Over 150 members of IBEW Local 586 have been working on the renovations for Parliament’s West Block. You can watch a time lapse of the work by photographer Ron de Vries.
The West Block is the oldest building on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. An iconic landmark, the building was desperately in need of repairs, energy efficiency upgrades, and modern infrastructure. Now the seven-year project is complete and as of December 2018, MPs moved in to the temporary new House of Commons so that the Centre Block project, expected to last ten years, can get under way.
The project emphasizes retaining the heritage character of the building, while making some important improvements. The building is applying for LEED Silver certification for energy efficiency, and the IT infrastructure, lighting, environment control and electrical systems are fully modernized. Accessibility for wheelchair users was also significantly improved.
Local 586 Business Manager John Bourke says, “There is a great sense of pride to be able to work on such a prestigious and iconic building.”
Photographer Ron de Vries has been documenting the work for the past six and a half years, using seven time lapse cameras at ten different locations. The images were brought together by film maker Conor DeVries.