In an effort to improve the municipal water supply the the City of Ottawa commissioned a project to install a reverse-osmosis filtration system. To accommodate four 10’x25’x10’ filter racks, pumping equipment, chemical storage, and quality control laboratory, it was necessary to construct an addition to the existing water plant. The city administration required that the new addition blend with the existing structure which had served as an important architectural icon for the heavily traveled eastern entrance to Ottawa.
The entire existing building was tuckpointed, areas of the outer wythe of brick, which had bulged as much as six inches, were removed and reconstructed, and the brick was cleaned and sealed. The windows which had been replaced with glass block were removed and historically proportioned replacement windows were installed. The asbestos containing roof shingles were abated and replaced. The interior of the existing building was then renovated to accommodate a locker, shower, lunchroom, and office facilities for the staff and billing department. A new community conference room now provides meeting space for area volunteer organizations.