Parliamentary Precinct Redevelopment: Block 2 | Proposed

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

So was the ScotiaBank, the Four Corners and the American Embassy to some extent.

I would hope that all buildings but the Promenade be preserved. They could easily build a modern building over the American Embassy that takes up all of the voids in between, including Promenade. I hope to see hotel and/or residential space as part of this project, though I doubt that will happen.

I am also of this view, I hope they keep as many buildings as possible besides the Promenade. I am ok if a couple of smaller heritage buildings are torn down as long as they keep the facades.

[OTSkyline]

I like the Victoria Building, old Embassy and the two banks (Nova Scotia and CIBC) on Sparks. The rest can go...

I doubt they actually NEED to much space or huge template for a new space, that's a very big block.

I hope they end up doing 3 or 4 buildings out of it, not 1 large block building. And we all know this is not going to be tall so it would be a shape to raze this block down to build a 3-4 story ugly midrise

[J.OT13]

I see CD Howe with heritage façades. That way, I won't be disappointed when they come up with something moderately better.

[sseguin]

The Promenade building was renamed the Valour building a few years ago.

[J.OT13]

On the agenda for the October 6th Board Meeting.

"Capital Interests for
Block 2 Site Redevelopment
(Design Competition)"

https://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.com/d...-WEB.pdf?mtime=20200930142312&focal=none

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by sseguin

The Promenade building was renamed the Valour building a few years ago.

It was also completely rebuilt on the inside, so there is no business case for demolition at all.

[J.OT13]

• Video Link

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlem...timedia-video/conception-design-eng.html
https://www.constructioncanada.net/desig...ock-2-in-ottawas-parliamentary-precinct/

[rocketphish]

Feds inch forward with major redevelopment of Parliamentary Precinct block

By: OBJ staff
Published: May 21, 2021 4:17pm EDT



Several organizations with a major Ottawa presence are among the firms that have qualified for a design competition aimed at restoring and modernizing a prominent collection of historic government buildings in the Parliamentary Precinct.

Public Services and Procurement Canada said Friday the block facing Parliament Hill bounded by Wellington, Sparks, Metcalfe and O’Connor streets ​– known as “Block 2” ​– will be redeveloped into an “innovative complex that will meet the needs of a modern Parliament.”

The area includes 11 buildings covering nearly 110,000 square feet – several of which are designated heritage buildings – as well as two parcels of vacant land. The feds say the redesigned buildings will provide space for the Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament and will also include renovated retail space on the Sparks Street Mall.

Two of the 11 buildings on the block will be dedicated to an Indigenous people’s space and are not part of the design competition.
In a news release, PSPC said the redevelopment plan will feature “a combination of new build components, restoration and refit while preserving the heritage character of the historic streets.”

The 12 firms who qualified for the competition were chosen from a bidding process that closed in March. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada will oversee the competition, which is taking place in two phases.

Each firm’s design concept will be assessed by a jury of design professionals, academics, parliamentary representatives and others who will whittle the bidders down to a shortlist of six finalists.

The shortlisted firms will then be asked to submit a more detailed design plan in the fall, with prizes for the top three finishers.

The following firms have qualified for the competition:

• Architecture49 (Ottawa) in a joint venture with Foster + Partners (London) in association with DFS Inc. Architecture & Design (Montreal)
• BDP Quadrangle (Toronto) in joint venture with Herzog & de Meuron (Basel, Switzerland)
• Diamond Schmitt Architects (Toronto) in joint venture with Bjarke Ingels Group (New York), KWC Architects (Ottawa) and ERA Architects (Toronto)
• Grimshaw Architects (New York) in association with Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker (Montreal)
• Hassell (Melbourne) in association with Partisans (Toronto)
• Hopkins Architects (London) in association with CORE Architects (Toronto)
• KPMB Architects (Toronto)
• NEUF Architects (Ottawa) in joint venture with Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Paris)
• Provencher_Roy + Associés Architectes (Montreal)
• Watson MacEwen Teramura Architects (Ottawa) in joint venture with Behnisch Architekten (Boston)
• WilkinsonEyre (London) in association with IDEA Inc. (Ottawa)
• Zeidler Architecture (Toronto) in association with David Chipperfield Architects (London)

https://www.obj.ca/article/real-estate/n...jor-redevelopment-parliamentary-precinct

[Harley613]

Damn...Ottawa is getting the attention of some major players here. Collaborations with Foster and Renzo Piano...that's unreal. I held my breath until I confirmed that Roderick Lazy Architecture was absent from the list.

[DarthVader_1961]

Are some of these buildings to be demolished in place of...

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961

Are some of these buildings to be demolished in place of...

I think it's safe to say that nothing heritage will be 'demolished' but we'll see some kind of unique conglomeration of modern, heritage, and heritage facadism in one massive unified development.

[bartlebooth]

We almost never see big international architecture firms involved in Ottawa projects. Last one I can think of was Maki's Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat and that was almost 15 years ago. Hoping for something great.

[ottsanta]

Block 2 competition finalists announced
Canadian Architect
Dec 7, 2021
https://www.canadianarchitect.com/block-2-competition-finalists-announced/


PWGSC has announced six shortlisted teams for the Block 2 international design competition, to redesign the urban block facing Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The six finalists were selected from a long-list of 12 competitors who prepared initial design concepts, which were evaluated by a team of technical advisors, as well as by a jury that met in Ottawa earlier this fall.

The following teams will advance to stage 2 of the competition:

Diamond Schmitt Architects (Toronto, Canada) in joint venture with Bjarke Ingels Group (New York, United States), KWC Architects (Ottawa, Canada) and ERA Architects (Toronto, Canada)
NEUF Architects (Ottawa, Canada) in joint venture with Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Paris, France)
Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes Inc. (Montréal, Canada)
Watson MacEwen Teramura Architects (Ottawa, Canada) in joint venture with Behnisch Architekten (Boston, United States)
Wilkinson Eyre (London, United Kingdom) in association with IDEA Inc. (Ottawa, Canada)
Zeidler Architecture Inc. (Toronto, Canada) in association with David Chipperfield Architects (London, United Kingdom)

[UrbOttawa]

Interesting that Foster + Partners didn't make the cut. Hopefully they release the concepts!

[Kitchissippi]

Ottawa is going to overdose on Diamond Schmitt

[UrbOttawa]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Ottawa is going to overdose on Diamond Schmitt

I suspect the overall design concept for that team will be largely by Bjarke Ingels Group not diamond schmitt

[bartlebooth]

Originally Posted by UrbOttawa

I suspect the overall design concept for that team will be largely by Bjarke Ingels Group not diamond schmitt

I believe that's right. Diamond Schmitt is likely a "local" partner that can help navigate the process of making buildings in Ontario. At least I hope they're not heavily involved in the overall design concept.

[postingaboutottawa]

Part of the project once it gets past the overall concept approval will be further consultations and detailing the buildings with "canadian" art and materials it makes sense to have a a Canadian firm like DS/KWC who have a solid record with the NAC and Senate Building interiors. I can't imagine a name brand international firm wanting to sign on without a local partner

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by bartlebooth

Probably one of the only times we'll see design input for a site in Ottawa from some of the most notable architecture practices in the world - https://www.canadianarchitect.com/block-...in-live-presentation-on-monday-april-11/

Looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.

If Block 2 doesn't have a thread it should.

[bartlebooth]

Probably one of the only times we'll see design input for a site in Ottawa from some of the most notable architecture practices in the world - https://www.canadianarchitect.com/block-...in-live-presentation-on-monday-april-11/

Looking forward to seeing what comes out of it.