Rideau Hall

Architect

Robertson Martin Architects Inc.
Ottawa, Ontario

A 16,000 square foot, copper batten seam copper roof crowns this historic residence of Canada's Head of State, as the representative of the Crown in Canada.

Rideau Hall is the official residence and workplace of every governor general since 1867. This heritage site is a national gathering place, where the governor general lives, honors Canadians for their excellence, hosts foreign dignitaries and performs the functions of Canada's Head of State, as the representative of the Crown in Canada.

Rideau Hall is the largest official residence in Canada's Capital Region and the only one open to the public. The residence houses rooms for state functions, offices and other work spaces, including kitchens, and a greenhouse run by the National Capital Commission (NCC) where plants and flowers are grown for use in all six official residences.

Heads of State and royalty stay at Rideau Hall during visits to Ottawa. Most recently, in 2002, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stayed at Rideau Hall, during the Golden Jubilee, commemorating the 50th anniversary of her Accession to the Throne.

Demolition consisted of removing existing copper panels, gutters and downspout to existing structure and installing new plywood sheeting, waterproof membrane, insulation and 16,000 square feet of 16 oz. copper batten seam roofing panels, 2,100 square feet of custom copper gutter system and a brass snow fence.

Copper was chosen for the project for its durable properties, long-term quality and detailing and to achieve a patina look that cannot be duplicated with other metals. For a location of high significance that required an intervention such as a restoration, material selection had to be first rate.

Architectural Category: Batten Seam Roofs and Walls