Photo: The Lantern.

The Return of the Tower

A new glass lantern graces the main entrance of the museum. It evokes the original tower, which had to be removed in 1915–1916 because of unstable ground.

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View of the front entrance and some constuction machinery.

Martin Lipman © Canadian Museum of Nature

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The Architects

Illustration: The future facade of the VMMB, aerial view.

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The Canadian Museum of Nature has selected a joint-venture consortium of architects for the rehabilitation of the museum building, called the Victoria Memorial Museum Building (VMMB). The consortium comprises three notable Canadian firms, involving 90 professionals.

The three firms in the joint-venture consortium are:

Barry Padolsky Associates Inc., Architects

This Ottawa-based firm was founded in 1969. Under the direction of Barry Padolsky, BPA will be primarily responsible for the project management, architectural heritage conservation, tendering and construction review services. Louise McGugan is the project's architect. BPA was the prime consultant for the Exterior Renovation Project of the VMMB, which was conducted between 1989 and 1997.

The firm has completed more than 100 architectural projects, including the restoration and rehabilitation of buildings that are designated by the City of Ottawa under the Ontario Heritage Act. BPA has earned 27 national, provincial and municipal design awards, of which 21 are for heritage conservation.

Bruce Kuwabara, Marc Letellier, Barry Padolsky, Maureen Dougan.

Martin Lipman © Canadian Museum of Nature

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The principal architects, (left to right) Bruce Kuwabara, Marc Letellier and Barry Padolsky, with Maureen Dougan, COO and Vice-President of the Canadian Museum of Nature at the time.

Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects

KPMB was formed in Toronto in 1987 by partners Bruce Kuwabara, Thomas Payne, Marianne McKenna and Shirley Blumberg. Bruce Kuwabara will lead KPMB in its primary responsibility for the schematic design and design development services.

The firm is recognized internationally for excellence in architecture, urban design and interior design. It brings an award-winning portfolio of institutional and cultural projects that were completed throughout North America and Europe. This firm is distinguished by the diversity of its projects, which have ranged from detailed interiors to large-scale buildings on significant urban sites to museums and planning projects with complex and highly specialized components. Since 1987, KPMB has received more than 50 awards, including seven Governor General's Awards.

Gagnon, Letellier, Cyr, Architects

GLC was founded in the City of Québec in 1974. Led by Marc Letellier, GLC will be primarily responsible for construction documents, multi-phase occupancy planning and quality control services.

Over the years, GLC has established a network of firms that have worked locally across Canada and in Europe. GLC has carried out numerous multi-phased/design-build projects worth more than $1-billion in capital costs. These projects include a broad range of industrial and institutional complexes with specialized programmes, including hospitals and universities.

Stylized fox head, oak leaves and acorns carved in marble.

Martin Lipman © Canadian Museum of Nature

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Stained-glass window depicting plants and fruit.

Martin Lipman © Canadian Museum of Nature

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The Victoria Memorial Museum Building is the first building in Canada created to house a national museum. Many of its architectural elements underline the museum's mission and its connection to nature and have, fortunately, been preserved through the passing of years. For example, this carving of a fox head, oak leaves and acorns, can be admired on one of the identical marble newels of the majestic staircase in the atrium. Splendid trefoil stained-glass windows depict plants and fruit and illuminate the mezzanine. Carved-stone animals grace the building's exterior and complement the two moose-heads above the main entrance. All of these elements will be preserved in the restoration.