CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The massive renovation of Province House should be largely completed by December 2021, but the price tag has gone up.
P.E.I. media members were give a guided tour of the inside of the building on Thursday with an update on how everything is going.
Greg Shaw, project leader for Parks Canada for the restoration project, said they’re just finishing up phase one and starting the second of three phases.
Previously, the federal government announced funding of $47 million for the conservation of Province House. Now, an additional investment of $14.1 million is being provided for phase two, bringing the total estimated cost for the first two phases of the project to $61.1 million.
And, the dollar figure could go up from there once a more defined scope for phase three is established.
“That’s roughly what we had expected all along,’’ Shaw said when asked if the price tag was a surprise. “We’re still waiting for phase three (costs). We’re working on a design right now to see what that phase will cost.’’
RELATED: Province House renovations
What the media saw on Thursday was essentially a building that has been gutted to its core on the inside.
The focus of phase one was the building of a steel exoskeleton to stabilize the building, along with the removal of finishes from the interior of the structure. The interior work provided information about the masonry wall construction, which has better defined the conservation approach for phase two.
Shaw said that while still in need of significant work, the walls are in better condition than expected. He said the original approach called for a complete dismantling and reconstruction of the exterior walls but a combination of different types of repairs can now be accomplished, which will be less invasive and will preserve more of the building’s heritage character.
Due to exposure to water infiltration, some of the mortar will have to be replaced as the stones are taken out.
The exoskeleton structure on the outside will also give masonry workers a platform to do their jobs.
Phase two of the project will also involve replacing the roof.
“The tenders are out for that now,’’ Shaw said. “The slate that’s going back on is coming from Wales (UK). In 1980, when the slate was put on it came from Vermont but, unfortunately, we cannot get any more of that same material out of Vermont.’’
Shaw said the best of the best are working on the renovation project.
Shaw added that there will be opportunity for local contractors as well to work on the building.
“We have some of the best stone conservators and window conservators in Canada working on this building. We have top-notch contractors like PCL (Construction) coming in who are working on Parliament Building as well, who know what they’re doing and Public Works and Government Services Canada have some of their top people working on this project.’’
And, while Shaw can’t comment on whether the building can accommodate a modern legislature he said the building will be returned in a first-class state.
“We’re going to give back really what we had before they were sitting in the building before we closed up. We’re working with the province to make sure that we try to make it a building which both Parks Canada and a provincial legislature can co-habitate in that building.’’
By the numbers
$47 million – original cost of the project
$14.1 million – what has been added to complete phase two
$61.1 million – what the estimated cost is up to now
