By Deneka Michaud
Canada’s Museum of Nature must modernize or risk legal trouble.
It doesn’t currently meet building code requirements, says Dan Smythe, media relations for the museum. It is a 90-year-old building, and it’s been over 30 years since any significant renovations have been done to it.
“The plans are to do a major upgrade of the mechanical and structural systems to stay up to modern building codes,” he says.
The renovations are currently on hold as part of a capital project freeze implemented by the new federal government. But the museum still expects renovations to be in full-force this spring, says Smythe. The mineral exhibit has already been closed in preparation.
All federal buildings must meet provincial health and safety codes as well as other provincial building codes, says Jeff Morrison, former director of communications for the Canadian Construction Association. This includes national museums, he says.
“If a building is not up to code one of two things happens: they (building managers) are notified and they do the work, or they don’t do the work and they run into legal trouble.” Museums that don’t meet codes run the risk of being sued. But it rarely comes to this, Morrison adds.
One code that the museum doesn’t currently meet relates to access to the third and fourth floors. These top two floors were originally meant only for storage, explains Smythe. Over time, these floors were transformed into exhibits, and staircases were constructed to reach them. But no single staircase connects all floors, meaning the stairs are not very efficient and do not provide proper access under health and safety codes, says Smythe.
To resolve this issue the museum will add a glass-enclosed staircase over the main entrance, says Smythe. This will allow people to move from the first to the fourth floor more easily.
Other mechanical and structural changes must be implemented to fulfill building code requirements, he says. These include installing new electrical, heating, ventilation and lighting systems.
The museum is also going to be strengthened so that it meets modern earthquake codes.
“They need to reinforce the structure of the building because the building itself is built on essentially a type of clay,” says Smythe.
All this is not to say that the Museum of Nature is unsafe.
“It’s not unsafe for the public, but standards are always changing and being upgraded. So I think that it’s important that they maintain those standards and obviously the museum is taking steps to do so,” says Jantine Van Kregten, director of communications for the Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority.
Because it is a heritage building, there are architectural constraints, such as staircases, when it comes to meeting building codes, she adds. And they are doing a good job, she says.
The museum is committed to keeping the original building intact because of its significance to Ottawa’s heritage, says Smythe. It’s important because it was Canada’s first national museum. The Museum of Civilization, the National Gallery of Canada and the Museum of Science and Technology all have their roots there, he explains. Heritage Ottawa is pleased that the building will remain more or less in its original state.
“I’m really glad that the federal government has made a commitment to keep the building as opposed to tearing it down,” says David Flemming, president of Heritage Ottawa. “It’s a nice approach to preservation, and I applaud them.”
Renovations are also aimed at making the museum more enjoyable to visit, says Smythe. The yards will become more like parks, and the layout within the museum will make it easier for visitors to navigate.
Changes at the museum aren’t only taking place because of safety codes. The museum is introducing new preservation techniques, such as humidity and temperature controls. These changes will allow more exhibits to be housed at the museum.
Bringing in these exhibits will be easier with a new shipping and receiving wing, says Smythe.
The museum will stay open despite not being up to codes. The project is expected to be complete by 2009.