West Memorial Building: Rehabilitation

Learn about the project to restore the West Memorial Building, a classified heritage building.

Project overview

Project description

The program of work includes modernizing and conserving the West Memorial Building and the Supreme Court of Canada Building.

The West Memorial Building will host the occupants and visitors of the Supreme Court of Canada Building while we restore and modernize that building.

The West Memorial Building’s location, prominence and size make it a suitable selection for this role. The building has 20,000 square metres of useable space.

After the Supreme Court of Canada Building Rehabilitation project is complete, we will use the West Memorial Building as long-term office space for future federal government occupants.

The West Memorial Building was built between 1954 and 1958. The government built it to honour Canadians who served their country during the Second World War.

The building has been vacant since 2008 and has never undergone major repairs or renovations.

To make the building a secure, modern and functional workspace for the operations of the Supreme Court and Federal Courts, major construction work will address the following:

• accessibility
• resistance to earthquakes
• health and safety
• sustainability
• modern technology
• conservation of heritage characteristics

Construction

In April 2020, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) received the construction permit and began construction activities following strict COVID-19 safety measures. The construction stage will continue until 2026.

This project will modernize the West Memorial Building to meet current building codes and conserve important heritage characteristics.

Construction activities underway

We are carrying out the following work:

• rehabilitating heritage fabric, including exterior walls, windows and interior finishes
• removing contaminated soils
• reinforcing and upgrading the structure
• replacing mechanical, electrical and life safety systems
• modernizing information technology, multimedia and security systems
• investing in seismic upgrades to meet current building codes for earthquakes

Refer to the photo gallery below for images of ongoing construction.

Interior fit-up and construction milestones to be completed

• Demolition and enabling work:
  • demolition activities, including removal of designated substances
• Structural work:
  • new shear walls completed
  • reinforcement of beams and columns
  • new slab topping
  • new skylights structure
  • upgraded structural roof, new civil site services
• Building envelope and heritage:
  • mortar replacement
  • stone repairs
  • windows restoration
  • new roofing
• Interior and mechanical and electrical:
  • interior fit-up
  • new mechanical and electrical systems
  • new elevators
• Finishes:
  • floor, wall and room finishes
• Site development and landscaping:
  • landscaping
  • lighting
  • paving
• Building components and connectivity:
  • furniture and information technology equipment

Photo gallery

View photos of the building before and during construction. You can also look at architectural renderings of what it will look like once complete.

Click on the image to view a larger version.

State of building in 2017

Ongoing construction

Future state 3D architectural renderings

Benefits to Canadians

This construction project is providing local and national economic benefits. It has created many jobs in the following industries:

• construction materials
• manufacturing
• professional services

Over the long term, the space will be used to consolidate government operations and reduce the amount of office space leased by the Government of Canada for its employees.

This project makes it possible to add new green measures to the heritage building. This aligns with the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

The design for the West Memorial Building project received a certificate of achievement for green design. The design was rated with 4 Green Globes in July 2020.

Project background

• The West Memorial Building is located at 344 Wellington Street in Ottawa
• It is part of Canada’s primary Second World War Memorial
• The West Memorial Building was built between 1954 and 1958
• The building has been vacant since 2008
• It was vacant because it was in overall poor condition where:
  • health and safety issues needed to be addressed
  • upgrades were needed before it could be used for office space
• We carried out an asset integrity project  from August 2017 to December 2018, consisting of:
  • removing hazardous material
  • doing demolition work
  • replacing the flat roof
  • protecting heritage finishes
• On February 16, 2018, we awarded a contract for design and architectural services to Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.
• On September 26, 2018, we awarded a construction management services contract to EllisDon Corporation:
  • The Construction Manager is working with the Design Consultant to provide pre-construction advisory services to PSPC during the planning and development phases of the project
• The City of Ottawa issued the construction permit on March 9, 2020
• Construction began in April 2020 following strict COVID-19 protocols
• The design of the project received a certificate of achievement for a 4 Green Globes rating in July 2020
• The Construction Manager is awarding competitive tender packages on an ongoing basis

Memorial Colonnade

As part of a separate project, we are repairing, conserving and protecting the Memorial Colonnade, which links the East and West Memorial Buildings.

The main entryway to the West Memorial Building is adjacent to the Memorial Colonnade. As such, we need to finish the Memorial Colonnade project before occupants can move into the West Memorial Building.

The Memorial Colonnade project is at the construction phase. A construction schedule has been issued by the Construction Manager indicating a completion date of 2025.

Latest news about this project

• Government of Canada to rehabilitate and green National Capital Region landmark (June 28, 2019)

Related links

• Supreme Court of Canada Building: Rehabilitation
• Tender award for the West Memorial Building Rehabilitation Project Construction Manager
• Tender award for the West Memorial Building Rehabilitation Project Design Consultant
• Directory of Federal Real Property: West Memorial Building
• Directory of Federal Heritage Designations: West Memorial Building
• Low carbon in the National Capital Region's buildings (Energy Services Acquisition Program)
• Greening government operations (Federal Sustainable Development Strategy)