Centre Block | |
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General information | |
Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
Town or city | Ottawa, Ontario |
Country | Canada |
Coordinates | 45°25′30″N 75°42′00″W / 45.425°N 75.700°W |
Construction started | 1859 Reconstruction: 24 July 1916 Renovation: 2018-2031 |
Completed | Current building: 1 July 1927 |
Client | The Queen in Right of the United Kingdom (1859) The King in Right of Canada (1916) |
Owner | The King in Right of Canada |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | John A. Pearson and Jean-Omer Marchand |
The Centre Block (French: Édifice du Centre) is the main building of the Canadian parliamentary complex on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario, containing the House of Commons and Senate chambers, as well as the offices of a number of members of parliament, senators, and senior administration for both legislative houses. It is also the location of several ceremonial spaces, such as the Hall of Honour, the Memorial Chamber, and Confederation Hall.
Built in the Gothic Revival style, the present Centre Block is the building's second iteration. The first was destroyed by fire in 1916; all that remains of the original building is the Library of Parliament, at the rear of the Centre Block. Though construction began immediately after the blaze, sculpting work on the interior continued through the 1970s. Then, from 2018, MPs were moved elsewhere for renovations lasting until 2031.
One of the most recognizable buildings in Canada, the Centre Block is depicted on the Canadian $10 bill (the Library of Parliament), $20 bill (the Peace Tower), and the $50 bill.