibility
  • press gallery and media support spaces

Spring 2020

Sustainability

Decision required on sustainability objectives/targets and initiatives.

Spring 2020

Members Shared Spaces

Member’s functional requirements for:

  • cafeteria
  • family room
  • quiet room
  • spouses lounge
  • Charles Lynch room
  • collaboration space

Fall 2020

Final schematic design

Endorsement of the final design.

Fall 2020

Table 2: Key decisions for the Visitor Welcome Centre

Topic

Decisions required

Timing

Core functionality

Decision required on the core functions of the Visitor Welcome Centre—whether its core function is only a secure entry point for the public and business visitors to the West, East and Centre Block, or whether it is also to provide visitor services and experience (for example, Library of Parliament’s Visitor Experience Program) or to also provide additional space for core parliamentary functions (for example, committee rooms).

Winter/spring 2020

Size

Decision required on the size of phase 2 of the Visitor Welcome Centre.

Winter/spring 2020

Entrance

As the secure entry point for the parliamentary triad for the public and business visitors, whether to have 1 main new point of entry or multiple new points of entry.

Winter/spring 2020

Security

Decision on security requirements.

Winter/spring 2020

The following are decisions required to determine how to manage the visual impact of the Centre Block and Visitor Welcome Centre projects.

Table 3: Key decisions for Parliament Hill

Topic

Decisions required

Timing

Interpretive panels on Centre Block construction site fencing

Decision required on the design and information of interpretive panels to be installed on the construction fencing.

Winter/spring 2020

Tarps

Decision required on whether to use traditional white tarping to cover the Centre Block faced or to use a printed tarp (trompe l’oeil) to replicate the Centre Block’s façade.

Fall 2020

There are also several key decision required to support the planning and delivery of future projects, namely those targeted at transforming the precinct into an integrated campus.

Table 4: Key decisions for campus development

Topic

Decisions required

Timing

Block 2

Decision required on whether and how parliamentarians will participate in the jury for the international design competition including the endorsement of the architectural and general jurors.

Winter/spring 2020

Long Term Vision and Plan update—Public Engagement

Decision on the public engagement strategy for the update of the Long Term Vision and Plan, including a nation-wide survey.

Spring 2020

Block 2

Decision required on the House of Commons and Senate requirements (for example, committee and multi-purpose rooms, and parliamentary offices) for the block 2 redevelopment.

Fall 2020

Long Term Vision and Plan update—Campus operations

Input required on key elements that will affect how the Parliamentary Precinct functions, including:

  • tunnel infrastructure: extent to which tunnels are planned and constructed to support the secure movement of people and goods
  • centralized material handling: whether to implement a centralized material handling facility
  • parking and circulation: the overall strategy for parking and traffic flow on Parliament Hill and throughout the precinct
  • sustainability: overall strategy for a campus approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and green the precinct
  • accessibility: overall strategy for a campus approach for enhanced accessibility, including the grounds
  • security: overall strategy for a campus approach to security, including layered approaches to perimeter security, and the use of technology

Fall 2020

East Block and Confederation Building

Decision required on the overall strategy for the order and phasing to allow for their restoration and modernization

Fall 2020

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