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A PR IL 2018 | 51 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PUBLIC SERVICES AND PROCUREMENT CANADA Government Conference Centre LOCATION 2 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario OWNER/DEVELOPER Public Services and Procurement Canada ARCHITECTS (JV) Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. / KWC Architects Inc. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER PCL Constructors Canada Inc. HERITAGE ARCHITECT ERA Architects Inc. STRUCTURAL/ HERITAGE STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT John G. Cooke & Associates Ltd. MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Crossey Engineering Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DTAH TOTAL SIZE 17,900 square metres TOTAL COST $219 million "Structural demolition and new structural drawings were submitted for construction, before areas of the structure could be fully inspected since PCL was still in the midst of removing architectural finishes. This type of con- struction model certainly forced us to be creative. Fortunately, the base building structure was in good condition, limit- ing the amount of intrusive solutions required for seismic upgrading. We also had access to the original structural steel drawings, which enabled us to run a robust seismic model." Attention to detail was also cru- cial to the success of the revitalization. "We determined a hierarchy of mate- rials so that as visitors approach the Senate portion of the facility, the level of detailing increases," says Davidson, adding that one example of detail was no less than 10 different varieties of maple leaf the design team had identi- fied for use as a decorative element. As for creating the east facade, Davidson says, "We used cues from existing Beaux-Arts buildings, paying special attention to the colonnade of columns and their spacing, the rhythm of depth and shadows, and expressing all of this in a modern way." Sylvain Lepage, director of the Government Conference Centre proj- ect at Public Services and Procurement Canada, was especially impressed with the innovative approaches and the quality of the results, "For the new east wall facade a pre-manufactured precast limestone panel, that took only two weeks to install, was used – and it looks stunning," he says. By the spring of 2017, brickwork had been repointed or replaced, brick infill and Indiana Limestone courses had been laid up to the second floor, and offices for senators and three committee rooms had been framed. Repairs to the plaster ceilings in the former concourse and general wait- ing room were almost finished, and heritage elements such as the salvaged marble chimney mantles and wood trim were being reinstated. Lepage reports that as of March of 2018, the bulk of the work had been completed. "We are proud of this collab- oration that has seen the Government Conference Centre transformed and modernized into an ideal temporary home for the Senate. Using innovative techniques and sustainable building initiatives we have ensured value for Canadians and the preservation of this landmark for future generations. We are very pleased with the outcome." A ® A Force to be Wrecking With! www.priestly.ca 1-800-263-2076 • Demolition • Excavation & Brownfield Remediation • Custom Concrete Crushing • Hazardous Material Abatement • Asset Recovery & Salvage • Emergency Response Service Services Proud Contractor for the Government Conference Centre

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