Plenary to preserve Canada’s heritage in iconic new building

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the Plenary Properties Gatineau (PPG) consortium recently closed a 33-year public-private partnership to design, build, finance, maintain and operate a new preservation facility in Gatineau, Quebec, located directly behind the current Preservation Centre. The design of the new building was revealed today.

In many ways, the new building will set a global standard, following the example of the existing Preservation Centre, which is Canada’s pride and the envy of other memory institutions at home and abroad.

The new preservation centre will be the first “net-zero carbon” facility dedicated to archival preservation in the Americas, and the first federal building constructed to the requirements of Canada’s Greening Government Strategy. The main features of a net-zero carbon building are:

• minimal carbon emissions from energy consumption, achieved through building design and efficiency measures;
• energy needs met through carbon-free fuel sources; and
• minimal embodied carbon in building materials.

It will also be the world’s largest preservation facility equipped with a high-tech automated archive storage and retrieval system. This means that Canada’s precious national collections will be kept under optimal preservation conditions.

The PPG proposal was selected for this public-private partnership because it meets all of the required technical criteria and can be implemented at the best possible cost to taxpayers. The consortium will:

• design, build and finance the new building;
• optimize storage space in the current Preservation Centre; and
• operate and maintain both facilities.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Library and Archives Canada to preserve the heritage of our country in what will be a state-of-the-art, iconic facility, and the first Net Zero Carbon archival centre in the Americas. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver this project, and supporting the Government of Canada in its commitment to sustainable infrastructure and the preservation of our documented history,” said Brian Clark, Senior Vice President with Plenary Group.

The ultra-modern facility will increase LAC’s capacity to store Canadian archives and resolve the critical shortage of space expected in the very near future. Construction will begin in 2019 and lead to the creation of hundreds of new jobs, with the opening expected in 2022.

The PPG consortium includes:

• Developer and equity member: Plenary Group
• Equity member: PCL Investments Canada Inc.
• Design-builder: PCL Constructors Eastern Inc.
• Design Prime Member: B+H Architects
• Facilities Management: ENGIE Services

Quotes

“This new, state-of-the-art preservation facility in the National Capital Region will help Canada remain a leader in the preservation and promotion of our invaluable documentary heritage. Our government is confident that this preservation centre will solidify Library and Archives Canada’s place at the forefront of preservation throughout the world, for the benefit of present and future generations.”

—The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism

“Our government is proud to be a part of this important infrastructure project. The new Library and Archives Canada preservation centre project will create good middle-class jobs, foster innovation and protect the environment, all while improving services for Canadians and creating an iconic new building in the Gatineau landscape.”

—Steven MacKinnon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

“This new flagship building, which will accompany the award-winning and world-class Preservation Centre in Gatineau, is yet another testament to Library and Archives Canada being able to set itself apart in opting for a green and sustainable infrastructure. Once built, this new state-of-the-art facility will ensure the preservation and accessibility of our rich collection of treasures for centuries and for generations to come.”

—Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada

For more information, please visit the Library and Archives Canada website here.