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NSERC Create promotes heritage innovation with Carleton University and Industry Partners

Investigating at the Southwest Tower of East Block

The NSERC CREATE Heritage Engineering Program – research, training & internship program is one of the nationally significant vehicles for heritage conservation innovation. Fast Facts Hands-on opportunities to work and learn in the built heritage industry Six years, $3.3 M Funded for Masters/PhD students & post-doctoral fellows through federal government’s NSERC CREATE grant program, with additional support […]

The ASHRAE Energy Guideline for Historical Buildings is Now in its Second Public Review Draft

Sir John A Macdonald Main Mechanical Room

There are countless heritage buildings that present a significant opportunity for reducing energy use within the worldwide building stock.  However, modern codes and standards are often ill-equipped to accommodate the passive and historic HVAC strategies employed in these buildings.  As a consequence, historic buildings were and are often “modernized” with little regard for the significance and […]

Building Resilience Practical Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Buildings in Canada Officially Launches

Compact urban form providing more efficient heating and increased density, Halifax (image source: Shelley Bruce)

The Federal / Provincial / Territorial Collaboration on Historic Places in Canada Working Group has released Building Resilience: Practical Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Buildings in Canada. Co-authored by Mark Thompson Brandt and Chris Warden of MTBA Associates Inc., Building Resilience is a comprehensive and sustainable building toolkit that presents practical illustrated guidance and real […]

Sir John A Macdonald Building on the Cover of Canadian Architect

Main Hall looking north with the Spark Street stair at the bottom right (Doublespace)

The recently rehabilitated Sir John A Macdonald Building, formerly the Ottawa head office and main branch of the Bank of Montreal, is currently featured in the January 2016 issue of Canadian Architect.  Project coverage includes the cover image and a feature article complete with a number of beautiful images and floor plans.  Within the written article, the […]

CBC News: ‘3rd hall of Parliament’ opens to public in renovated Bank of Montreal building

Looking up the Sparks Stair to the Main Hall

After nearly eight years of renovations, Canada’s so-called “third hall of Parliament” was opened to the public Friday — just in time for people to gather there and watch the speech from the throne. Thirty-two companies and hundreds of specialists worked to conserve the historic parts of the Bank of Montreal building, constructed between 1930 and 1932,  during the lengthy renovations. “We […]

Sir John A Macdonald Building Hosts its First Public Event

Sir John A Macdonald Building, December 4, 2015

The recently rehabilitated Sir John A Macdonald Building, formerly the Ottawa head office and main branch of the Bank of Montreal, hosted its first public event today.  The building opened at 12:00 noon with people being invited to come and watch the throne speech on the large screens in the Main Hall.  It was a unique opportunity […]

Sir John A Macdonald Building wins a 2015 City of Ottawa Urban Design Award

Sir John A Macdonald Building

During the City of Ottawa Urban Design Awards Gala on September 30,2015, the Sir John A Macdonald Building was awarded one of the few Awards of Excellence presented during the ceremony, in this case for Urban Infill Low-rise. From the City of Ottawa Web Site: The former Bank of Montreal (a federally recognized heritage building) […]