Parliamentary Precinct Redevelopment: Block 2 | Proposed

[Uhuniau]

Note to mods: could well already be an appropriate existing discussion, but under some more obscure title. Merge or not as need be.

iPolitics:

More Parliamentary construction and demolition in the works — a surprise to MPs

The federal department responsible for billions of dollars in renovation and reconstruction of Parliament Hill’s aging buildings has launched a plan to raze old buildings across Ottawa’s Wellington St. directly in front of the Peace Tower to create yet more new spaces for MP offices and parliamentary committee rooms.

An advance procurement notice published on the Public Services and Procurement Canada site last week says the new construction and demolition works — on one of three city blocks whose properties were expropriated by the federal government nearly 50 years ago — are crucial for successful renovation of the Hill’s Centre Block and other buildings under repair in the Parliamentary precinct.

...


Full article

[rocketphish]

This one:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...200217&page=12

[DarthVader_1961]

Former U.S. embassy fails inside block 2 if I read that correctly

[J.OT13]

I trust that Waterloo Warrior will move this discussion to the original Parliament Hill Thread.

This was discussed in part in the General Rumor thread last week.

It's concerning that they seem to be discussing razing the entire block. We just gave away the old U.S. Embassy to the Indigenous community. An old bank was converted into archives space about a decade ago. The spectacular old CIBC building is on this block (recently closed). The Victoria Building is a excellent example of early 20th century office block.

The only structure that should be demolished, or at least heavily overhauled, is the 70s Promenades Building.

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

Feds are launching a design competition for architects for Block 2 across from Parliament hill

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citepa...esign-eng.html

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Great find. I can't even begin to imagine what could come out of the a design competition that includes 2 historic bank buildings, 5 heritage office buildings, a former embassy and a crappy 70s office tower with a couple empty lots in between.

My biggest fear is that most of these buildings might be demolished, with only the façades saved.



I hope to see the parking lot and plaza (former Rideau Club site) developed into new 3-4 storey buildings and the 70s block (Bank Street Promenades?) demolished and replaced with a residential or hotel tower.

[rocketphish]

Major overhaul in store for entire block facing Parliament
PSPC to launch design competition to revamp 'landmark location'

Ryan Patrick Jones · CBC News
Posted: Feb 03, 2020 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 3 hours ago



The federal government plans to redevelop an entire city block directly across from Parliament Hill as part of ongoing reconstruction efforts in the capital's parliamentary precinct.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) announced its intention to hold a design competition to choose a winning architect for the project in a notice posted on its website last week.

The redevelopment plan could see some of the 11 buildings currently on the site demolished and replaced by a new building or set of buildings. It marks the latest step in a series of expansive renovation and rehabilitation projects costing billions of dollars that aim to modernize Ottawa's aging parliamentary precinct.

"The goal of the competition is to provide a cohesive design solution and to redevelop the site into an efficient complex of buildings," the procurement notice says.

The site is one of three along Wellington Street that was appropriated by the federal government in 1973. Referred to as "Block B," it's bordered by Metcalfe Street to the east, Sparks Street to the south and O'Connor Street to the west.

Sitting directly across from the Peace Tower, it's a coveted piece of real estate in Canada.

"If ever there was a place to have a competition in Canada, this is it," said Kathleen Kurtin, president of the Ontario Association of Architects, an industry group. "This is a landmark location that deserves a special solution, which a design competition is sure to tease out."

PSPC said in the notice that many of the 11 buildings on the site are in need of renovations or are underutilized. Only two are in good condition, PSPC said.

The new facilities will one day house offices and committee rooms for the Senate of Canada, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament, along with retail space on the ground floor along Sparks Street.

Two of the buildings currently on the site are designated as heritage properties — the former embassy of the United States and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building — and are therefore protected. The former is slated to become an Indigenous centre dedicated to Inuit, Métis and First Nations communities.

Kevin McHale, executive director of the Sparks Street Business Improvement Association, said he's excited for the project, despite the fact that it is certain to lead to many more years of construction in the area.

"The reality is we know that there's going to be more construction up and down through the precinct over the next number of years," McHale said.

"Hopefully ... we can minimize the impact to merchants and visitors to Sparks Street while at the same time, at the end of it, create a positive street experience for people."

There is currently no estimated cost or schedule for the project, but an initial timeline shows PSPC plans to begin a process to pre-qualify bidders this spring, followed by a two-stage design competition that could take at least six months.

An independent jury made up of qualified experts nominated by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada will select the top three designs, and the federal government will then negotiate a price and timeline with the winner.

The Block 2 project is only the latest major redevelopment in the Parliamentary precinct.

Renovations to the West Block that began in 2011 and finished in 2018 cost $863 million.

Both the Senate and the House of Commons have relocated to temporary lodgings since the Centre Block closed in 2018 for renovations that are expected to take up to 10 years.

Before that, the Wellington Building and the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, both of which house offices and meeting rooms for parliamentarians, were also renovated.

Sparks Street itself is undergoing major changes in the coming years, after city council approved a multi-million-dollar revitalization plan in November 2019.

PSPC told CBC News the department is shifting its plan for the parliamentary precinct from a "building-by-building approach" that guided the renovations of West Block and Centre Block to a "a campus approach that will best support the safe and efficient operations of Parliament moving forward."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...ment-1.5446946

[rocketphish]

Mods: I move that we rename this thread to Parliamentary Precinct: Block 2, since it really isn't part of the Hill.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

Feds are launching a design competition for architects for Block 2 across from Parliament hill

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citepa...esign-eng.html

.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Great find. I can't even begin to imagine what could come out of the a design competition that includes 2 historic bank buildings, 5 heritage office buildings, a former embassy and a crappy 70s office tower with a couple empty lots in between.

My biggest fear is that most of these buildings might be demolished, with only the façades saved.



I hope to see the parking lot and plaza (former Rideau Club site) developed into new 3-4 storey buildings and the 70s block (Bank Street Promenades?) demolished and replaced with a residential or hotel tower.

.

[rocketphish]

Government plans to redevelop historic lands opposite Parliament Hill

Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen
Updated: February 3, 2020

The most prestigious property in Canada is up for development and the federal government is asking architects from around the world to brainstorm ideas for the land known simply as “Block 2.”

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has launched an Architectural Design Competition for the site that it hopes will transform the current hodge podge of buildings “into an efficient and innovative complex that will meet the needs of a modern Parliament as well as the public.”

Situated directly in front of Parliament’s Centre Block and across Metcalfe Street from the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council, Block 2 is 9,800 square metres of land bounded by Wellington, Metcalfe, Sparks and O’Connor streets. It’s home to 11 buildings, including the new home of the Assembly of First Nations at 100 Wellington in the former U.S. Embassy building.

Many of the buildings are at or past the end of their useful lives, the PSPC notes. Two of them — the old embassy and the Bank of Nova Scotia building on Sparks — are classified as federal heritage buildings, while several others have a lower designation as recognized heritage buildings. Neither designation is a guarantee that a building can’t be gutted or even torn down.

The block also includes the vacant lot at the corner of Metcalfe and Wellington that was home to the prestigious Rideau Club until it burned in a spectacular fire in October 1979.

Its prime location makes the block the most significant real estate in the country, said David Jeanes, a former president of Heritage Ottawa, who has led walking tours of the block for nearly 20 years.

“It’s always been considered important,” Jeanes said. The Rideau Club was the unofficial “seat of power” — Sir John A. Macdonald was a member — and the rest of Wellington Street was known as “Bankers Row”, home the influential financiers of the young nation, he said.

“It’s why the Americans chose that location when they built their embassy there in 1931.”

The block is “a very mixed bag” of designs, but represents a “hall of fame of Canadian architects,” he said. “There’s a great opportunity to redevelop that block, but if they redevelop the whole of it they really need to incorporate the historic elements of it.”

The redesigned block will provide office space for MPs and senators and for the Library of Parliament. There will also be renovated retail space on Sparks Street, a fact that pleases Kevin McHale, executive director of the Sparks Street BIA.

“It’s exciting to see,” McHale said. “But the million-dollar question is, what is it going to look like?”

The BIA was given a heads up from PSPC before the project was announced, he said. He’s pleased the government is treating the block as a whole and not doing the work piecemeal.

“Taking one building and renovating it, then taking the next building and renovating it — that can be very disruptive. Your cycle of construction just never ends,” he said. “Doing it all in one shot will be disruptive, but at least you get it over with.”

Companies interested in the project have until Feb. 21 to register. Those companies will be screened by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the ones left will be invited to submit more detailed proposals. Those submissions will be winnowed to a short list of six, which will submit advanced designs to a jury for consideration. No timeline or budget for the project has been announced.

Among the companies that have registered their interest are Estudio Lamela of Madrid, Pei Architects of New York, and B+H and HH Angus, both of Toronto.

The government recognizes the land is “undeniably significant to Canadians from coast to coast to coast” and the redevelopment will improve the visitor experience, accessibility and its environmental sustainability, said Cecely Roy, press secretary to Public Services and Procurement Canada Minister Anita Ananda. It will also ensure the development will “contribute to Ottawa’s growth as a modern capital city.”

bcrawford@postmedia.com
Twitter: @GetBAC





https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...arliament-hill

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Government plans to redevelop historic lands opposite Parliament Hill

Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen
Updated: February 3, 2020

The most prestigious property in Canada is up for development and the federal government is asking architects from around the world to brainstorm ideas for the land known simply as “Block 2.”

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has launched an Architectural Design Competition for the site that it hopes will transform the current hodge podge of buildings “into an efficient and innovative complex that will meet the needs of a modern Parliament as well as the public.”

Situated directly in front of Parliament’s Centre Block and across Metcalfe Street from the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council, Block 2 is 9,800 square metres of land bounded by Wellington, Metcalfe, Sparks and O’Connor streets. It’s home to 11 buildings, including the new home of the Assembly of First Nations at 100 Wellington in the former U.S. Embassy building.

Many of the buildings are at or past the end of their useful lives, the PSPC notes. Two of them — the old embassy and the Bank of Nova Scotia building on Sparks — are classified as federal heritage buildings, while several others have a lower designation as recognized heritage buildings. Neither designation is a guarantee that a building can’t be gutted or even torn down.

The block also includes the vacant lot at the corner of Metcalfe and Wellington that was home to the prestigious Rideau Club until it burned in a spectacular fire in October 1979.

Its prime location makes the block the most significant real estate in the country, said David Jeanes, a former president of Heritage Ottawa, who has led walking tours of the block for nearly 20 years.

“It’s always been considered important,” Jeanes said. The Rideau Club was the unofficial “seat of power” — Sir John A. Macdonald was a member — and the rest of Wellington Street was known as “Bankers Row”, home the influential financiers of the young nation, he said.

“It’s why the Americans chose that location when they built their embassy there in 1931.”

The block is “a very mixed bag” of designs, but represents a “hall of fame of Canadian architects,” he said. “There’s a great opportunity to redevelop that block, but if they redevelop the whole of it they really need to incorporate the historic elements of it.”

The redesigned block will provide office space for MPs and senators and for the Library of Parliament. There will also be renovated retail space on Sparks Street, a fact that pleases Kevin McHale, executive director of the Sparks Street BIA.

“It’s exciting to see,” McHale said. “But the million-dollar question is, what is it going to look like?”

The BIA was given a heads up from PSPC before the project was announced, he said. He’s pleased the government is treating the block as a whole and not doing the work piecemeal.

“Taking one building and renovating it, then taking the next building and renovating it — that can be very disruptive. Your cycle of construction just never ends,” he said. “Doing it all in one shot will be disruptive, but at least you get it over with.”

Companies interested in the project have until Feb. 21 to register. Those companies will be screened by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the ones left will be invited to submit more detailed proposals. Those submissions will be winnowed to a short list of six, which will submit advanced designs to a jury for consideration. No timeline or budget for the project has been announced.

Among the companies that have registered their interest are Estudio Lamela of Madrid, Pei Architects of New York, and B+H and HH Angus, both of Toronto.

The government recognizes the land is “undeniably significant to Canadians from coast to coast to coast” and the redevelopment will improve the visitor experience, accessibility and its environmental sustainability, said Cecely Roy, press secretary to Public Services and Procurement Canada Minister Anita Ananda. It will also ensure the development will “contribute to Ottawa’s growth as a modern capital city.”

bcrawford@postmedia.com
Twitter: @GetBAC





https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...arliament-hill

I'm not understanding what they're trying to do. Are they looking to integrate all the buildings in that block into one complex with interior connections? The Victoria building on the right in the last picture was renovated fairly recently. I used to work in there. My office was in a former closet.

[J.OT13]

I'm expecting a complete demolition of all the buildings, except for maybe the the American Embassy, the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Promenade office block. The rest will end up being various forms of façdism.

[NOWINYOW]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm expecting a complete demolition of all the buildings, except for maybe the the American Embassy, the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Promenade office block. The rest will end up being various forms of façdism.

Destroying our history one building at a time. You're probably right, tho.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm expecting a complete demolition of all the buildings, except for maybe the the American Embassy, the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Promenade office block. The rest will end up being various forms of façdism.

I really doubt they will keep the Promenade building...it's the ugliest, least historically relevant, and by far the largest building on the block. The Valour building should definitely stay, in addition to the bank and the former embassy. I hope they mow the rest of the block down.

[OTownandDown]

This amazing thing by Bjarke Ingles comes to mind. It's a condo, but you get the point of what the possibilities are (Facadism aside):



http://kingtoronto.com

[Harley613]

That's pretty neat!

Whatever they build I hope it incorporates a public cafe or restaurant on a high floor with a terrace directly opposing the Peace Tower. That would be an instantly iconic spot for tourists and locals, imagine the pictures!

[le calmar]

Originally Posted by Harley613

The Valour building should definitely stay, in addition to the bank and the former embassy. I hope they mow the rest of the block down.

Surely you forgot to mention the Victoria building?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I really doubt they will keep the Promenade building...it's the ugliest, least historically relevant, and by far the largest building on the block. The Valour building should definitely stay, in addition to the bank and the former embassy. I hope they mow the rest of the block down.

Aren't the Valour and the Promenade the exact same building?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Aren't the Valour and the Promenade the exact same building?

I think the short 3 storey building next to Victoria used to be known as the Valour. Not sure when that name was transferred to the Promenade.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

This amazing thing by Bjarke Ingles comes to mind. It's a condo, but you get the point of what the possibilities are (Facadism aside):

That's pretty cool, but isn't it basically a derivative of Habitat 67?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

The Victoria building on the right in the last picture was renovated fairly recently. I used to work in there. My office was in a former closet.

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.