Sir John A. Macdonald Building

The Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa, originally built in 1932 as the Bank of Montreal, is considered one of Canada’s foremost heritage structures. It was given a second lease on life in 2015 when it was transformed into a new conference and meeting facility for Canada’s House of Commons.

The design team restored the building’s art deco facade and ornamented interior, transforming the former grand banking hall into a new ceremonial space for events of state. At the same time, the team modernized all infrastructure systems for optimum energy efficiency, safety, security and new seismic standards. A contemporary addition supports the conference facility while also filling a gap in this important streetscape across from Parliament Hill. The Sir John A. Macdonald Building achieves a perfect balance of historic context and contemporary functionality, and supports the long-term revitalization of Canada’s iconic Parliamentary Precinct.