Senate of Canada receives 2020 Civic Trust Award

The Senate of Canada in Ottawa has been awarded a 2020 Civic Trust Award — the building is one of only two projects from North America to win the award. The award, presented to Public Services and Procurement Canada, Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects, is part of the longest-running international awards program recognizing outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment. DTAH is proud to be part of the design team as landscape architects for this project.

In accordance with the Long Term Vision and Plan, the building is designed to temporarily accommodate the Senate for the duration of the 10-year-long Centre Block renovation. The recently re-opened facility, originally built in 1912, was Ottawa’s central train station until 1966 and was then converted to a government conference centre.

The landscape scope involves the public realm surrounding the building, making the Senate’s temporary home more accessible and welcoming while also meeting the necessary safety and security needs. All landscape features (including streetscape, ramps, stairs, security fence, lighting, and street furniture) integrate a new contemporary design aesthetic that is both elegant and minimal into the historic context, so as to avoid cluttering or overshadowing the beaux-art language of the building.