Canada House
London, England
Revitalizing an historic building to serve and showcase Canada abroad.
Built in 1827, this prominent building fronting Trafalgar Square, became ‘Canada House’ in 1923. Over the years as Canada’s consular and diplomatic functions in UK expanded, these services became dispersed across several buildings. In 2013 Canada announced its plan to consolidate all its diplomatic and consular functions into one central location. Through the purchase of an adjacent building, Canada House was enlarged and transformed into a showcase for Canadian culture, business, and values, officially opening in February 2015.
A key goal of this project was to complete all phases within a very tight timeline, with an emphasis on quality solutions pertaining to the key components of heritage, security, and modernization. This was achieved by our dedicated team of project management professionals, who worked in close collaboration with Global Affairs Canada, the Consultant Team, and diplomatic representatives and stakeholders in the UK.
The rich history of this building and its occupants drew me into this project and made this renovation project that much more meaningful. The required security interventions and systems were a critical part of the scope of work, but so was ensuring the protection and restoration of this historic building. Coordinating the impressive installation of indigenous Canadian building materials and art was definitely a highlight. And without question, I was very honoured to be present when the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the newly refurbished ‘Canada House’.