A contemporary annex to the renovated former Bank of Montreal is a sophisticated addition to the Confederation Boulevard streetscape.
PROJECT Sir John A. Macdonald Building, Ottawa, Ontario
ARCHITECTS NORR Limited Architects Engineers Planners
TEXT Sarah Brown
PHOTOS Doublespace Photography
Imagine, for a moment, that this is your first week on the job. You?re a rookie MP, fresh and eager after your October 19th election win, heading to Ottawa for the compulsory weeklong orientation session. One key meeting is booked at the newly opened Sir John A. Macdonald Building. You make your way to 144 Wellington Street, directly across from West Block, chatting with your fellow members of parliament, perhaps remark­ing on the noble façade of the former Bank of Montreal building or noticing for the first time the contemporary glass-fronted addition, situated in a former parking lot. As you and your colleagues enter the main hall, there?s an abrupt hush as everyone pauses to take in the moment?the grandeur of the gallery, sun streaming through soaring windows, lighting up the intricate tiled floor and bouncing off the exquisite suspended art-deco lights. Your heady confidence in the wake of the election takes a backseat as you survey your surroundings and draw a deep steadying breath. The former banking hall has been completely restored while incorporating new HVAC, lighting, audio-visual systems and other infrastructure allowing it to be used as a conference and reception venue.
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