Volume 28 Numbu 1
also restored the role of the geologist, with they represent. Their design and construc- the requirement to understand the tion has been the work of formative complex reactions of the building stone to architects and builders. Great pains have the environment and its neighbouring been taken to ensure that these are masonry clcments, and in the quest to significant structures, of unique design find suitable replacement stone. and beauty, using quality materials and built with exacting craftsmanship, worrhy R~UM~ of thc importance of the business that Les pierres de construction utilisk pour transpirs within thcir walls. Canada's les tdifices du Parlement h Omwa Parliament Buildings in Ottawa are no prwienncnt de nombreuses carrikres exception. autant au Canada, aux &ts-Unis que de This is the first of a series of Building Stones plusieurs pays europkns. Ells ont et4 articles about the building stones of till&, pods et sculpt& suivant des Canada's federal and provincial Parlia- of Canada's Federal procedCs precis, en conformite avec 1s ment Buildings. Historians, political Parliament Buildings r&glesde I'an de I'epoque. La rcconstruc- scientists, architects, and engineers have tion de I'Cdifice du centre qui est le sujet written at length about the buildings and D.E. Lawxnce du prCsent article, a ttt une &rc qui tbcir varied histories. Geologists, for the Geological Survey of Cad s'est Ctirk Ctant donnt les prioritCs lors de most part, have been silent. It is expected GO1 Booth Smrt la Grande Guerrc de 1914-1918. Ces that this series will be written by a Ottawa, Ontario KIA OE8 pierres de revetement des edifices du number of geologists, and may cover all [email protected] Parlement ont subi les avanies du climat, provinces and territories to document the du feu, de tremblements de terre et de la stories of the stones themselves. SUMMARY pollution, et recemment, des efforts et des Thc Federal Parliament Buildings The building stones used in the Ottawa fonds considirables ont et6 consentis are perhaps Canada's finest example of Parliament Buildings were mined from pour la restauration des ClCments de what has been termed "High Victorian numerous quarries in Canada, United maqonnerie de tous les tdifices afin eclecticism," a kind of Canadian national States, and several European nations. d'assurer la ptremitt de ce site historique architectural style (Kalman, 1994). This They were cut, placed and carved accord- national. Le rble dtterminant du gto- style is also known informally as "pictur- ing to exacting procedures using the most loguc, Ion de I'evaluation initiale et du esque Gothic revival style," and includes up-to-date technology of the time. choix des pierres, a it6 largement ignore many elements from medieval architec- Construction of the rebuilt Centre Block, jusqu'i maintenant, mais la resrauration ture. The composition of the Federal the focus of this article, was a protracted des edifices a permis de remettre en valeur Parliament Buildings has been described &air, interrupted by the demands of the le rdle du gtologue, parce qu'il fallair as bold and effective, a tribute to the 1914-1918 Great War. Exterior stone of d'abord comprendre les rkctions com- architects and politicians of the mid-19th the Parliament Buildings has endured the plexes des pierres de construction avcc century. The Centre Block in particular, ravages of weather, fire, seismic shaking I'environnement et les autres 6lCrnents de as reconstructed in the early years of the and pollution. Recently, great effort and ma~onnerieavoisinants, afin de pouvoir 20th century, is a fitting geographic and expense have been devoted to the restora- trouver des pierres de remplacement architectural site for the heart of the tion of the masonry elements of all of the convenables. Canadian government (Maidand et aL, buildings to ensure the continued 1992). Following urban rivalries princi- viability of this National Historic Site. INTRODUCflON pally among Kingston, Montreal and The role of the geologist, critical in the Canada's legislative buildings arc not only Ottawa over which town or city would initial evaluation and selection of the the place of business for governments, become the capid of the Province of building stone, was largely ignored until they are also monuments to the social and Canada, Queen Victoria, acting on the recently. Building restoration of late has economic progress of the jurisdictions advice of colonial officials, setrled the issue on the last day of December 1857, designating Ottawa as the capital of the Province. The grand scale of the Ottawa Parliament Buildings and their setting is a credit to those of the day. Although conceived as only the capital of the province, following Confederation in 1867 the buildings became available to serve as parliament for the new Domin- ion of Canada, comprising Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The legislature of the Province of Canada (1 84 1- 1867) first sat in Canada's Federal Parliament Buildings on 8 June 1866. In 1916, a fire destroyed the original Centre Block and the Victoria Tower. This paper focuses on the recon- struction of the Centre Block and the Peace Tower which replaced the original buildings, a monumental task that took 12 years to complete. The emphasis in this article is on the exterior stone, the WnStNc- tion history. and recent restoration.
Background Canada's Parliament Buildings are located Figure 1 Aerial view of Parliament Hill looking northwest, summer, 1774. Thr Rideau on an 11.6 ha site near the edge of a 50 Canal and locks, completed in 1832, lie immediately to the east: the Chateau Laurier Hotel m limestone cliff commanding a view is seen at lower right on the east bank of the Canal; the Ottawa River is seen to the north. over the Ottawa River to the north, and National Air Photo Library, Natural Resources Canada. the Rideau Canal to the east (Fig. 1). In 1977 Parliament Hill and all of its buildings were designated as a National C Historic Site. The Parliament Buildings com- prise three main "blocks": the south- facing Centre Block with its attached Peace Tower in front and Library at the hack (Fig. l), flanked on either side by East and West blocks. All three face inward to form three sides of a large quadrangle. The eternal flame, built in 1967 to commemorate Canada's confed- eration, is located on the south side of the quadrangle. The East and West blocks, built between 1859 and 1865, are original structures, as is the Library. The Centre Block and the Peace Tower were reconstructed &er the original Centre Block and Victoria Tower, built 1859- 1878 (Fig. 2), were burned beyond saving on 3 February 1916 (Fig. 3). The design for the original mid- 1800s buildings was selected from 16 submissions. The winning design, formally identified as "High Victorian Gothic Rwival style," was submitted by Figure 2 The original Cenrre Block and \'ictoria Tower, huilr benwen 1859 and 1866, wcre architects Thomas Fuller and Chilion destroyed by fire on 3 February 1916. I'hoto circa 1885, National Archivcs of Canada PA ]ones of Toronto, Ontario (then Canada 178205. Volume 28 Number 1
West). The construction contract was steel-reinforced stone building, approxi- was $12,379,846.92 (Canada Parliament, awarded on 27 November 1859 to Mr. mately 143 m long by 84 m deep. undated), almost two and a half times the Thomas McGreevy of Quekc Ciry, Although occupying almost the same original estimate of $5,000,000. It took Canada East. Later, at McGreevyi footprint as the original 4-storey building, 12 yean to complete, 9 years more than suggestion, the conwact was divided, and it provided 47% additional interior space. estimated. Messen. Jones, Haycock and Co. of Port Its Modern Gothic Revival design is Since reconstruction, the Centre Hope, Canada West (Ontario from characterized by features such as wing Block and Peace Tower have undergone 1867). assumed responsibility for con- towers, high-pitched variegated roofs, constant change, including the addition structing the Departmental Buildings, pierced by dormers, horizontal courses, and rearrangement of interior space, now known as the East and West blocks. pointed stone arches at windows and updating of infrastructure, and the The original contract price for the doors, and carved ornaments (for readers completion of ornamentation. They have construction of the Centre Block and not familiar with architectural terms, a also suffered the ravages of local industrial Victoria Tower was $348,500, and for the glossary is included as Table 1. Terms pollution, thousands of frcaelthaw East and West blocks, $278,810. All defined in the glossary are bold printed cycles, and the effects of road salt. Major buildings were to be completed by 1862. throughout the text). The dominant renovations and rehabilitation of the Although the Centre Block was not feature of Parliament Hill, the Peace structure have been undertaken recently, finished, the Legislature first sat in the Tower, built between 19 19 and 1927, and more are planned for the near Future. new building in June 1866. Costly rises 97.5 m in height, replacing the overruns, caused principally by poor original Victoria Tower (60 m). The Stone for the Original Buildings construction management, pushed the design for the reconstructed Centre Block Although this article focusses on the completion price to $1,750,720 for the and Peace Tower incorporated some of the building stone of the reconstructed Centre Block, Victoria Tower and Library, most up-to-date building materials and Centre Block and Peace Tower, many of and $641,036 each for the East and West techniques available at the time. the decisions on the building style and blocks (Canada Parliament, 1891). Despite a determined effort to the selection of building materials for the The Centre Block, reconstructed control costs of reconstruction, the final original structures strongly influenced the between 1916 and 1922, is a Gstorey, cost of the Centre Block and Peace Tower choice of materials used in their replace- ment half a century later. The original 1859 strumre (Fig. 2) required the careful choice of building stone, not only of appropriate colour and texture, but also with engineering at- tributes of strength and durabiliry. It also had to be quarried, cut, and transported at reasonable cost! The original specification for stone included the use of "native lime- stone," from Gloucester, Ontario or Hull, Quebec, for the exterior facing and quoins, and Ohio Sandstone, from Cleveland, Ohio, for the dressings of the windows and doors. However, in 1860, architects Fuller and Jones suggested to the Commissioner of Public Works that the sombre grey of the limestone would not be pleasing. Nepean Sandstone, which is lighter in colour and more durable, was suggested as a better choice, even though the cost would be somewhat higher. Fuller and Jones (27 January 1860) stated: We have been most anxious to find some orher stone lighter in color and Figure 3 Preparation of Parliament Hill for reconstruction of the Centre Block, 15 August of equal durability, and have for some 1916. Workmen with horse teams are removing the last of the rubble from the foundations months been making enquiry and ob- of the former building. In the middle ground, in front of the Library, another crew is drilling taining specimens of the sandstone in blast holes for foundation excavations. Only the Parliamentary Library remains intact. Its the neighbourhood; and as those rocks shored up entrance, which connected it to the Centre Block, can be seen beyond the drilling at Nepean [Ontario] and Templeton crew. Nationd Archives of Canada PA130624. [Quebec] appear to us the most suit- able, we personally inspected them both, and have the honor ro lay before Table 1 Glossary of architectural rerms you a brief report thereon, togerher Air Towers . venrilarion shafrs with an estimate of the entire cost in- Arch . a form of curved construction, usually masonry, rhat spans an curred by their use. .. . opening in a wall and distributes rhe weight ahove it on the wall or The stone of Nepean is lighr in color, piers at either side very hard, but found in layers from Carillon - a set of bells sounded by hammers controlled from a keyboard three inches to fifteen inches in thick- Dormer . a window that projects from a sloping roof, with a small roof of its ness; the beds are so level and true, and own the stones break so readily in a verrical Dressings . masonry or mouldings around windows or the corners of buildings joint, that little or no labor would be of better quality than the remainder of the facing brick or stone; required: this we beg to recommend normally with smooth faccs for the rubble facing.. . We find that Dutchman repair . replacemenr of damaged portion of a masonry clement the extra cost that would be incurred Flying buttress . detached pier of stone, with an arch at the rop that providcs lateral by substituting Nepean sandstone rub- support for an adjoining wall ble masonry for limesrone would be Foil . a curvcd recess bcrween cusps in gorhic rracery; also any of several $1 5,400. arcs that enclose a complex design In February 1860, William E. Gablet . a gable-shaped stone that crowns a buttress Logan, Director of the Geological Survey Gable - the vertical triangular srction of wall between rwo slopes of a of Canada, wrote to Samuel Keefer, pitched roof Depury Comnlissioner of Public Works, Gargoyle . a figurc that projccrs from rhe roof gutter or parapet of a wall or to discuss rhe merits of the Potsdam rower and is carved in to a grotesque figure of a human ur animal, formation (Nepcan Sandstone) as follows often a spout tcr throw rainwatrr clear of the building (Logan, 1860): Horizontal course . continuous horizontal layer of brick or masonry throughour a a source of excellent building mate- ... wall rial. There is no qucstion of the grear Lintel . thc horizontal supporring member at the top of a door or window durability of mosr of the beds belong- Parapet . a porrion of a wall that pmjrcrs ahove the edgr of a roof ing to it, and when such porrions of it Parging - a wash of plaster or cemrnt applied to hide or stabilize the surfacc are selected as are free from iron, there of a wall is lirrle doubt of its architectural value. Pier . an upright support, normally squarc or recrangular in cross- One of the characteristics of the sronr, section, and usually of masonry besides its power of resisting atmos- Pinnacle . slender point or summit placed on top of a burtrcss, gable, etc. pheric influmccs is its capability of en- Pilaster . shallow pier or rectangular column projccring only slightly from a during great heat wirhout injury. ...the wall, primarily dccorativc stone could bo obtained on the Ottawa Pointed stone arch . structural element rising to a poinr, spanning an oprning and [sic] the two most convenient [locali- resisting lateral or vertical prrsslrrr rics] for thc besr kind bcing I'resqu'lsle Quatrefoil a dccorarive arrangement of four lobes or lcaf-shapcd curvcs. about fifty miles below the ciry, and the . commonly uscd in Gothic tracery other lots 27, 28, 29 ranges 5 and 6 of Quoin dressed stones at the corners of buildings, usually laid so that Nepean. The stone of rhese localirirs . their kccs are altrrnatcly large and small, usually in a contrasting would in my opinion be most cndur- ing material. colour or texrurc frorn thc resr of the wall loosening and rcmoval of dcreriorarcd mortar, normally hy These recommendations were accepted, . and Nepean Sandsrone became the prime scraping building material for the Parliament Repointing . to scratch out the mortar from rhe joints of a masonry wall and Buildings. Fuller and Jones' estimate refill with new matcrial represenred a premium of $0.21/ft' over Rubble . masonry construction using rough, undressed stonrs the use of limesrone, based on the greater Shoddy . a rough undressed building srone haulage distance (1 6 km from the Nepean rracety . ornamental works in the uppcr part of a window, screen, nr panel, quarries, as opposed to approximately 5 or uscd decoratively in hlank arches and vaults. km from the Gloucester quarries) and the ruttet . small slender tower higher cost of quarrying the harder, more hiegated roof . diversity of size and shape of adjacent roof elenlenrs durable material. Later, contractors (ault . arched ceiling or rnnf of stone, brick, or concretc argued that they could not quarry and Wing tower - a tower projecting frorn the main or ccntral parr transport the Nepean Sandstone for the $0.21 /fr' premium estimated by the Zeferences: Various sources including, Acland (1972), Fleming er nl. (1991). Kalman architects and requested as much as a 1994). Mactar and Adamson (1963). and Summerson (1'964). $0.57/ftipremium to cover their costs. Volume 28 Number 1
Thus at this very early stage, costs began Stone for the limestones, marbles, and decorative to escalate. The reconstruction of the Reconrtructed Bulldlnp building stones from Canadian and Centre Block 50 years later would use The reconstructed Centre Block had its European quarries were used in the sandstone from a number of the same beginnings with the destruction of the reconstruction. quarries in Nepean Township. original building. The February 1916 fire The exterior walls comprise: In addition to the local, light grey started in the Parliamentary Reading Nepean Sandstone from Ontario for the Nepean Sandstone used for the outer Room, ravaged the Gntre Block and outer facing; Ohio Sandstone from Ohio facing of the walls, known as rubble or Victoria Tower, and killed 7 people. Only for the trim and decoration; and Wallace shoddies, the following building stones the Library was spared (Fig. 3). At first it Sandstone from Nova Scotia for the trim were chosen for the construction of the was thought that the facade of the original for the light wells, cow, air towers, original building (Page, 1867): Centre Building could be saved; however, chimneys, and penthouses (Contract Ohio Sandstone, a greylbrown following investigation of the walls and Record, 1919). relatively soft stone from the Cleveland foundations, it was deemed that this The most notable change in the area, Ohio, used for dressings, gables, would be imprudent and unsafe. The building ficade of the reconstructed and pinnacles reconstruction for the Centre Block began Centre Block is the absence of the red Potsdam Sandstone, a reddish almost immediately, and by the fall of Potsdam Sandstone, which was replaced, sandstone, from the Potsdam area of 1916 was well underway (Fig. 4). for the most part, by Ohio Sandstone. A northern New York State, used for According to Kindle (1926), the visual comparison can be easily made &a over the doors and windows reconstructed Centre Block and Peace between original building stones, as seen Slate, both light and dark grey, from Tower display, in their beautiful Gothic in the East and West blocks and the Vermont, used for roofing lines, good examples of some of Canadaj Library, and the newer materials, as seen Gloucester Limestone from the bat-known building stones. Nepcan in the reconstructed Centre Block and Ottawa area, used for the interior Sandstone and Wallace Sandstone were Peace Tower. portions of walls and the flying but- used for the exterior, and Tyndall Lime- The principal interior building tresses of the Library, and stone for the interior. Ohio Sandstone stone is Tyndall Limestone from Mani- Marble, principally obtained from from the United States was also exten- toba. This beautiful, warm, vibrant, various sites along the Ottawa River, sively used on the exterior. In addition, fossiferous limestone is used throughout used in the interior. more than WO dozen other types of the main floor of the building for walls and vaults. In an attempt to avoid the problems experienced with the construc- tion of the original buildings, WO general polices were adopted for the reconstruc- tion: the use of Canadian materials wherever possible, and the selection of the lowest bids for materials and services to avoid political patronage. A Joint Com- mittee was struck composed of four members appointed by Prime Minister Borden and four members appointed by the Leader of the Opposition. Its mandate was to control all aspects of the recon- struction and to ensure that cost overruns and labour problems, like those encoun- tered during the original construction, would not be repeated. Between 1916 and 1921 the Joint Committee met 64 times, voting on resolutions dealing with finances, engi- neering, design detail and arbitration of contracts. Two of their early decisions included the appointment of Pearson and Marchand as architects and Peter Lyall and Sons Construction Co. Ltd. as Figure 4 View looking southwest showing thr earlv stages of the rcconstrucrion of the (:cntrc contractor. All came with impressive Block. Reyond thc construcrion on [he Irk is the sronc curring shed and rn rhe right rhe credentials. architect's offices. The West Block is in the background. Photo taken 26 September 1916. John A. Pearson (1867-1940). the National Archives of Canada C6361. ~rinci~alarchitect for the reconstructed Centre Block and Peace Tower, was born reconstructed Centre Block (Fig. 5). This The physical characteristics are: in England and educated at the Univer- white to cream coloured, almost pure Specific gravity ...... 2.6 13 sity of Sheffield. Pearson came to Canada quartz sandstone, was obtained from the Weight per cubic foot ...... 153.504 lbs. in 1888 and joined the Toronto firm of township of Nepean, south east of the Pore space ...... 7.22% Darling and Curry. In 1908 the firm of present-day City of Kanata, Ontario, Ratio of absorption ...... 2.93% Darling and Pearson was formed. Pearson approximately 16 km west of Parliament Coefficient of saturation ...... 0.21 had been responsible for numerous Hill. Casual observation of this material, Permeability ...... 4.87 ~.c./in.~/h commercial, institutional, and domestic in rim, can be seen in a road cut along Crushing strength ...... 22,032 lbs.lin.2 buildings of various design styles in major Highway 417 on the height of land just Reports prepared during the cities across Canada. east of the City of Kanata. reconstruction cite problems with the Jean 0. Marchand (I 872-1936), Upper Cambrian sandstones are quality of the Nepean Sandstone to the associate architect for the reconstructed exposed in the Frontenac Axis, which point where some stone was rejected. Cenrre Block and Peace Tower, was born extends from Ottawa southward to the Observations on the construction site in Montreal and educated at the College Kingston-Brockville area (Wilson, 1946) suggest that there was considerable of Montreal. He studied architecture at and into upstate New York. In the south, variation in the quality of the building the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris benveen the sandstone is generally known as stone, varying from the most durable 1893 and 1903. Marchand designed the Potsdam Sandstone, taking its name from quartzitic material to relatively vulnerable Canadian pavilion at the Paris Exposition the town of Potsdam, New York. Its stone that may have been quarried from 1900, and worked on a wide range of colour ranges from white and buff, to beds where the cementing material was public, commercial, educational, and light shades of salmon pink, purple, dark partly calcareous, argillaceous or ferrugi- especially ecclesiastical buildings. In his rose, and, less commonly, brick coloured. nous (Keith Blades, personal communica- latter years Marchand was invited by the The pink and red varieties historically tion, September 2000). French Government to assist in the have been highly sought after as a huild- Dick Williams, a Welshman who planning for the 1937 Paris Exhibition ing stone for commercial and residential came to Canada in 1902, opened a small buildings, and was awarded the Legion of buildings. In the north, the sandstone quarry in the Nepean formation on the Honour by the French Government for that lies to the west of Ottawa is known as farm of his father-in-law (Fig. 6). The two his contribution to French art. Ncpcan Sandstone. It is white to cream in began making paving stones in 1912 and Peter Lyall and Sons Construction colour and is harder than io southern in 1916 rhey were joined by a young Co. Ltd., a large and well-known con- counterpart. Parks (1912) considered the Scot, Archie Campbell, a recently appren- tracting firm based in Montreal, had been material from Lot 6, Concession 11, ticed quarryman (Jennic Hutchinson, engaged in construction projects through- Ottawa Front, Ncpean Township as daughter of Dick Williams, personal out Canada. Lyall was born in 1841 in typical and described it as follows: communication, July 2000). Scotland where he learned his trade, The bcds on this and on the adjoining According to Campbell (in emmigrated to Canada in1870, and properties are exposed on a gentle hill Goldblatt, 1949): about 1879 started his business in rising above the surrounding farmland. Our first order came from Peter Lyall association with his five sons (Morgan, 'l'he dip is northward at a low angle Construction Company for 1,000 tons 1912). One son, William, was in charge [nearly flat lying in most locations]. .... of slndsrone all for the Parliament of the reconstruction of the Centre Block Joints cut the beds north and south and Buildings. When we got the parliament and Peace Tower. He was also President of east and west and are rather irregularly job there were several hundred men on the Wallace Sandstone Quarries Co., the developed. Blocks can sometimes he ob- the job and they just gobbled up the suppliers of both Tyndall Limestone from tained 4 to 6 feer [1.2-1.8 m] long hut stonc. We couldn't get the stone out Manitoba and Wallace Sandstone from never more than 2 feet wide 160 cm]. fast enough ... Stone was hauled up to Nova Scotia. The joint planes are almost always cov- the building site by tcams of horses, ered with a brown skin of iron oxide: struggling along poor roads with six- GEOLOGY OF THE BUILDING this skin must be split off, if it is desir- ton loads. Each team could make but STONES, CENTRE BLOCK AND able to use the joint face for the exte- one trip a day. PEACE TOWER rior of a block in a building. Failure to To meet the demand, Campbell Exterior Stone do this has injured the appearance of imported many quarrymen and stone The formarion, age, description, source, certain buildings.. ... cutters from Scotland where the trade still and use of the exterior building stones in The scone: No. 216. Although com- flourished. The Campbell Quarry, as it the reconstructed Centre Block and Peace monly called white Nepean sandstone, came to be known, supplied much of the Tower are summarized in Table 2. The this example shows a distinctly grey stonc for the Centre Block and all of the primary building stones are discussed colour. ...There is no appreciable change stone for the Peace Tower (Burnett, below. in colour on treatment with carbolic 1962). The quarry continued operation acid in water. The stone is composed under various owners until September Nepean Sandstone of irregularly shaped quartz grains em- 1962, when the National Capital Com- Nepean Sandstone is the principal bedded in a calcareous cement ofwhich mission expropriated the land for part of material used in the exterior walls of the there is a considerable quantity. Otrawa's Green Belr. Ofices, laboratories Volume 28 Numbcr 1 and experimental sites of Natural Re- quarrying operations with a number of composition, and silica usually in excess sources Canada now occupy the quarry local "old time" residents. of 90%. The colour is normally a blue- and surrounding property. grey, however, near-surface rock may be Nepean Sandstone has been Ohio Sandstone buff or yellow. The buff colour in some widely used in government, ofice, and Ohio Sandstone, also referred to as "Ohio localities extends to a depth of 9 m. residential buildings and numerous Stone" or "Cleveland Stone," was used in When exposed in an exterior wall the churches in the Ottawa area. Well-known both the original and reconstructed blue-grey stone gradually changes colour buildings include the Victoria Memorial Centre Blocks for trim on the windows to grey, and finally to buff, owing to Museum (19 12; now the Museum of and doors (Fig. 5). In the reconstruction, oxidation (Brownocker, 1915). The buff Nature), Royal Canadian Mint (1908), some material was salvaged and recur on stone for the Centre Block and Peace Public Archives, (1907; now the War site. New stone was purchased from the Tower was quarried close to Birmingham, Museum), Royal Observatory at the same quarry as the original in Ohio Ohio, and shipped by rail from Central Experimental Farm (1903), (David Tyrrell, former president of the Wakeman, Ohio. Stone currently taken Confederation Building (1930). Con- American Stone Corp., personal cornmu- from this quarry is known in the trade as naught Building (1913), Langevin nication, April 2000). "Birmingham Buff Sandstone." It is Building (18891, and the Nepean Town Ohio Sandstone is part of the normally massive with no apparent Hall (1896). Berea formation of Mississippian age. bedding planes; however, in a few places, Sourcing and the evaluation of Berea sandstone has been quarried in beds may be defined by thin shale replacement stone for the recent rehabili- Ohio since the early 1800s and its use as a partings. Vertical breaks in the rock are tation of the Parliamentary Library, by the building stone in North America is less common than horizontal breaks. author and others, has led to the renewed widespread. It is a medium to fine- Notable Canadian buildings containing sampling and testing of material from the grained, clay-bonded, quara sandstone Ohio Sandstone include the Bank of old quarry, and discussions of the original (Pepper n aL, 1954) with a fairly uniform Canada in Montreal, Bank of Commerce
Table 2 Principal Exterior Building Stones of the Centre Block, Peace Tower and Library
STONE FORMATION AGE DESCRlPTION SOURCE PRINCIPAL USE Nepean Ncpcan Cambriznl Medium-grained, morrlcd Nepcan, Ontario Principal rronc for rhc walls Sandstone (considered Ordavician white to cream coloured, Various quarries, of the Gntre Block, ro be cor~lativc almost pure, quartz approx. l6 km west Pace Tower and Library with Potsdam) sandstone with irregular of Parliament Hill rusr spots Ohio Sandstone Brrea Lower Coarse-gained, gritty, Original source 'Trim around doors and (Birmingham Carboniferous bluish-grey to buff, quoted as Wakcman, windows, decorative elcmcnrs Ruff Sandstone) porous sandstone Ohio (see tort dressings, pinnacles, turrets, (Bcrea Sandstone) - for explanation) and rowers Wallacc Boss Point Upper Medium-grained, Wallace, Archway of the Peace rower, Sandstone Carboniferous huff sandstone. Cumhrrland Co., [rim for doors and windows very similar in Nova Scotia on the inrcrior courtyards, appearance air towen, light wells, ro Ohio Sandsronr chimneys, and pmrhoures. Not easily di~rin~uishedfrom Ohio Sandsrone when wearhered Porrage du Fort Gtenvillc Precarnhrian Massive white Portage du Forr, Cornersrone Marble dolomitic marhle Ponriac Co.. Quebec Scanstead Granire Devonian Medium- ro Beebe, Quebcc Steps of rhe Main entrance coarse-grained grey and gargoyles at rhe granirc observation levcl of the Peace Tower Porrdarn Potsdam Cambrianl Pink, coarse-grained Malonr. New York Window and door trim for Sandscone Ordovician quartz sandstone rhe Library (1860s construction) Gloucester Orrawa Ordovician Limertonr with Gloucesrer, Ontario Flying burtresses on the Limr~tonc interbedded shale approx. 5.5 lint cast Library (1860s conrtruction) of ParliamcnrHill in Winnipeg, and numerous buildings in Toronto. ASTM test data for the Birming- ham Buff Stone are: Compressive strength ...... 79.8 Mpa Modulus of rupture ...... 8.1 Mpa Specific gravity ...... 2.153 Absorption ...... 5.8% (provided by The American Stone Corporation, 1999).
Wallace Sandstvne Wallace Sandstone was not used on the original Centre Block; however, in an effort to reduce costs for the reconstruc- tion, considerable effort was made to use a Canadian source of sandstone. It was decided that Wallace Sandstone from Nova Scotia, which is very similar in appearance to Ohio Sandstone, would be used externally for air towers, chimneys, penthouses, the quatrefoil in the Peace Tower, and for carved blocks and trim on windows and doors on the interior court Figure 5 Derail of the pnrtly complered masonry of the south facade of the Centre Block, elevatinns. Ohio Sandstone was retained November 1916. The quoins and shoddies are composed of Nepean Sandstone and the for most of the other exterior details. window arches, lintels and gable arc of Ohio Sandstone. The rectangular block above the Wallace Sandstone may have been used small central gable atop the middle window, ground floor, was later carved in the form of a elsewhere, but lack of detailed records and gargoyle. National Archives of Canada. PA205986. heavy soiling make it difficult to identify posirively. This Upper Carboniferous, grey and olive sandstone from the Boss Point Formation of the Cumberland Group is from the Wallace area, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Ir has been widely used as a building stone since the early 1800s, and is highly prized because of its colour, texture, and ease of carving. Although this stone has been quarried from a number of localities, the largest, most productive, and the only one currently in production is that of the Wallace Stone Company. The level of activity at the quarry in the early part of the 20th century was considerable (Fig. 7). This quarry was the source of the stone used in the Centre Block and Peace Tower. According to Parks (1914a), the deposit was discovered while digging postholes, and was initially quarried for flagstone. He described the beds as being almost horizontal. Two well-defined vertical joint systems, with a spacing from 3 m to 6 m, run at approximately right angles to each other, facilitating quarrying operations. He descrihed the sequence of Figure 6 Quarrying nprrarions in the carly 1900s in the Ottawa Valley were similar to those beds in the north east corner of the seen here ar rhe Stewart Quar?; Rockland, Ontario, 1898. GSC collection, Narional property as follows (Parks, 1914a): Archives of Canada, PA5 1315. 20' (6 m) Stripping. Soil and thin hard "blue stone" from rhe grey stone. building, by the Duke of Connaught, shaly stone; Physical properties of the Wallace Governor General of Canada, on 1 6' (1.8 m) Heavy yellow bed; Sandstone are: September 1916. It is interesting to note 9' (2.7 m) Heavy yellow bed. Thin Compressive that it was his brother, King Edward VII, layer of shale; strength ...... 11.1 54 psi 1014,759 psi then the Prince of Wales, who laid the same 6' (1.8 m) Bed of grey stone (Blue); Absorption .... 4.0% (24 hours immersion) stone mctly 56 yean &er (Fig. 8). 20' (6 m) Grey stone in heavy layers. Saturation cocficient ...... 0.644 The cornerstone is a coarse- The Wallace Quarry has produced Unit weight grained, slightly banded dolomitic marble rhree colours of stone. The greatest (dry) ...... 141.0 lh.lft.3 to 145.2 lb.lft.3 quarried near the village of Portage du volume has been a medium to dark olive- Porosiry ...... 14.3% Fort in Pontiac county, Quebec, about green, fine- to medium-grained, massive Freezeithaw ...... 50 cycles, no failures 100 km northwest of Onawa. It was sandstone. The average thickness of the Average weighted loss quarried from one of the numerous quarried unit is 12 m. It overlies a fine- to at end of cycling ...... 0.06% exposures of Grenville marble, which are medium-grained, blue-grey sandstone (National Research Council, 1967). common in the area. with an average thickness of about 3 m. A Note: These resr results are generally A hand specimen of rhis marble light, olive-green sandstone has also been similar to those of Parks (1914a). was described by Parks (1914b) as produced from small pockets on the In addition to the trim and follows: northwestern sides of the qwry. carvings on the Centre Block and Peace ... a pure white dolomite unmarred by Parks (1914a) described the Tower and the Victoria Museum in any flaws except the occasional occur- mineralogy of Wallace Sandstone stone as Onawa, Wallace Sandstone has been used rence of minute yellowish specks. ... follows: widely throughout Canada. Many cities The grain is coarse with crystals up to ...the stone is seen to be made up of throughout the Maritimes have made use 10 mm in diameter. The corrosion test fairly uniform quara grains of about of this stone for their public buildings, produces no changes apparent to the 0.25 mm in diameter, and feldspars of one of the most noteworthy being the naked eye but slight pining of the sur- about the same size in far less abun- Provincial Building in Halifax. Consider- face may be seen with a strong lens. dance. The grains are rather rounded able volumes of the stone have also becn After listing the physical proper- in outline, and are fitted closely to- used for buildings in New York and ties and the results of strength, corrosion, gether with only a small amount of Boston. and absorption tests, Parks commented greenish-yellow cement of an argilla- that the stone is very durable and little ceous character. Although the feldspars The Mce-laid Cornerrtone affected by freezclthaw. Calculations show decomposition, there is, on the The white marble cornerstone from the made from the chemical analysis indicate whole, very little indeterminable ma- original Centre Block was recovered from 55.12% carbonate of lime and 43.07% terial, as little is to be seen except the dehris of the 1916 fire and re-laid, carbonate of magnesia. quartz, feldspars and cement. Mineral- approximately 30 m further east, at the ogically, rhere is little to distinguish the extreme northeast corner of the new lnterlor Stone More rhan two dozen rypes of building stone, decorative stone, and marble were used in the interior of the Centre Block and the Peace Tower, many from Cana- dian sources (Table 3). The selection of these materials was carefully considered. Deliberations between the architects and the Parliamentary Committee were often protracted. Many visits to quarries and reports of experts were required. Following the principle of using only Canadian materials proved to be difficult in many instances. Acquiring Canadian stone and marble of sufficient and quanrity was a ~roblem,and compromises had ro be made. For example, the corridors of the top floor of the Centre Block are lined in a rose red limestone that was originally intended for the Senate Chamber: on delivery, how- Figure 7 Quarrying sandsronr at thr \Vallacr Qu~rry~NOVA Sarti;t. This xonc was used in ever, this limestone roved unsuitable, as part as a rcplacenient k,r Ohio Sandstone on the rec
P- p- l Table 3 Interior Buildingind Decorative Stone of the Centre Block and the Peace Tower
STONE PRINCIPAL USES SOURCE 1 Tyndall Limestone . Walls of Corridors, entrance halls, main and first floors Garson, Manitoba Commons and Senate Chambers; Confederation Hall and Hall of Honour Bath Stone . Commons Railway Committee Room Bath, England Missisquoi Bolder Grey Marble . Floors of Corridors, Entrance Halls and Stairs Philipsburg, Quebec Missisquoi Verte Gris Marble Walls of Corridors, fourth and fifth floors Philipsburg, Quebec Missisquoi Black Marble . Border and base on floors of Main Corridors Quebec Hoidge Light Pink Cloud Marble Walls to Corridor, sixth floor Bancroft, Ontario Hoidge Dark Pink Cloud Marble Border to Corridor, sixth floor Bancroft, Ontario Grand Antique Marble . Columns at entrance to Main Dining Room and Mantles Vermont Rose Tavernelle Marble . Balustrade at Commons entrance Hall, Main Floor and Italy seats over radiators in corridors Vert Antique Marble . Border of Main Corridors Roxbury, Vermont Red Verona Marble . Columns in Senate Entrance Hall and Senate Chamber Italy St-Anne Marble . Columns in Memorial Chamber France Belgian Black Marble . Base in Memorial Chamber and Clock Cases Belgium Chateau Gaillard Stone Walls in Memorial Chamber France Hoptonwood Limestone Walls in Memorial Chamber Darbyshire, England Peerless Indiana Limestone Senate Chamber, Commons Chamber, and Foyer Bedford, Indiana Pink Tennessee Marble Walls and floors in lavatories Knoxville area,Tennessee Cedar Tennessee Marble . Safes, Sills and Backs to Radiators Knoxville area, Tennessee Stanstead Granite Sidewalks and Gargoyles on Tower Beebe, Quebec Tinos #2 Serpentine Circular Border, Main Entrance Hall Tinos, Greece Battlefield Stone Floor of Memorial Chamber France and Belgium Black and Gold Marble . Mantles Belgium Blanco Italian Marble Counter tops and Fronts in Serving Room Italy Red Granite Columns, Entrance to Library St. George, New Brunswick' Windsor Green Syenite . Columns, Confederation Hall and Hall of Honour Windsor, Vermont2
Modified from "List of Stone and Marble Generally Used in the New Parliament Building at Ottawa" Attributed to architect John Pearson and certified correct by A. Keefer, May 1941 ' Some documents indicate source to be Gananoque, Ontario Some documents indicate source to be Iberville, Quebec Volume 28 Number 1 March 2001 ous, world-famous Tyndall Stone is only The most striking feature of travertine flagstones from Italy surrounds mined at Garson, Manitoba (Wtlkins, Confederation Hall is its central column, the compass and picks out the dark 1986). Kendall (1977) attributed the which expands into an umbrella-like vault points. The sea is represented by a wavy unique mottling to the differential with eight radiating ribs, each joining a art deco band of Tinos #2 serpentine dolomirization of tubular cavities that clustered pillar at the perimeter of the from the island of %nos, Greece. This have been idenrified as the burrows of hall. and carved from mottled Tyndall dark serpentine is inlaid bmeen two boring organisms. Limestone (Fig. 10). The massive central circular bands of Missisquoi Bolder Grey Two colour phases are recognized: column represents the central govern- Marble from Philipsburg, Quebec. An a lighter, buff-coloured smne, characteris- ment, and ten perimeter pillars, made of outer circular border of Vert Antique tic of the upper beds; and a blue or grey stunning Windsor Green Syenite from Marble completes the elements of this stone found at depth. The lighter colour Vermont (actually a nordmarkite; striking composition (Fig. 10). of the upper material is amibuted to DeGrace, 1982) represent the pmvinccs. The remainder of the floor of weathering. The stone pmeasily along A carving of Neptune and his sea lions, Confederation Hall is made mostly of bedding planes, which facilitates quarry- symbolizing Canada's maritime com- bands of Missisquoi Bolder Grey Marble ing. An unusual feature of Tyndall merce, encircles the base of the central flagstones, its fine joint pattern adding a Limestone is that it performs well both column. distinctive linear pattern to the floor's when placed on edge and on its bedding The floor surrounding the column surface. The Missisquoi flagstones are plane (Pugh, 1935). is inlaid with decorative stone, beginning bordered by a dark-green, richly veined with a stylized mariner's compass with its marble and an outermost border of black Confederation Hall sixteen points executed in Vert Antique marble. The main interior feature of the Centre Marble (actually a serpentine) from Blcck L Confederation Hall. It iF an W- Philipsburg, Quebec. radiating from the CONSTRUCnON OF onal space at the crossroads of the build- column. An intricate fracture pattern THE NEW CENTRE BLOCK ing, with the Commons Chamber lying to within the dark green serpentine is filled Cutting, preparation, and placement of the west and the Senate Chamber to the with white calcite. Missisquoi Black the various exterior and interior building east. The Hall of Honour to the north Marble is placed between the points of stones were the largest and most promi- leads to the Library of Parliament (Fig. 9). the compass. A wide band of white nent construction activities. More than
Figure 9 Generalized plan of the main floor of the Centre Block, modified from plan in PWGSC (1994). 300 men were employed, and in 1920 they were paid $1.00/h compared to $0.85/h for carpenters and plasterers and $0.60/h for skilled labourers (Lyall and Sons. 1920). Special facilities along Sussex Street, east of the Rideau Canal, were constructed to cut and prepare the building stones (Fig. 11). According to John Pearson these facilities were the most complete and efficient of their kind in Canada for the finishing of stone and marble (Pearson, 19 18). Over a period of 6 years, 16,000 tons of Nepean Sandstone for the exterior, at least 175,000 cubic feet of Tyndal Limestone for the interior, and considerable quantities of other sandstones, limestones, and marbles were handled in the workshops (Dub&,1989).
Facilities A machine shop, 150 X 70 feet (45 X 21 m), contained all the sawing equipment including: a circular saw, capable of cutting at rhe rate of 3.5 inches per minute; three gang. . saws carrying up to 16 bladcs using ,and .and crushed stccl AS a curring abrasivc, with a curring rare of 3 inches per hour; ancl .I reciprocaring diamond saw with a iccd rdte of 3.5-18 feer per hour (1.06-5.45 mlhl. Three l>l~n~ncmachines wcrc required for kould;ngs. One with the capability of Figure 10 Confederation Hall showing the central column and fan vaulr, and the detail of circular work up to 16 feet (4.8 m) radius the marble floor. National Archives of Canada, PA 022430. was used for the rough cutting of the quarry blocks prior ro hand tooling. Five tool-smiths were employed to keep the tools adjusted and sharpened, and to reset the diamonds in the saw teeth. In the yard, three 15 ton (13.6 tonne) steel guy derricks and two 10 ton (9 tonne) stiff-leg derricks were used to unload the rough stone blocks, which averaged 10 tons (9 tonnes) each. In the adjoining finishing shop (600 X 50 feet; 181 X 15 m) only hand labour was used to cut, polish, and finish the stone. The stone cutters (an average of 200 for nearly 6 years) worked in three rows the full length of the building. Between the rows of men were two narrow gauge tracks for hand trucks supplying rough blocks and taking away finished stone (Contract Record, 1919; this article contains excellent photos of these buildings and their inteFiors show- ~i~~~~11 The stone cutting shop on Sussex Drive, Fall, 19 16. Thrrr drrricks used ro move ing equipment and men at work). the stone were located in the adjacent yard. This site is now occupied by the recently In addition to the above facilities, completed (2000) American Embassy. Notre Dame Basilica can he seen in the background. a stone shed was erected on the building Samuel J. Jarvis collection, National Archives of Canada PA 24996. Volume 28 Number I March 2001 m site, directly in front of the Centre Block. the country were closed, and stone cutters construction in 1916 and the summer of There, thousands of cubic feet of buff were in extremely shon supply. Work on 1920 (Peanon, 1920). Similarly, wages of Ohio Sandstone as well as the Nepean the Centre Block continued sporadically, tradesmen had risen 100% during the shoddies that faced the walls of the depending on the availability of material same period (Lyall and Sons. 1920). By original building were reclaimed and and labour. The demand for none for the 1920 the extra labour, materials, and sub- recut (Pearson, 1916). reconstruction was so great that it taxed contract costs amounted to $2,105.668. all existing stone and marble shops to the The unfinished Centre Block was Operations limit of their capacity (DuM, 1989). officially opened on 26 February 1920 The routine operations started with the Negotiations for the purchase of (Fig. 12). architect's department, which would 16,000 tons of Nepean Sandstone started supply the drafting room with scale in July 1916. In order to complete the The Peaca TOmr drawings showing elevations and floor Centre Block by the Deccrnber 1918 Built between 1919 and 1927, the tower plans. The draftsmen translated these into deadline, contracts were signed with seven was named after the original Victoria diagrammatic perspective sketches and different firms. Final deliveries, howwer, Tower, but was renamed the Pram Tower then to full-size designs from which Ful- were only received &r a bonus was in 1933 (Gowans, in Marsh, 1999, p. size patterns were made for each stone. granted to the subcontracton, and special 1763). Historically, towers on govern- An elaborate reference system was devel- trains were dispatched to the quarries in ment buildings had been a source of oped to identify and number each Nepean to bring the stone to Ottawa considerable embarassmenr to the individual stone within any elevation or (Pearson and Marchand, 1920). Government. The tower at the Victoria floor plan (Contract Record, 19 19). As A similar shortage occurred for the Museum in Ottawa had to be demolished both the stone and machine shops were supply of interior building stone. In all, in 1916, only 6 years after construction, erected solely for the construction of the nine firms were engaged to supply the because of severe differential settlement Centre Block and Peace Tower, these necessary materials. Of these, four problems (Crawford, 1952), and the facilities were dismantled following contracts had to be cancelled and of the Laurier Tower on the West Block col- Centre Block and Peace Tower comple- others, only two were still making lapsed during construction of the north tion. Today the site is occupied by the deliveries to the site in 1920. The stone wing (Anonymous, 1906). The collapse recently constructed American Embassy. cuning alone for the Centre Block took 6 was attributed to the thaw, in April, of years instead of the 2 years originally frozen mortar that was placed during the Difficulties estimated (DuM, 1989). winter months (Ken Elder, Conservarion The demands of the 1914-1918 Great Added to these problems was the Architect, PWGSC, personal communi- War slowed preparation of building stone. escalation of the cost of materials, which cation, October 2000). Many stone and marble shops throughout had increased 144Oh between the start of John Pearson, the project archi- tect, had considered designs for a tower and had produced several sketches. By the fall of 1919, however, only the founda- tions had hen built. In April 1920 Pearson presented, to the Joint Commit- tee, a design concept for the tower. Although given permission to proceed, the carillon was not approved, but space for it was allowed so that it could be installed at a later date. Pearson's concept was a free-standing hell tower of about 90 m, 30 m taller than the prwious Victoria Tower. It was to include a Memorial Chamber that would pay tribute to Canadians who had fallen in the Great War. Pearson also had the idea of incorpo- rating stone from the battlefields of various European counrries to commemo- rate the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers in the Great War. This would be a monu- ment to peace. Although given permis- sion by the Joint Committee to visit Figure 12 Thr nearly complrred Centre Block, in 1919. Construction of rhe Peace Towcr Europe, he was not authorized to "con- had not been started at this time. The stone masonr' shed and the architect's site ofice can tract any liability on account of the be seen on the left in Front of the building. W.J.Topley, National Archives of Canada Committee" (Canada Joint Committee PA 12925. on Reconstruction of the Parliament Building, 1921). The initiative in ap- Although the Memorial Chamber Damage was attributed to earth- proaching the governments of France, was officially opened twice, on 1 July quake activity, penetration of water into Belgium, and England was entirely 1927 and again on l l November 1928, it open joints and subsequent freezelrhaw Pearson's. He undertook this as a private was not until December 1928 that the activity, inappropriate or poor mainte- citizen with no authority from the work was finally completed and the nance activities, use of the inappropriate Canadian government. He travelled to public allowed acccss. mortars, and a misunderstanding of the Europe in the summer of 1921, receiving The Centre Block and the Peace reasons for deterioration. Damage due to the offer of gifts of all the stones necessary Tower were finally completed after 12 de-icing salrs at the entrance areas and the to complete the floors, ceilings, and walls turbulent years (Fig. 14). As noted by unavoidable problems of stone pore of the Memorial Chamber. Unfortunately, Gowans (Gowans, in Marsh, 1999, p. clogging from atmospheric pollutants Pearson quit the project in December 1763), these buildings, along with the were exacerbated by the buildings 1921, because of a disagreement over earlier East and West blocks, present one structural details (PWGSC, 1994). outstanding professional fees. of Canada's most visually striking and Cumulative effects of seismic Following Pearson's departure, the historically remarkable building com- loadings were determined to have been Department of Public Works took charge plexes. detrimental ro masonry elements above of the construction of the tower, then ar the roofline (turrets, parapets, chimneys the 46 m level (Fig. 13). It remained at PERFORMANCE AND and air towers). The most significant this level for the next 2 years while claims REHABILITATION OF seismic events to affect the Ottawa area for additional fees from contractors and EXTERIOR BUILDING STONE since the consrruction of the Centre architects were being disputed. Fortu- Examination of [he exterior of the Centre Block and Peace Tower occurred in 1925 nately, Pearson was retained under a new Block in 1994 indicated that the condi- and l944 with a Modified Mercalli agreement, to design and supervise the tion of the masonry ranged from pod, in intensiry of V, and in 1924, 1935, 1983, completion of the tower. His plans and the central field of the exterior walls, to 1988, 1990 and 1994 wich an intensity estimate of $546,171 to complete the dangerous in the tumt tops and chimneys. of IV (M. Lamontagne, seismologist, tower were approved in January 1924. The protracted delays and techni- cal problems were a source of embarrass- ment to the government of the day. The stone-cutting plant had been on the site since 1916, and the donated stone had been received from the various European countries. There was fear that the already erected sandstone was darkening and weathering, and that the newly erected unweathered stone would.. ."stick up like a sore thumb" (Canada, House of Com- mons, 1924b). In addition "streams of [rainlwater flowed through the front of the Confederation Hall leaving water marks on the stone" (Canada, House of Commons, 1924a). By the fall of 1924, 27 m had been added to the tower, bringing it to 74 m, and by the end of 1925 the reinforced concrete spire was finally completed and covered with copper. The tower was constructed of stone and cement without any supporting steel, except for floors. The construction involved two teams of stone masons who worked in alternating shifts: one team putting up a course of stone and the other backing it up with a course of concrete (Dub&, 1989). As work continued on the interior, the temporary shops and most of Figure 13 Stone masons at work on rhe Peace Towcr, 4 June 1921. Note the concrete forms the stone shop on Sussex Street were and the derrick used ro lift and place the stone. 'The photo was taken from the almost removed, and in May 1927, the carillon complered Centre Block. The remporary building in the right foreground is the architect's bells arrived from England and were office. The West Block can be seen in rhe background. National Archives of Canada, installed. C38750. GSC, personal communication, October thmugh the stone (Fig. 15). When chis and vapour transmission of each of the 2000). Elements that were constructed of moisture frwnear the outside surface stone types and bonding materials, is unreinforced masonry and were unre- of the stone it expands, building up required. strained laterally were found to be cracked srresses which cause arfoliation of the The salts that damage the and unstable (PWGSC, 1994). Frost surface (Keith Blades, pcrsonal communi- sandstones are in parr dctived from the anion in water-soaked open joints cation, September 2000). Although reaction of acid rain with calcium carbon- acerbated the problem. It was recom- sulphate pollution has diminished with ate (present mainly in the mortars). The mended that these elements, as well as the removal of a paper mill formerly acid rain itself (formed when sulphur failcd or deteriorated elements below situated on the Ottawa River just up dioxide in the atmosphere combines with these stmmres, be dismantled and stream from Parliamenr Hill, carbon moisture to form weak sulphuric acid) has reconstructed (Blades, 1994). dioxide pollution has increased. Silica- linle direct effect on the high silica Deterioration of the exterior stone bound atmospheric dirt is particularly sandstones. However, it reacts with generally was related to one or a combina- noticeable on the Ohio Sandstone. calcium carbonate to form calcium tion of the following: soiling, crystalliza- Salt crystallization damage, most sulphate (gypsum). Crystallization of tion of soluble salts, water ingress and the prevalent in the Ohio Sandstone (Fig. calcium sulphate and similar salts damage effects of freczelthaw, and the effects of 16), also occurs in the Ncpean Sandstone. the stone from within. de-icing sal=. The main problem areas are Water that has penetrated the walls In the 1970s, a wash of dense associated with wnes of saturation and migrates to the surface via porous zones Portland cement was applied to stabilize drying (PWGSC, 1994). Zones of within the stone or mortar. As the mortar the surface of some of the exterior saturation are most often associated with is hard, Portland-type cement, moisture building stones. It proved to be ineffec- projecting elements of the building, while migration within it is impeded and thus tive and, in fact, has been detrimental. wnes of evaporation are adjacent pro moisture moves preferentially in the The wash acted in a similar manner to tected elements. In addition, lower typically porous Ohio Sandstone and to a soiling, trapping moisture and causing courses of stonework at entrances exhibit lesser extent in the Nepean Sandstone. erosion and cavernous decay of the stone extreme deterioration due to the use of With the evaporation of the water, salt that it was intended to protect. From 5 de-icing salts. crystals are formed in the near-surface mm to 30 mm of the surface of some Soiling, caused by atmospheric pores of the stone, generating tremendous stone was lost in less than 20 years! pollutants in thc form of nitrates and pressures that causing fracturing, which (PWGSC, 1994). sulphates absorbed in rainwater, forms a resulcs in surface erosion and exfoliation. heavy crust on the stone, especially on In order to effect lasting repair work, a Rerndiation projecting surfaces and sculptural details, thorough understanding of the physical Since the evaluation of the condition of and inhibits normal moisture migration properties, especially watcr absorption the stone work in 1994, much remedial work has been undertaken. Remediation focussed on three critical elements: conservation and long-term durability of the stone; repointing of the masonry; and dismantling, rebuilding andlor reinforce- ment of structurally unstable elements. PWGSC and their consultants undertook additional research in order to ensure the long-term viabiliry, not only of the stone, but also of the entire masonry assembly. The following is a summary of the remedial measures than have been undertaken (PWGSC, 1994):
Stone Cleaning of all Ohio Sandstone projecting courses using various techniques Cleaning of about 20% of the Nepean Sandstone. - Applying poultices to affected areas of Ohio Sandstone to draw out salts from the pores Chemical consolidation of stone in
Figure I4 Carl:itl,t'>cornFlrtrd rcconsrructcci (:cnrrr Rluck, rixiz 1'153. I'horo rakcn horn the isolated locations W'csr Block. Nnrional Archivcs of Canrda, C585G. Dutchman repairs Crack repairs and joint pinning Removal of cement parging Replacement of a portion of the Ohio Sandstone in turrets, chimneys and buttresses Replacement of a portion of the Indiana Limestone, that was used inappropriately as a replacement stone, with Nepean Sandstone
Mortar Raking, to a 5 cm depth, all mortar on the pund floor, in the piers and towen, in ~rojectingelements, in the upper band of Ohio Sandstone and in 40% of the Nepean Sandstone in the walls Repointing with mortars formulated for specific conditions
St~d~m/ Dismantling, rebuilding and tein- forcement, where necessary, of the towers chimneys, pilasters and parapets
The direct cost of the repair and masonry conservation work was estimated in 1994 at $2.2 M, excluding costs for scaffolding, temporary works, and Figure 15 Deterioration uf mortar due to fteczelthaw cycling. Note the adjacenr Nepean management and consultants fees. This Sandstone, heavily soiled in part, has also suffered. Cracked mortar and stone facilitated estimare was included as part of a $16 M hrrher entry of moisrute. PWGSC, 1975. rehabilitation estimate that also included rehabilitarion of the foundations, roof ng, windows, doors, and mechanical and electrical systems. Final costs were $18.8 M when completed in 1998 (PWGSC, ree www.pwgcs.gc.ca). Similar remedial work undertaken on the Peace Tower was completed in 1997 at a cost of $9.9 M. Remedial work, currently underway on the Library, is estimated at $5.6 M (PWGSC, see www.pwgcs.gc.ca).
RECENT ACTIVITIES AND CONSTRUCTION The I'arliament Hill ptomonroty is underlain by the Coboutg beds (Unit F) of the Ottawa Formation (Williams et aL, 1984) comprising rhinly to massively bedded limestone with thin calcareous shale and calcareous sandstone interbeds. Beds in general dip very gently, Y, in a direction of 016" azimuth; two ptomi- nent, neat vertical joint sets are oriented at approximately 046" and 130" (Golder and Associates, 1980). Figure 16 Exfoliarion and crumbling of sandstone dur to salt crysrallizarion is onc of thc In 1982, initiated by anomalous principal mechanisnls contributing to the deterioration of Ohio and Wallace Sandsronrs slope inclinometer readings obtained by PWGSC. 1995. Golder Associates, investigations were structures and monuments or the natural tary Precinct Services, House of Com- undertaken to determine if there was any grade of the hill, nor was there distur- mons, for access to her exhaustive files possibility of deep-seated slope movement hance to the adjacent limestone cliffs. The and for her cons~uctivecomments on that might Sect the Centre Block and excavation of approximately 30,000 m3 of this paper. I have drawn heavily from the Library. Slope monitoring was carried rock was undertaken between July and several of her unpublished research out by the National Research Council September 1997 at a cost of $2.5 M manuscripts, in particular Reconstruction (Bowzuk and Law, 1985) and an engi- (Grotechnical News, 1999). of Parliament, June 1989. neering geology appraisal was undertaken Jill Delany, archivist at the Public by the Geological Survey of Canada ENDNOTE Archives of Canada and Martin Legault, (Evans, 1986). Evans' report stated that For those who wish to delve further into librarian, Geological Survey of Canada, the conditions necessary for slumping, the history of the construction of rhe assisted my search for photographs of lateral spreading, or transitional sliding do Federal Parliament Buildings and related quarrying and stone cutting. Stanley not exist in the slopes of the Parliament aspects, there are a number of excellent Flynn, current owner and operator of the promontory. photo essays (Lund and Malak, 1967; Wallace Sandstone Quany, provided The most recent construction to Milton, 1974; and Malak, 1999), photographs and rock specimens. Trwor the Centre Block was the addition of historical accounts (Varkaris and Finsten, wlliams and his sister Jennie Hutchinson space to accommodate new electrical, 1988; Bourrie, 1996; Young, 1995), shared recollections of their father's mechanical, and communications equip- geological guides (Baird, 1968; DeGrace, quarrying operations in Nepean, Ontario, ment and to provide storage space and 1982). and technical descriptions and provided access to their family photo delivery reception facilities. In order to (Comarty, 1924). Information on recent collection. preserve the historic facade of the build- and planned restoration works, walking A series of popular papers on the ings and to retain the visual character of tours, and related information can be building stones of the legislative buildings Parliament Hill, it was decided that the found ar the web sites www.pwgcs.gc.ca in Canada is the idea of Doug VanDine, excavation of an underground complex, and www.parliament gc.ca. In addition, editor for this new series. Critical readers that on completion would be entirely the National Archives photo collection for this paper were Ed Freeman and Doug hidden, would be the best solution. contains a myriad of high-quality, large- VanDine, and their comments, along A 2-storey underground space format images of construction activities with those of Roger Macqueen, have approximately 50 X 40 m, called the on Parliament Hill, both for the original considerably improved the paper and are Centre Block Underground Services buildings and for the reconstruction of much appreciated. Dave Sargent of GSC (CBUS), was excavated on the north side the Centre Block and the Peace Tower. Calgary helped with completion of the of the Centre Block (Fig. 17). An innova- digital figures. tive system of monitored and controlled ACKNOWLEDGMENTS blasting was carried out. This was done I would like ro thank Ms. Audrey Dub6 REFERENCES without disruption to existing heritage of the Office of rhe Curator, Parliamen- Acland, James H., 1972, Mcdiml Architec- ture: the Garhic Vault: Universiry of Toronto Pras, 254 p. Anonymous, 1906, Wert Block nou tower piled in a hcao: The Ottawa Citizen. 5 Aoril 1906, p.1. Baird. D.M.. 1968. Guide to the Geolow and Scenery of the National Capital he; Geoloeical Survw of Canada. Misc. Reuort 15, l& p. Blades, Keirh, 1994, Centre Block Parliamen- rary Precinct Ottawa, inrcrim inspection report on the maronry fabric of the south elevation, September 1994: unpublished report. Raurric, Mark. 1996. Canada's Parliamenr Buildings: Hounslow Press, Toronto, 120 p. Borozuk. M. and Law, KT., 1985, Parliament Hill slope monitoring: National Research Council, Division of Building Research, SPX Report 471. Burnett, lan, 1962, Last Ncpcan quarry is ceasing operation: Ottawa Citircn, 23 June 1962. 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