The Visitor Welcome Centre — for a unique experience
Home to the Canadian federal government, Parliament Hill is one of the nation’s most important heritage sites. To improve the visitor experience and enhance security on this iconic site, a new Visitor Welcome Centre was opened in January 2019.
Designed to blend perfectly with the historical structures and natural surroundings of Parliament Hill, this is the first new building to be constructed on the site in over 100 years.
In front of the main entrance, a plaza provides a gathering and waiting area for visitors. From there, visitors enter through a subtle, yet elegant, main entrance on the west side of the Centre Block. Access to the underground complex begins with a monumental staircase flanked by solid wood balustrades crafted by Beaubois. To enhance the project’s contemporary style, Beaubois worked with white oak, meticulously ensuring uniformity in the colors of the varnished wood, as requested by the architects.
Once inside, visitors are directed into a bright and open space that provides a sophisticated and pleasant gateway into Canada’s Parliament. Acoustic panels were installed by Beaubois, to create an environment that is both practical and elegant.
Beaubois is pleased to have contributed to the development of this new complex, thanks to the company’s unique craftsmanship.