Case Study Gallery: Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario

Terri Meyer Boake BES BArch MArch LEED AP
Professor :: School of Architecture :: University of Waterloo

Canadian War Museum

Moriyama and Teshima & Griffiths Rankin Cook Architects in Joint Venture

Ottawa, Ontario

Project Information:

Architects: Moriyama and Teshima & Griffiths Rankin Cook Architects in Joint Venture
Structural Engineers: Adjeleian Allen Rubeli Limited, Consulting Engineers
Engineer in Charge: Mike Allen P. Eng.
Project Engineer: Jon Turner, P. Eng.
Steel Fabrication and Erection: Walters Inc., Hamilton

The new Canadian War Museum was built to honour the memory of the many who served and died to protect the freedom of Canada. The museum opened in May 2005, just in time for the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of VE day.

The museum is situated within sight of the Parliament Buildings, on the Breton Flats. The building is comprised of a series of large rooms, each themed to represent a key event in Canada's engagement with war throughout history. Although the majority of the building is constructed as sloped concrete/precast concrete walls, a key focal element of the museum, the Regeneration Hall, is constructed from highly angular square HSS steel sections. The sheer height of the space, as well as the particular style of AESS, is intended to inspire as well as awe the visitor. The eerie sound of the wind, whistling through the perforated steel deck (taped during the construction phase of the project), assists in creating the mood of the room.

The large display room that features both land tanks as well as some WW2 aircraft, is roofed using large span steel trusses. According to the fabricator/erector, Walters Inc. of Hamilton, this room provided greater erection challenges than the Regeneration Hall.

article in Canadian Architect Magazine September 2005

the steel work | general interior | the exterior

Project Images:


The main entrance space of the museum introduces us to the palette of materials: rough concrete, stone and copper.	The cube that is dedicated to the unknown soldier sits at the centre of the entrance lobby.


The interior of the dedicated space to the unknown soldier.	The concrete walls of the cube mysteriously hover above the pool.


Skylight connection to the penetration of the concrete cube that houses the memorial to the unknown soldier.	The intention is that on November 11, at 11am, sunlight should stream in through that window and light the tomb of the unknown soldier.


Sloped concrete walls form the interior passage way.	The rough texture of the concrete reminds us of the roughness of war.


Light fixture detail.	Morse code windows in the sloped concrete wall .


Sunlight penetrated the main entrance space of the museum.	Payment counter.


Video projection at entrance to museum galleries.	Etched glass at entrances.


Evening sun comes in through the rear entrance.	Overall view of main lobby.