Parliament Hill Rehabilitation Project

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

According to this, they plan on eventually enclosing the East Block courtyard, eliminate the parking lots and build 3 new buildings on Parliament Hill.


http://www.csla-aapc.ca/awards-atlas/par...-capacity-and-long-term-development-plan

Of course, this might be another 150 years down the line.

I think the East Block enclosure may have been shelved after saner heads prevailed.

The judicial building was killed by Harper; not sure when it will be reinstated, if ever. Its purpose might be eventually taken over by West Memorial after its long-term "temporary" use by the SCC is over in a few decades.

Ditto the Justice-Confed infill; that will probably be deferred in favour of status quo, or more rented space on Sparks or Queen. (131 and I think 151 Queen already house a lot of administrative offices, and the old La Promenade is now Valour, housing MP's offices.)

[mykl]

Originally Posted by acottawa

As I said earlier, it is unclear to me why parliament has a different parking policy than the public service. Especially since the current gang in charge claims to be concerned about climate change.

I really don't think people vote for their national political party based on their platform of what they'll do with that darn parking lot, and how fast. If a new government's first order of business was to move parking spaces, there would be a riot.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by mykl

I really don't think people vote for their national political party based on their platform of what they'll do with that darn parking lot, and how fast. If a new government's first order of business was to move parking spaces, there would be a riot.

It sets an example. In this case the example Parliament is setting is to encourage driving and discourage transit.

[mykl]

Originally Posted by acottawa

It sets an example. In this case the example Parliament is setting is to encourage driving and discourage transit.

I'd say the $20B the feds earmarked for transit over the next 11 years speaks louder than a hidden parking lot.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Parliament staff. I used to park there in my previous life as a Hill staffer.

Is it also used by MPs or do they have their own private parking lot? If it's also used by them it could explain some of the reluctance to remove it.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Is it also used by MPs or do they have their own private parking lot? If it's also used by them it could explain some of the reluctance to remove it.

Senators at least have some reserved spots on the east side of the Hill.

AFAIK a lot of out-of-town MPs keep apartments downtown, so I'd hazard a guess that the ratio of MPs who drive to the Hill is probably much lower than that of their own, more Ottawa-centred, staff. I've also known a few of the guards in the past (now part of the PPS force), and given that they are a 24-hour operation, they account for a good number of those spots as well.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

AFAIK a lot of out-of-town MPs keep apartments downtown, so I'd hazard a guess that the ratio of MPs who drive to the Hill is probably much lower than that of their own, more Ottawa-centred, staff.

You expect the MPs to walk to Parliament Hill? Then again, why drive when you can take a taxi for door to door service and expense the cost to the tax payers (at least for those that don't get a car and driver to shuttle them around 24/7).

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

You expect the MPs to walk to Parliament Hill?

The careful observer will spot many MPs walking on downtown streets to and from their Ottawa pieds-à-terre.

[rocketphish]

.

[rocketphish]

NCC board pushes for decorative Centre Block cover during renovation
Board heard LeBreton land deal won't be done by end of the year, and Nepean Point design winner chosen

By Andrew Foote, CBC News
Posted: Nov 23, 2017 11:17 AM ET Last Updated: Nov 23, 2017 11:17 AM ET

The National Capital Commission Thursday morning voiced its support of an eye-pleasing treatment of Centre Block during its lengthy renovations.

The commission is responsible for approving and coordinating the extensive plans to rehabilitate the signature building on Parliament Hill.

The NCC's board of directors heard from Public Services and Procurement Canada's project director Jennifer Garrett that planning for the rehabilitation is still in its early stages, with the first steps to finish design work and do a thorough inspection once the building's employees have been moved to the West Block and former train station next to the Rideau Canal.

Several members of the board told Garrett they hoped that Centre Block would have some sort of decorative covering during construction to still make it a draw for tourists.

"This is probably one of the most photographed buildings in the country," said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, a non-voting member of the board.

"To have it simply wrapped around with a tarp and some scaffolding for 10 years is not acceptable … We want to make sure when the construction does start that it's wrapped with an image of the Parliament buildings so people can continue to take pictures."

Garrett said she'll have more to say about the government's plans in the spring, but they want the building to still look dignified during construction.

"While I can't tell you what our vision is because we're still working on that vision, what I can tell you is we can use site construction and opportunities like the hoarding and tarping to communicate the project in a way that's befitting the dignity of Parliament Hill and so that Canadians can fully engage in the visitor experience process," she said.

<snip>

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ncc-lebreton-parliament-nepean-point-1.4415583

[zzptichka]

10 years?

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

10 years?

?? this is a government project. 'nuff said...

P.S. I have detailed experience inside this project (IT contract few years ago), and the private sector voice inside me is quite confident this project could be completed for 1/3rd the cost in 1/2 the time.

[1overcosc]

It being Parliament, I imagine there are a lot of security concerns that typical construction doesn't have to deal with; vetting of contractors and subcontractors for national-security reasons, scrutinization of materials to ensure no eavesdropping devices are being brought in, etc. I know in a lot of the discussions about renovations to 24 Sussex it has been mentioned that work would be a lot more expensive than typical construction costs for these security reasons. When you add these constraints on top of the typical government project management... oh boy.

[MoreTrains]

As mentioned all workers, contractors and subs will need a security screening. But also, this is a full renovation with repointing of stone, new electrical, new networking, new plumbing, likely additional accessibility points. This is a massive scale reno, in an old stone building. The likely hood of them being allowed to just run conduit attached to the stone is nil, so conduit and plumbing will have to somehow be hidden, recessed and put behind walls.

The extent of the renovation is why the HoC and Senate could not remain.

[rocketphish]

Centennial Flame monument updated to include Nunavut, 18 years after territory created
Parliament Hill monument was built to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday in 1967

CBC News Posted: Dec 13, 2017 11:34 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 13, 2017 3:29 PM ET



It's taken almost two decades, but Nunavut finally has a spot on Parliament Hill's Centennial Flame monument.

The monument was built to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday in 1967, long before the creation of Nunavut some 32 years later.

For weeks, crews have been working to turn the dodecagon into a tridecagon to include Nunavut's imagery. The flame was extinguished during construction, but was reignited with help from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, Heritage Minister Melanie Joly and Nunavut Premier Paul Quassa.

The stone fountain, a popular photo stop for tourists, now includes imagery from the shields of the 10 provinces and three territories and their official flowers.

Nestled between Newfoundland and Labrador and the Northwest Territories, Nunavut's shield includes an inukshuk, meant to guide people, and an Inuit stone lamp known as a qulliq. It is said to represent the light and warmth of the community.

Its territorial flower is purple saxifrage.

Heritage Canada said the granite panels that the shields rest on are now smaller to accommodate Nunavut.
The patina on the original 12 shields were brightened to match the new Nunavut plaque, but the fresh green colour will eventually weather to a brownish hue.

Officials said the flame has been carbon neutral since September.

"It will continue to use conventional natural gas while an equivalent amount of renewable natural gas is added to the vendor's supply of natural gas, thereby eliminating the Centennial Flame's carbon footprint," said Heritage Canada in a statement.

The ceremony has been almost a year in the making. Officials with the Canadian Heritage Department, the lead on the project, informed the government of Nunavut on Dec. 22 last year about the plan.

The Senate, House of Commons and National Capital Commission were consulted, and Public Services and Procurement Canada was put in charge of getting the job done in Canada's sesquicentennial year.

The Centennial Flame was ignited late on Dec. 31, 1966, by then-prime minister Lester B. Pearson. The flame drew on a continuous stream of natural gas from Western Canada that bubbles through water cascading underneath. The flame helps keep the moving water ice-free in winter.

The monument was supposed to be dismantled after a year, but proved so popular it was left in its place at one end of the walkway on the parliamentary lawn leading north to the Peace Tower.



http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nunavut-centennial-flame-updated-1.4446258

[Norman Bates]

I’m not completely comfortable with ^^^that^^^

The centennial flame was from 1967. The political division that created Nunavut came after that. It’s sort of a back to the future thing. Nunavut celebrating the centennial when it didn’t exist.

Are they also going to redo the books of remembrance to specify those that gave their lives in the world wars from Nunavut?

[FutureWickedCity]

I noticed that a Nunavut plaque has also been placed belatedly in the Garden of the Provinces. Hopefully we don't have another new province/territory for a while or we'll have to get creative lol

[Kitchissippi]

A province separating would be a worse problem

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

I’m not completely comfortable with ^^^that^^^

The centennial flame was from 1967. The political division that created Nunavut came after that. It’s sort of a back to the future thing. Nunavut celebrating the centennial when it didn’t exist.

Are they also going to redo the books of remembrance to specify those that gave their lives in the world wars from Nunavut?

Not sure off hand if there were any, but if they were, they would already be in the books of remembrance, because Nunavut was already part of Canada.

[TMA-1]

Oddly enough the last time I was on skates was early 1967 on a frozen field. How time flies. Feels like 50 years ago :-)



CWC






D827365 ottawa parliament hill canada 150 hockey rink by Chuck Clark, on Flickr