On June 26, 2026, the Government of Canada announced the launch of an independent national design-and-build competition to rehabilitate and modernise 24 Sussex Drive.

In fall 2022, the NCC began the process of closing 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada. The building was closed for health and safety reasons, as well as to protect this classified heritage asset.

With a budget of $4.3M, the abatement and decommissioning project began in May 2023 and was completed in November 2024. The following elements have been addressed: 

  • careful removal, cataloguing and storing of heritage fabric, such as doors and mouldings;
  • abatement of designated substances, such as asbestos; and
  • removal of obsolete mechanical, heating and electrical systems;

A few state areas were excluded from this exercise, as their heritage significance was too important to remove without a decision on the future of the residence. They were protected in situ. The stored heritage fabric elements could possibly be reinstated in the future.

Future

Our work at 24 Sussex Drive is part of a broader long-term program to preserve, maintain and restore all of the official residences.

In June 2021, we released the NCC’s Official Residences of Canada: Asset Portfolio Condition Report. This document details the investment needed to restore Canada’s official residences to optimal condition.

The report deemed both the main residence and the caretaker’s house (10 Sussex Drive) to be in critical condition. The report also identified the main residence as a high priority for rehabilitation work, needing an estimated $36.6 million in deferred maintenance. This amount does not reflect work to meet new building codes and legislative requirements.

The proposed work includes the following:

  • Extensive recapitalization
  • Abatement of hazardous materials
  • Retention of certain heritage components
  • Improvements to the building envelope
  • Replacement of mechanical and electrical systems
  • Construction of universally accessible entrances and washrooms