Centre Block Underground Services (CBUS)

Buried 12 m (39 ft. 4 in.) underground, at the northwest corner of the Centre Block, there is now a two-storey, 4,000 m2 (13,123 ft2) facility. CBUS houses new high-voltage electrical transformers and emergency power generators, provides space for advanced computer and communications facilities, and provides much-needed storage space and delivery reception facilities.

The first challenge of the CBUS project was to dig the rock out. A combination of hoe-ramming and monitored and controlled blasting did the trick. In all, eight tons of explosives were used during the excavation process, which was carried out 24 hours a day, from May to September 1997.

Photo: McElligott Photography Ltd.

Approximately 30,000 m³ (98,425 ft³) of rock was removed from the site. It took 3,000 double-axle dump trucks, working 24 hours a day from May to September 1997, to remove the rock.

Once the rock was removed, the way was paved to build the concrete structure, which took 570 truckloads of concrete.

Photo: Roy Grogan

The entire construction process was closely monitored by the National Research Council and the Federal Heritage Building Review Office to protect the heritage characteristics of all buildings.