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Sault’s IDEA Inc. proud of team's efforts (4 photos)

Local firm was one of six finalists in competition to redesign Block 2 facing Parliament Hill

Toronto-based Zeidler Architecture Inc. in association with David Chipperfield Architects (London, United Kingdom) has won the competition to renew the Urban Block facing Parliament Hill in Ottawa (Block 2). 

IDEA Inc., with offices in Sault Ste. Marie and Ottawa, working in collaboration with United Kingdom architectural firm WilkinsonEyre, was one of just six architectural firms shortlisted to compete for the massive project.

“We were of course hoping for a better outcome but are certainly honoured to have placed in the top six of this prestigious international competition. This was a massive accomplishment for our small firm and speaks volumes for our team's capabilities and confidence in the design space,” said Jeanette Biemann, IDEA principal in an email to SooToday.

Situated directly across from Ottawa’s Peace Tower, Block 2 of the parliamentary precinct includes 11 existing buildings and is nearly 110,000 square feet in size, consisting of office space for the House of Commons and the Senate, the Library of Parliament and retail space along Ottawa’s Sparks Street.

The block includes the former chancery of the U.S. Embassy and CIBC’s main branch in Ottawa.

The renovated, restored and modernized area will include Parliamentary offices and space for other functions.

The renewal project is part of the federal government’s plan to renovate, restore, and modernize the buildings of Canada’s parliament.

"Our team of architects and engineers are of the opinion that we produced an exciting but sensitive scheme and we had high hopes it would be well received by the jurors. We are of course disappointed in the outcome but are so appreciative of the collective talent of our group, which allowed us to be voted to the final round in this international competition that attracted teams from Canada and around the world. We congratulate the winning team and look forward to watching the block take shape in the coming months,” said Dino Di Sano, IDEA principal.

“This competition has inspired our team to keep growing and challenging ourselves as designers. As for what’s next? Our firm is currently working on over 100 projects in communities surrounding our two Ontario offices in Sault Ste Marie and Ottawa. We love working each day to help our clients solve their design challenges and bring their projects to life,” Biemann said.

Apart from IDEA Inc. and Zeidler, other finalists included:

  • Diamond Schmitt Architects (Toronto, Canada) in joint venture with Bjarke Ingels Group (New York, United States), KWC Architects (Ottawa, Canada) and ERA Architects (Toronto, Canada)
  • NEUF Architects (Ottawa, Canada) in joint venture with Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Paris, France)
  • Provencher Roy + Associés Architectes Inc. (Montréal, Canada)
  • Watson MacEwen Teramura Architects (Ottawa, Canada) in joint venture with Behnisch Architekten (Boston, United States)

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada oversaw the competition, along with a multidisciplinary jury. The design competition manager, Phase Eins, is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.

The federal government announced Zeidler Architecture as the competition’s winner on Monday.


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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