Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a national architecture competition to revive the historic but uninhabitable official residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa. The building, plagued by rodent infestations, mould, and structural decay, has been empty since 2023.
Competition Details and Timeline
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada will design the framework and convene an independent jury of experts in architecture, heritage conservation, and design. The winning design will be recommended to cabinet and announced on 1 July 2027, Canada Day. Legendary architect Moshe Safdie, known for many of Canada's most acclaimed buildings, will chair the jury.
“24 Sussex Drive will be built by Canadians for Canadians,” Carney said on Friday, standing outside the dilapidated building. He emphasized that at a time of global crisis, Canada's history, institutions, and traditions matter more than ever.
Decades of Neglect
Originally named Gorffwysfa (Welsh for “the place of peace”), the 35-room mansion has housed 11 prime ministers since 1951. However, years of negligence have left it with cracked windows, failing plumbing, an electrical system considered a fire hazard, and severe rodent problems. Nests and vast quantities of feces were found throughout the attic, basement, and crawl spaces, with decomposing carcasses filling the walls.
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, in office from 1993 to 2003, once brought reporters to witness buckets catching rainwater from a leaky roof. Only after a storm blew off sections of the roof did he secure repairs. “It’s a symbol of the public office of the head of our federal government and of the democratic traditions that office represents. And yet it has not been cared for with the respect that it deserves,” he said. “Now it’s in critical condition.”
Safety Shutdown and Renovation Costs
In 2023, the National Capital Commission (NCC), responsible for preserving heritage buildings in Ottawa, shut down the residence due to extensive safety hazards. The following year, the NCC reported it had removed asbestos, mould, lead, and rodent carcasses, but estimated full renovation and upgrade costs at C$40 million. Carney noted that the final cost would depend on the winning design.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau and his family lived at Rideau Cottage, a 158-year-old building originally for the secretary of the governor general, due to 24 Sussex's condition. Carney has continued this arrangement, residing at Rideau Cottage.
Future Vision
Carney stated that while 24 Sussex is a symbol of the country, it “must also be a home, and the women and men who will lead our country in the future will need a residence for their families.” He was adamant he would never live there, given the reconstruction timeline. “I and all public officials are stewards of the offices we hold. We don’t own them. We serve them to serve Canadians and we have a responsibility to leave things better than we found them.”
Moshe Safdie expressed optimism about the site: “It’s an extraordinary site with extraordinary potential. Something wonderful can be developed here.”
