Province House restoration set to begin next year

The restoration work on Province House is not expected to begin until next year.

Greg Shaw is with Parks Canada and is the project lead on the restoration.

"What we're doing now is we're gathering additional information in order to go for tender for the conservation work which will be happening next year," said Shaw.

Consultants hired by Parks Canada have been working in the building since March. They are poking holes in walls and floors to determine the extent of the structural problems.

Interesting discoveries have been made that include finding old gas pipes used to fuel gas burning lamps.

While no asbestos was found in thewalls, the consultants did find horse hair.

The assessment work will continue all summer and the amount of time it is taking is normal said senior conservation architect Susan Myers.

"It takes time.Heritage buildings present complex challenges and many of those challenges have to do with understanding what is there now and how it's behaving," said Myers.

The entire restoration project is estimated to cost $20 million project and be complete in three to five years.

The historic property is usually the home to the provincial legislature but it has been closed since January 2015.

The legislature has been relocated next door to the Coles Building.