Craig Sims, Heritage Building Consultant

Centre Block

Centre Block, (1920) Parliament Hill, Ottawa

For nearly six years Craig was a consultant to Heritage Grade serving as the senior conservator for all interior wood work and cabinetry, as well as doors and metal windows. He worked with a fabulous team from Heritage Grade and enjoyed working with the construction managers PCL. However, the direction that the project was taking and the decisions being made by unrealistic program requirements and inexperienced people who refuse to speak truth to power became frustrating to the point of embarrassment. Predicting another Arrive-Canada or Phoenix Payroll fiasco (for many of the same reasons) “Craig has left the building!”

 

 This is a partial view of the House of Commons.

 

This is one of Craig’s as-found drawings showing how the original teak and ebony floors in the House of Commons and Senate Chamber were constructed.

 

Craig has been involved in many projects at the Centre Block starting with the restoration of the south façade in the mid-1990s, condition survey and recommendations for the House of Commons lobby laylight in 2015, condition survey and recommendations for the Peace Tower entrance doors in 2014, the restoration of the stained glass windows in the Memorial Chambre in 2001.

 

This is one of Craig’s as-found details for the original steel windows in the Vent Towers.

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