Parliament Hill in Ottawa has been under renovation since 2019 and there’s about a decade of work left. While the Senate was moved to the old Union Station, the House of Commons stayed in the same building. It moved its chamber from inside the building to the courtyard and covered it so it could be air-conditioned. I suspect this move saved millions compared to constructing a new temporary building.
The gallery for the temporary chamber sits on a raised platform in the courtyard to offer unique views of the details on the walls. Gargoyles, stone reliefs, coloured windowsills are all up close during the renovation, this view will not return after renovations are complete. Despite the ongoing work, members of the public are still able to observe parliamentary proceedings as usual and new committee meetings online. Even though I think the Senate’s temporary chamber is a better example of adaptive modernization, parliament is the one we’re all paying attention to.
