Ottawa Urban Design Awards, Award of Merit (2017)
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Restoring a heritage building that has been home to many.
Formerly home to the Public Archives of Canada and then the Canadian War Museum, 330 Sussex Drive was originally built between 1904 and 1906. The Global Centre for Pluralism sought to restore and rehabilitate the building to serve as its new home and headquarters. Re-connecting the stretch between Rideau Canal and Rideau Falls to the extensive network of Capital Pathways was also a priority for the Global Centre for Pluralism project.
The design team for this revitalization was led by KPMB Architects. Smith + Andersen was engaged to provide mechanical, electrical, communications, and security consulting services for this revitalization project.
Restoring a heritage building that has been home to many.
Formerly home to the Public Archives of Canada and then the Canadian War Museum, 330 Sussex Drive was originally built between 1904 and 1906. The Global Centre for Pluralism sought to restore and rehabilitate the building to serve as its new home and headquarters. Re-connecting the stretch between Rideau Canal and Rideau Falls to the extensive network of Capital Pathways was also a priority for the Global Centre for Pluralism project.
The design team for this revitalization was led by KPMB Architects. Smith + Andersen was engaged to provide mechanical, electrical, communications, and security consulting services for this revitalization project.
A breath of fresh air.
As part of the revitalization of the heritage building itself, the exterior was rehabilitated and stabilized. Internally, spaces were transformed to open floorplates characteristic of the original archives interiors (including paring back to the column and beam structure). Smith + Andersen worked with the design team to upgrade the mechanical system, supporting fresh air and improving air circulation throughout the variety of programmed spaces.
The centre of the courtyard in front of the building provides a large open space with integrated electrical infrastructure, allowing for maximum programming flexibility for outdoor lectures, film screenings, temporary installations and exhibitions, markets, and concerts. The team also provided consultation on the design of the communications and security systems for this important facility.
