The Senate of Canada Building has been awarded a 2020 Civic Trust Award, the longest-running international awards program recognizing outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment.
The award was given to Public Services and Procurement Canada, Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects on Friday, March 6 in Manchester. The Senate of Canada Building was just one of two North American projects to win the award. As heritage architects on the project, ERA is thrilled to congratulate our project partners on such a notable achievement.
Constructed in 1912 as Ottawa’s Union Station, the Senate of Canada Building is one of the most important cultural and historic landmarks in Ottawa. The building is an excellent example of the Beaux-Arts railway station tradition, popular in the early 20th century. In 1966, with the decline of passenger railway travel, the building narrowly escaped demolition and was converted into the Government Conference Centre. The former station has since been refurbished to accommodate the Senate of Canada during the rehabilitation of the Centre Block.
ERA worked as heritage architects from 2014 until 2018 together with Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects in joint venture. Our work included a full rehabilitation of the building’s exterior and interior, ensuring it could appropriately accommodate the Senate of Canada.
The building was recognized by the Civic Trust Awards Panel for its adaptive re-use: “A bold re-use of an old building which recognises the gravitas of the original can be repurposed for social and environmental benefit, with a strong identity and a real architectural clarity,” read the comments.
We’re thrilled to add the Civic Trust Award to the building’s accolades. Read about the award from Diamond Schmitt and learn more about ERA’s work on the Senate of Canada Building project.
