Preserving the heritage value of the last remaining large-scale Victorian exhibition hall in Canada

Aberdeen Pavilion Rehabilitation

The Aberdeen Pavilion, the last remaining large-scale Victorian exhibition hall in Canada. Protected under the Ontario Heritage Act, and as a designated National Historic Site, the 19th century structure was due to undergo a large-scale rehabilitation focused on replacing the failing and leaking roof. The City of Ottawa engaged our engineers as part of the team to help restore this historic building.

Our team of structural, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, and environmental specialists worked with the project architect to execute a comprehensive rehabilitation that would restore the landmark structure back to its deserved prominence. We took special care to maintain the pavilion’s historic and architectural significance, while reinforcing its structure for modern seismic requirements and modernizing functionality. To preserve the structure, our team developed highly custom solutions for various project aspects including a procedure to mill high-strength wood decking as a replacement for the original old-growth decking used on the roof.

The revitalized space will continue to be a venue for public events, exhibitions, recreational activities, and touristic attractions for years to come.