Page 8 - Centre Block Restoration And Modernization Project
P. 8
Senate Foyer Heritage Woodwork
our assessment program and start digging behind Centre, near Parliament Hill.
the walls, and actually establish the construction
site. It enabled us to take the building off the grid The Centre Block is closed to visitors and
and start that careful demolition work, as well as tourists during construction, but Parliament Hill
excavation for Phase II of the Parliament Welcome remains open. PSPC is working with its partners
Centre. The rehabilitation project really started with and stakeholders to provide alternative tourism
the move of parliament and as of today we have experiences.
up to 350 people working on this site each and
every day. So that gives you a sense of how much The early stages of construction are really hitting
momentum is going on in the program as we speak. stride now in two key areas, demolition and
Once construction activities ramp up to full capacity, abatement work, said Wright.
it is expected that approximately 1,500 workers will
be employed on this project.” “This involves taking the building, starting in lower-
heritage areas, down to its bones, and removing
The House of Commons has moved to a new all of the hazardous materials, carefully storing
chamber in the West Block while the Senate all of the heritage assets — essentially the skin
Chamber has moved to the Senate of Canada of the Centre Block — and carefully doing the
building, Ottawa’s old Government Conference heritage recording,” he explained. “We’ve also been
8 9
