West Block Ottawa Building Rehabilitation Project, Offices, Canadian Architecture Images

West Block in Ottawa

House of Commons Building in Canada: Renewal design by EVOQ Architecture

29 Jul 2018

Rehabilitation of the West Block of Parliament

Design: EVOQ Architecture with ARCOP/Architecture49

Location: Western Departmental Building, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4, Canada

West Block of Parliament Rehabilitation in Ottawa

photo © EVOQ

EVOQ Architecture is strengthening its presence in the National Capital area with the addition of longtime Ottawa resident, Jayant Gupta, Senior Architect OAA, OAQ, LEED AP, RAIC who joined EVOQ this spring after having worked alongside the company for three years on the West Block Rehabilitation Project.

photo © EVOQ

Jayant brings extensive experience in leading project teams at all stages of design and construction. He has background in housing as well as cultural and institutional facilities. Jayant is a strong advocate for sustainable design and is a LEED Accredited Professional with the Canada Green Building Council. He has worked on four projects that have been certified LEED Silver or LEED Gold.

photos © EVOQ

Jayant joins EVOQ Associate Jim Curtiss AIA, APT who has been with the firm since 2005 and was instrumental in establishing EVOQ’s Ottawa office. Jim has wide-ranging experience in architecture and architectural conservation. He has been an indispensable part of EVOQ’s most significant project in the area to date: the Rehabilitation of the West Block of Parliament, realized in joint venture with ARCOP/Architecture49. It will be the interim seat of the House of Commons when the Centre Block of Parliament closes for its own rehabilitation starting in December 2018.

photo © MANIKMATI PHOTOGRAPHY

Canadian media were recently given a rare glimpse of the project during a media tour animated by EVOQ’s own Georges Drolet who is one of the lead architects for the project and designed the spectacular glass roof structure built over the West Block courtyard.

photos © MANIKMATI PHOTOGRAPHY

Quote from Jim: “I have settled in Ottawa because this is an exciting time to be in this region of Ontario and Canada. There are many important projects coming and already underway here. Together, Jayant and I have ambitious plans for expanding our office and team to continue to be significant players in Ottawa’s future.

photos © MANIKMATI PHOTOGRAPHY

Quote from EVOQ Director and founding-partner Julia Gersovitz: “The delivery of the West Block Rehabilitation Project will mark a significant milestone for EVOQ. We have been instrumental in this project since 1995. One of the real challenges in a long-term project, such as the West Block, is achieving a coherent architectural vision that responds to the client’s goals. I am proud that we are able to consistently contribute to design solutions of real quality and value within sensitive and complex contexts.”

photo © EVOQ

In addition to the West Block, EVOQ has been involved in numerous projects in the National Capital Region, including the award-winning rehabilitation of the Wellington Building as the heritage architects, and numerous heritage studies of the buildings that make up the Parliamentary Precinct.

photos © EVOQ

About EVOQ
EVOQ is an award-winning architecture firm recognized for quality interventions and site sensitive design solutions. Our name, EVOQ, is also our conviction that architecture should be an expression of meaning. As contextual architects, we are always looking at the broader picture, respecting the history, culture and location of each project to inform our design process. Our purpose is to create a link between past, present and future with creativity and nuance.

The firm, formerly known as FGMDA, was first established in 1996, following the merger of two offices founded in 1983. In 2016, we incorporated and changed our name to EVOQ Architecture. We specialize in heritage conservation and Inuit and First Nations architecture, with additional expertise in residential and commercial projects and heritage planning.

Jayant Gupta (center); with (from left) Roxanne Turmel, Emily Beauregard, Zoé Lebel, and Jim Curtiss – photo © EVOQ

West Block in Ottawa images / information received 290718

Location: Western Departmental Building, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4, Canada

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