Senate of Canada Building

Ottawa, Ontario

2020 Ecclesiastical Insurance Cornerstone Award (Transformative Projects)

Originally Ottawa’s central train station and then a government conference centre, this downtown landmark has been transformed to house the interim Senate of Canada during Centre Block’s closure.

The ambitious project revitalized a neglected historic resource, not only to advance the long-term goals of the Parliamentary Precinct, but also to contribute to the life of the city core.

Reimagined, restored, and accessible to the public for the first time in 50 years, the building now boasts dramatic new spaces, upgraded infrastructure, and a noble palette of materials and finishes.

“The project achieved a balance between a highly complex functional program and the conservation needs of a significant building, going to great lengths to ensure the protection of the site’s heritage character.”
-Jury Comments

Key Players: Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects, Architects in Joint Venture (Architects); ERA Architects (Heritage Architects); Public Services and Procurement Canada (Owners); John G. Cooke & Associates (Structural Engineer); Crossey Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical Engineer); and PCL (Construction Management).