Transformation of a historic building destroyed by fire, rebuilt into a multipurpose building that includes spaces open to the general public
QUÉBEC, April 26, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada greatly values its historic sites and invests in them to ensure they will be preserved for future generations.
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, inaugurated today the Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury, rebuilt following the 2008 fire. The complex work done over the last few years has transformed it into a building combining heritage and modernism. The Armoury now commemorates its military history, while providing Canadians with multipurpose spaces available for rental for community, cultural and social events.
The reconstruction design optimizes the protection of heritage and historical designations and respects architectural integrity while preserving the building's original components. This design was established following public consultations. The Armoury project complies with the government's commitment to reduce its ecological footprint. It was designed to minimize the overall cost of building reconstruction and operation, and maximize energy efficiency, while meeting high standards for component durability and building longevity.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada is proud to have restored such an important part of Canadian heritage through a reconstruction that promoted job creation. The Armoury will now host various events and will continue to stimulate the economy by creating jobs in the events sector in Québec, while allowing the general public to enjoy themselves and admire the wealth of this historic building."
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement
"Out of this devastating incident has risen a perfect marriage of past and present, of architectural beauty and multipurpose function. This renewed building at the heart of our city will serve the Voltigeurs de Québec and our fellow citizens long and well."
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Québec
Quick facts
- The Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury reconstruction project represents an investment of approximately $104 million. Close to 700 people have worked on the project from start to finish. This number includes the contractor's and subcontractors' staff, as well as that of the plan and specification designers.
- The exterior appearance before the fire was largely preserved, particularly the roof and front façade. With a view to maintaining the building's heritage designations while optimizing the facilities and making them more useful to the community and the government, the Armoury was expanded with the construction of a new contemporary annex adjacent to the existing building, to house federal offices and a reception foyer overlooking the Plains of Abraham.
- The entire space of the central Armoury building, which was the drill hall before the fire, has become a large multipurpose room that can accommodate roughly 1,300 guests at one time. George V, banquet and catering service, manages the multipurpose spaces at the Armoury, namely the multipurpose hall, the foyer and the commemorative hall.
- The architectural design encourages the protection of heritage and respect for architectural integrity to the greatest possible extent and is based on the 1885 drawings of Eugène-Étienne Taché, the architect of the original building.
Related products
History of the reconstruction project
Reconstruction design
Associated links
The Government of Canada has awarded a contract to allow the public to rent multi-purpose space in the Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury
Rental of multipurpose spaces by George V, banquet and catering service
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SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada
Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, 819-997-5421; Media Relations, Public Services and Procurement Canada, 514-239-0790, [email protected]
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