Library of Parliament in Ottawa

Consortium : Ogilvie and Hogg, Desnoyers Mercure et associés, Spencer R. Higgins and Lundholm Associates Client : Travaux Publics et Services Gouvernementaux Canada Year : 2008 Budget : 78 M$ Area : 5 126 square meters

Conservation, Rehabilitation and Modernization of the Library of Parliament

Awards and Honours

2009 - Quebec Order of Architects (OAQ) Award of Excellence

2008 - Winner of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Design Excellence Award

2008 - CAHP award of excellence, Restauration of Heritage building

The significant rehabilitation of this building allows this neo-Gothic library of the great Victorian era to maintain its role of protecting and sharing a valuable national collection of documents. Its modernization contributes to maintaining its vocation for the decades to come.

The Library of Parliament first opened its doors in 1876. It was subsequently modified in 1953 following a major fire. Its exceptional architectural quality and prominent place on Parliament Hill makes it Canada's best example of the neo-Gothic High Victorian Style.
The mandate awarded to DMA (in consortium) consisted of the conservation and rehabilitation of this remarkable building. The work included the replacement of the roof, the restoration of the windows, the stabilization of the load-bearing masonry walls, the renovation of the interior spaces, the replacement of the obsolete mechanical and electrical systems, and the conservation of the interior finishes.
To provide additional space for the books and the mechanical systems, it was necessary to excavate 13 metres in depth into the rock underneath the building and the building services were then distributed vertically concealed from view.
The preservation of the heritage character of the Library of Parliament inspired a conservation strategy for the design of the interventions that did not depend on the thoughtless imitation.
Photo credits : Gordon King, Roy Grogan
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