Rehabilitation of the Supreme Court of Canada and the West Memorial Buildings
Context
From 2019 to 2023, the West Memorial Building (WMB) will undergo rehabilitation in order to meet the standards of the National Building Code of Canada.
Once rehabilitation is complete, the WMB will temporarily accommodate occupants of the Supreme Court of Canada Building (SCCB) from 2023 to 2028, as the SCCB undergoes its own rehabilitation.
Suggested responses
- The government takes the integrity and safety of its heritage buildings seriously
- Over $1 billion is being invested in the Supreme Court of Canada and the West Memorial Buildings’ rehabilitation
- This investment will also create jobs for the middle class by creating employment opportunities for Canadians in construction, manufacturing, and professional services
If pressed on current building conditions
- All measures to ensure the continuous delivery of operations in the Supreme Court of Canada Building are in place, including the monitoring of key building components and pursuing the urgent repair and maintenance.
Background
The West Memorial Building has been vacant since 2008 and requires major rehabilitation in order to meet the standards of the National Building Code of Canada. Work began in fall 2019 and will include upgrades to meet current building standards for sustainability, health and safety, and accessibility, while at the same time conserving its heritage character.
The selection of the West Memorial Building for rehabilitation makes sense as it will allow a vacant classified federal heritage building, within the downtown Ottawa area to return to the active federal real estate portfolio.
From 2019 to 2023, the West Memorial Building will undergo its rehabilitation. It will serve as an interim space for occupants of the SCCB from 2023 to 2028 The SCCB rehabilitation will take place from 2023-2028 once the occupants have moved into the WMB.
The contract award to EllisDon Corporation for construction management services was announced on October 26, 2018, and the contract to Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. for design and architectural services was announced on February 23, 2018, for the West Memorial Building rehabilitation project.
Demolition started in October around the site. The City of Ottawa construction permit is expected in December 2019, for construction to begin in January 2020.
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