Visitors to Parliament Hill soon won’t be able to see the iconic Peace Tower, once it’s covered with scaffolding to enable renovations and repairs later this year. The Peace Tower is set to be sheathed so that workers can repair its interior and exterior – part of sprawling renovations to the nearly 100-year-old building.
The Peace Tower work will be the latest phase in renovation of the Centre Block, which closed for renovations in late 2018 and is expected to reopen sometime after 2030. The work is estimated to cost between $4.5 billion and $5 billion.
Central to the Centre Block project will be new two-storey visitors’ centre, equipped with a classroom, a theatre and a café for guests.
Located directly in front of the Peace Tower, the visitors’ centre entrance is designed to be more accessible to guests. Officials say they expect to see more visitors once the centre is open, as it will expand the building’s security footprint and give visitors more spaces to roam in and between the three buildings on Parliament Hill.
Parliament’s annual tour group capacity is currently around 350,000 people.
The east and west courtyards of Centre Block are also being covered by roofing to reduce maintenance costs and allow for accessible entry to the House of Commons and Senate chambers.
The interior of Centre Block is undergoing extensive renovations. Most of its interior has been gutted, apart from some ornate ceilings and decorative elements with heritage value – those items are also receiving restoration to repair damage incurred over the years.
The renovations are meant to modernize Parliament while maintaining its famous facade.
Mohajer said crews are future-proofing the interior to ensure the building is equipped for future technological advancements, is climate resilient and is able to meet the needs of future generations.
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