A Treasure To Explore - Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.collineduparlement-parliamenthill.gc.ca
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Rehabilitation work video
A large-scale conservation, rehabilitation and upgrade project for this invaluable heritage building was completed. Discover the story of the work that was done.
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The Library of Parliament
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A national heritage treasure.
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The only surviving part of the original Centre Block.
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The Library of Parliament houses one of the most important collections in the country.
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The Library Building took almost 20 years to build.
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Completed in 1876...
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...it was a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture.
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View of burning Parliament Buildings.
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On the night of February 3, 1916, fire broke out in the Centre Block.
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Only the Library survived.
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The Centre Block was rebuilt.
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In 1952, after a fire in the roof, extensive repairs were required.
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No further major conservation work was undertaken until 2002.
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Time, wear and weather had taken a heavy toll.
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Work was needed...
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from the weathervane...
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...to the sub-basement.
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Masonry had deteriorated.
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Masonry had deteriorated.
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Water had leaked in through the windows...
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...and through the copper roofs.
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Moisture damage threatened the collections.
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The floor had worn out.
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Outdated building systems did not comply with current standards.
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Low ceilings in the basement interfered with the sprinkler system.
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Rehabilitation work was not possible without vacating the building.
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The Queen Victoria Statue also had to be removed.
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More than 50 staff and 11 linear kilometres of books were moved...
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...to temporary quarters not far from Parliament Hill.
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The Library continued to provide parliamentary services...
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The work required...
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repairing and cleaning of masonry...
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installing a new parquet floor...
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adding a new basement level for mechanical systems...
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installing new copper roofs.
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After the Library closed in 2002...
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...about 70 tonnes of steel scaffolding were erected.
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Architectural fabric protected the exterior...
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so restoration work could continue...
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... through all seasons and weather.
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Heritage ironwork was removed from the roof...
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In August 2003, the lantern roof was carefully lifted from the dome.
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Rehabilitation work on the 17 tonne structure was completed on the ground.
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Damaged copper and deteriorated decking were removed from the roofs.
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Seismic bracing was added to the original dome trusses.
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2,000 square metres of new copper roofing were installed.
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Original windows were restored...
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...and returned to the lantern.
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New bronze-framed thermal windows...
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...were installed to improve energy performance.
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200 tonnes of grout...
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... were pumped into masonry walls to fill voids.
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Damaged masonry was repaired...
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cleaned...
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and repointed.
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In the Reading Room...
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... the original carved pine shelving was carefully repaired and cleaned.
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Updated mechanical ducts and electrical conduits...
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... were installed in the walls behind the bookcases.
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Glass now replaces linoleum in the gallery floors...
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... a return to the pre-1952 condition.
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Plasterwork in the dome was seismically upgraded.
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A new parquet floor was installed.
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In the old basement, existing floor slabs were removed...
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... and 4,815 cubic metres of bedrock were taken out.
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Excavation reached 14 metres below the Reading Room floor.
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Two new basement floors were built to provide more efficient book storage.
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Modern mechanical systems were installed in the third basement level.
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Optimum temperature and humidity controls were installed...
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... to protect the collections, occupants and heritage building above.
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In November 2004, the refurbished lantern roof was installed.
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The restored weathervane was returned to the lantern the following year.
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Construction was completed in 2006.
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The Library's heritage is once again secure for future generations of Canadians.
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Project Team: Public Works and Government Services Canada, Library of Parliament, House of Commons
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Project Team: Architects in joint venture
Ogilvie and Hogg, Desnoyers Mercure et associés
Spencer R. Higgins, Lundholm Associates
Fuller Construction Ltd. (1958) of Ottawa
Canadian Conservation Institute
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Video Documentation Team: Executive producer PWGSC, Mary Soper
Director, Sheila Petzold
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Camera: Jeff Denesyk, Michael Tien, Karl Roeder
Sound: Eldy Gouthro, Fred Edwards
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Editor: James Hall
Music: Edmund Eagan
Post Production: Affinity Productions
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Archival images courtesy of National Archives of Canada
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Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2006
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Canada Wordmark
