BY MARIA COOK, OTTAWA CITIZEN
OTTAWA – The design of a two-level extension to the former Bank of Montreal on Wellington Street facing Parliament Hill “respects the heritage character” of the existing 1930s building, says the federal department of public works.
Ministry officials unveiled illustrations on Thursday of what the new federal building will look like when completed in 2015. The images also depict the adjacent banking hall, which is being converted for ceremonial events and large meetings for Parliament.
“These renderings show us a building that will be absolutely stunning, one that will truly benefit our parliamentary precinct and this beautiful city,” Diane Finley, minister of public works and government services, told a news conference.
The $66-million rehabilitation of the old bank, renamed the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, and construction of the addition is “on time and on budget,” she said.
Jonathan Hughes, vice president public buildings at NORR Ltd., a multinational architecture firm with an Ottawa office, described the addition as a pavilion that defers to the existing building and echoes its clean lines.
The new wing to the west is clad with limestone, similar to the 1930s building. In front, a wall of glass is set in a panel of stone, which is cut with a grid pattern. The flat-roofed structure floats above a recessed ground floor. Inside, a stairway and elevator lead to a lobby and a multi-purpose room.
The lobby will be a gathering space that offers “a fantastic view through to Parliament Hill,” said Hughes.
The addition will serve as the main public entry off Wellington Street and the security screening point to the parliamentary facility. It will also provide food service, washrooms and coatrooms, as well as additional meeting space, a loading dock and mechanical rooms.
The annex more than doubles the size of the facility, from about 28,000 square feet to about 61,000 square feet.
A glass atrium links the old and new buildings. “To ensure the temple-quality of the existing building was maintained, we wanted a very light touch,” said Hughes. “So we used glass as a means of ensuring you could still see the whole building if you’re walking down the street.”
The former bank, considered one of Canada’s foremost heritage structures, will look the same from the exterior. Inside, the ornamented walls, gently vaulted ceiling and marble floors of the banking hall are preserved. It will replace the function of the Confederation Room in West Block.
The marble counters for bank tellers and customers have been cleared out to make way for tables and chairs. “We’ve looked at trying to utilize some of the counters around the perimeter of the space,” said Hughes.
The massive overhaul of the Sir John A. Macdonald Building includes seismic upgrading and new mechanical systems. It is part of a long-term $5-billion revitalization of the Parliament Buildings.
Public Works also officially handed over to the Canadian Museum of Civilization a 19th-century stone carving uncovered by workers.
The 544-kilogram tablet depicts the coat of arms of the Bank of Montreal, Canada’s first chartered bank. It features two Aboriginal male figures supporting the coat of arms from either side. Surmounting the crest is a beaver, symbol of Canadian industriousness.
“This artifact represents an important Canadian institution with a major role in shaping our nation’s history,” said Mark O’Neill, president and chiefr executive of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corp.
“As part of the National Collection, the tablet will help the new Canadian Museum of History tell the economic story of our nation.”
