Centre Block: Undertaking the Largest Heritage Rehabilitation in Canadian History
Ottawa, Ontario
Project Lead: Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Project Duration: 2013 – 2031
Services: Real Property Advisory, Project Management
Centre Block under construction
Centre Block is the largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation project ever undertaken in Canada.
Built between 1916 and 1927, Centre Block is one of Canada’s most important national landmarks. A “Classified” heritage building, it is a key fixture of Parliament Hill, occupying a central position between East and West Block, the Library of Parliament, and the Parliament Welcome Centre.
To allow for continued occupancy of the building, only regular maintenance and emergency repairs have been made to Centre Block since 1999. As such, both Centre Block and the Peace Tower were decommissioned for the rehabilitation.
Project Goals
To enable the decanting of Centre Block, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), with support from Tiree, completed several enabling projects, including West and East Block, 180 Wellington Street, the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, and the Senate of Canada Building.
The rehabilitation of Centre Block balances the building’s unique political and cultural significance with its need for modernization and expansion, in alignment with the Long-Term Vision and Plan (LTVP) for the Parliamentary Precinct.
Prior to decanting, Tiree conducted a room-by-room inventory and developed an asset tracking system to monitor the relocation of more than 20,000 heritage assets from Centre Block to temporary storage locations in support of PSPC.
Project goals include:
- Restoring the Peace Tower
- Installing new mechanical, electrical, and fire safety systems
- Incorporating new information technology, multimedia, and security systems
- Conserving and restoring the building’s stonework, wood, plaster, frescoes, stained glass, marble, and metalwork
- Upgrading committee rooms to provide additional space, as well as modern technology for broadcasting and translation
- Constructing Phase 2 of the Parliament Welcome Centre
- Upgrading seismic systems to ensure the building can withstand a magnitude-6.0 earthquake
- Making the building more environmentally sustainable and accessible for employees, Parliamentarians, and visitors
The Project Management Support Services (PMSS) team, including Tiree, collaborated with numerous stakeholders—including the Senate of Canada, the House of Commons, the Library of Parliament, the Privy Council Office, and the Parliamentary Protective Service—to understand their operational requirements.
Tiree’s Role
In support of PSPC, Tiree is providing Real Property Advisory and Project Management services focused on scope, cost, risk, and quality across the full project lifecycle.
Early works packages (demolition, excavation, and abatement) were issued before the full designs of Centre Block and the Parliament Welcome Centre were finalized to help maintain project momentum and initiate construction activities.
To meet the Government of Canada’s net-zero targets—including an intended 75% reduction in energy consumption and a 50% reduction in indoor water consumption—the rehabilitation includes connecting to the new district energy system, installing a geo-exchange system to store and reuse energy, incorporating sustainable materials, and using LED lighting extensively.
The project also incorporates new accessibility features, in line with modern standards and public expectations, such as tactile indicators on stairs to alert people with low vision or blindness to potential hazards; larger washrooms with barrier-free stalls, accessible counter heights, and gender-neutral options; and Braille and other tactile signs to help people with visual impairments navigate the building.
Project Outcomes
As of early 2026, significant progress has been made on the exterior and interior rehabilitation of Centre Block. Excavation for the new basement levels is ongoing, and stonemasons continue to work on the façade.
Scaffold installation around the building is nearing completion, and the roof rebuild is more than halfway done. Excavation for the Parliament Welcome Centre has also finished, with foundation footings poured at the lowest level.
Construction is expected to finish between 2030 and 2031, with Parliament reoccupying the building the following year.
Centre Block's exterior gates