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365:. The new chamber is surrounded by formerly exterior stone walls and covered by a glass roof. Multiple underground levels as well as planned tunnel connections to other Parliament Hill buildings were constructed out of dug-out bedrock under the West Block during the extensive renovations. When the renovation of Centre Block is complete and the House returns to its traditional chamber, the new House chamber will be used as committee rooms.
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In the early 2000s, the masonry of the West Block was found to be in a state of severe disrepair. Scaffolding and protective sheeting were erected in order to prevent falling blocks from striking pedestrians and cars below and a restoration project was immediately implemented. The two largest towers
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An $ 863 million project to completely renovate the West Block began in 2011, and the renovated building opened on 28 January 2019. In preparation for a planned, decade-long renovation of the Centre Block to begin in 2019, the central courtyard of the West Block was transformed into a temporary
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departments. As the number of parliamentary and administrative staff increased with the expansion of the country's area, more space was added to the West Block: the
Mackenzie Wing and Tower in 1878 and, in 1906, the Laurier Tower and link.
297:, keeping with the style of the rest of the parliamentary complex. The West Block adds to the Ottawa skyline three prominent towers: the Mackenzie Tower (added in 1878), the Laurier Tower (added in 1906), and the Southwest Tower.
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structure built in the
Victorian High Gothic style, with load bearing masonry walls, all clad in a rustic Nepean sandstone exterior and dressed stone trim around windows and other edges, as well as displaying a multitude of
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Construction on all three blocks commenced by the end of 1859. By the time the West Block was completed in 1865, the building was three years behind schedule. The first tenants were the offices of the
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516:
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325:, and a new residence for the Governor General were each awarded separately and the team of Thomas Stent and Augustus Laver, under the pseudonym of
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420:"A Treasure to Explore > Parliament Hill > The History of Parliament Hill > Construction, 1859-1916 > Who would design it?"
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sent out, on 7 May 1859, a call for architects to submit proposals for the new parliament buildings to be erected on
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was approached to break the stalemate and the winner was announced on 29 August 1859. The departmental buildings,
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252:, the West Block has been extended twice since its original completion in 1865. Though not as renowned as the
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The interim House of
Commons Chamber, built in West Block's old courtyard, during a dry run in January 2019
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were also stabilised with temporary steel structures for fear of stones falling off them.
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517:"Speaker given the keys to West Block, home to the House of Commons for the next decade"
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is closed. The West Block also houses offices for parliamentarians, a branch of the
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of parliament, the West Block appears on the obverse of the
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Chamber, installed to accommodate the House while the
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Building on
Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
570:"The rehabilitation of Parliament Hill's West Block"
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786:Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council
498:"Parliament Buildings 'in danger of collapse'"
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418:Public Works and Government Services Canada.
730:Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial
422:. Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from
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542:"$ 42M glass dome approved for Parliament"
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241:, committee rooms, and some preserved pre-
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396:(1). Ottawa: Queen's Printer for Canada
141:The King in Right of the United Kingdom
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568:Hannay, Chris (September 20, 2018).
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446:"Parliament Hill Tour - West Block"
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217:) is one of the three buildings on
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540:Weston, Greg (19 February 2011).
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215:Édifice administratif de l'ouest
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477:"Tories OK plan to repair Hill"
848:Parliament of Canada buildings
811:Parliament Hill Rehabilitation
791:Sir John A. Macdonald Building
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515:Crawford, Blair (2018-11-09).
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475:Naumetz, Tim (6 August 2007).
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386:"The House That History Built"
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390:Canadian Parliamentary Review
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207:Western Departmental Building
146:The Queen in Right of Canada
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496:Cook, Maria (22 May 2007).
384:Phillips, R. A. J. (1982).
250:Victorian High Gothic style
162:The King in Right of Canada
151:The King in Right of Canada
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827:Parliament Hill cat colony
307:Department of Public Works
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771:Confederation Building
764:Parliamentary Precinct
605:(Parliament of Canada)
603:Explore the West Block
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806:144 Wellington Street
714:Library of Parliament
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239:Library of Parliament
52:Victorian High Gothic
750:War of 1812 Monument
651:Parliament of Canada
121:Construction started
801:Wellington Building
745:Victoria Tower Bell
327:Stat nomen in umbra
105:45.4232°N 75.7005°W
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48:Architectural style
43:General information
575:The Globe and Mail
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334:postmaster general
319:Edmund Walker Head
33:West Block in 2002
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796:Victoria Building
426:on 6 October 2011
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173:Structural system
168:Technical details
110:45.4232; -75.7005
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781:Justice Building
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690:Centre Block
665:Centre Block
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583:. Retrieved
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458:. Retrieved
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450:Ottawa Kiosk
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428:. Retrieved
424:the original
398:. Retrieved
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323:Centre Block
311:Barrack Hill
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285:, including
278:asymmetrical
270:Thomas Stent
268:Designed by
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254:Centre Block
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235:Centre Block
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190:Thomas Stent
186:Architect(s)
58:Town or city
709:Peace Tower
342:Crown lands
108: /
83:Coordinates
670:East Block
660:West Block
553:5 November
526:2022-01-21
369:References
340:, and the
291:grotesques
203:West Block
96:75°42′02″W
93:45°25′24″N
22:West Block
723:Monuments
460:9 January
430:4 January
400:4 January
287:gargoyles
129:Completed
842:Category
547:CBC News
245:spaces.
755:Statues
704:Commons
580:Toronto
301:History
295:friezes
227:Ontario
72:Country
66:Ontario
699:Senate
336:, the
293:, and
223:Ottawa
211:French
153:(1906)
148:(1878)
143:(1866)
137:Client
76:Canada
62:Ottawa
221:, in
158:Owner
587:2018
555:2015
462:2009
432:2009
402:2009
317:Sir
305:The
272:and
201:The
192:and
132:1865
124:1859
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