Portrait Gallery of Canada

Designed through a joint venture of Dixon Jones Architects (London), Teeple Architects Inc (Toronto), and Cole + Associates Architect Inc. (Ottawa), the National Portrait Gallery of Canada was to be constructed on Wellington Street in Ottawa across from Parliament Hill. GBCA was retained in 2003 as the heritage consultant for the project, which was to incorporate the former U.S. Embassy Building.

The prominent Beaux Arts style building was designed in 1931 and completed in 1932 by the important American architect, Cass Gilbert. Gilbert, known for iconic buildings such as the Woolworth Building in New York and important government buildings such as the United States Supreme Court in Washington, was a much sought after architect in the first decades of the 20th century. The building served as the embassy for over 65 years at which time the new Skidmore, Owings and Merrill building opened on Sussex Drive.

For this high-profile project, GBCA prepared a condition assessment and restoration strategy for the exterior of the building, which included the buff-coloured Indiana limestone with its Corinthian pilasters and carved panels, the decorative metal work, and the large multi-light bronze windows. On the interior, features such as the wood and marble wall paneling, brass light fixtures, and travertine stairs had to be considered.

In collaboration with other members of the project team, GBCA also ensured that the requirements for museum quality climate control would not have a detrimental impact to the historic building fabric.