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• 1 2019-11-29T06:14:34-08:00 RUD - History 10 plain 2019-12-06T13:37:28-08:00 West Block is the oldest building on Parliament Hill. It was originally designed by Thomas Stent and Augustus Laver and built in 1866 in the civil gothic style. Around the same time, the United States and Britain were constructing their legislative buildings, in the Neo-Classical and Perpendicular Gothic style respectively. Canada wanted to create something unique, while still remaining connected to Britain. They chose gothic, like the parliament at Westminster, however the way the gothic style is expressed and used is distinct from the British Parliament. Canada used steep roofs and verticality, typical of northern architecture. The architects also chose to use different types of stones for various parts of the buildings. Nepean Sandstone, local to the Ottawa area, is used for the majority of the building while Ohio Sandstone was selected for the window trim and Potsdam Sandstone was chosen for other decorative features. (Kalman)
  
  West Block was originally built with three wings. The Mackenzie Wing and Tower were added in 1878, which created the courtyard space. Before the courtyard was built, the location held a garden where one could easily see the river and trees along the side of the hill. Once constructed, the courtyard became a private space where parliamentarians could enjoy the fresh air and socialize. In 2007, the federal government decided that all three buildings on Parliament Hill were in dire need of repair. Everything from the copper roof, masonry blocks, electrical systems and steel structure underneath needed to be replaced in some form. In 2011, work began on the West Block and continued until January 2019. The project was overseen and designed by Arcop and Fournier Gersovitz Moss Drolet et Associés as a joint venture. (Cook, “The Project of a Lifetime” and Hannay, “The Rehabilitation of Parliament Hill's West Block”)
  
  The German Reichstag in Berlin is one of the buildings that the architects drew ideas from when designing the covered space. The Reichstag was partially destroyed after World War Two, and was rebuilt between 1992 to 99, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Although they were reusing an old parliamentary building, the German people wanted a parliament building that reflected the feeling they were a changed nation, and that the country would not be run like it was in the past. They wanted to make the space feel more inclusive and open to the public. They decided to set the chamber at the bottom of the space and cover it with a  glass roof, to permit visitors and public to look down on those below. Norman Foster, the architect, also used mirrors to focus light down into the chamber, to give it a brighter feel. Another key decision was to not only leave the graffiti on the walls, but to highlight it so that it stands out on the stones. They understood that the building has a rich history and that an important part of the history is the time when the building was in ruin and a canvas for graffiti. (Bartlick “The Reichstag” and Films Media Group “Rebuilding The Reichstag.”)
  
  
  For West Block, the idea of preserving certain historical markings on the building was entertained when  stones in the courtyard were being cleaned. Some argued that the cigarette burns in the stones were part of the building’s ordinary history, and therefore should be left the way they are. Ultimately, it was decided that the new space should have a clean appearance, and much was invested to remove and clean or when necessary, replace 140 000 stones on the building. (Hannay, “The Rehabilitation of Parliament Hill's West Block”)
• 1 2019-11-29T06:13:13-08:00 RUD - Introduction 7 gallery 2019-12-06T13:30:06-08:00 Canada’s West Block was constructed more than one hundred years ago to support the work of the Government of Canada, though recently, the building has assumed a more central role in Canadian politics. This comes after  Center Block was closed for much needed renovations; a project that will likely take more than a decade to complete. During this period of renovation and restoration, Center Block will be closed and will no longer be the home of Canada’s Parliament. The main occupants of Centre Block, The House of Commons and The Senate both had to be relocated.  The Senate has been moved to the former Union Train Station which underwent a major renovation.  The House of Commons has been relocated to the West Block courtyard. To make this possible, West Block had to go through a thorough modernization project, which included installing a roof over the courtyard and adding a visitor’s center for improved public access. (Public Services and Procurement Canada)
  
  The courtyard itself was chosen because of its location close to Center Block and the large amount of space at the architect’s disposal. By adding a roof over the courtyard, the amount of useable space in the building more than doubled. The roof also removes the seasonality of the courtyard. In the harsh Canadian climate, outdoor courtyards are only useable during the summer and parts of the spring and fall. With the addition of a roof, the courtyard can provide year-round access. The new chamber now houses the ‘seats’ for members of parliament; a public gallery and a dedicated area for journalists and media. In the figure above, the new layout can be seen in use. The chamber sits at the center of the space, just below the public and media viewing gallery. The masonry façade and green copper roof of the old court yard are still visible from the chamber within. The most noticeable new feature is the glass roof and the steel supports that hold up the roof. (Ottawa Citizen, “West Block's House of Commons”)
  
  This new House of Commons is an immense step forward for Canadian politics. The design draws on features of other notable parliaments and courtyards such as the German Reichstag and British Museum, while also maintaining the original symbolism of Canadian and British parliament. Some people have expressed hope that the new location will translate into a positive change within the house. The idea behind this is that parliamentarians will be more mindful of those that have come before them and the future generations that will be affected by their decisions.