Interview by Katherine McHarg, first published in the June 2025 issue of ACO Matters
Update from Ottawa with Spencer Watson
Have you been wondering how our local PHHS grad Spencer Watson is doing in his studies? After starting work on the digital archive for our branch a few years ago, Spencer applied for and won the Port Hope Heritage Foundation Scholarship last year. He is continuing in his studies at the Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Engineering Programme at Carleton University.
I recently had the pleasure of asking Spencer some questions to learn more about the work he is doing in this exciting field. Here is a quick look at our exchange in Spencer’s own words. I hope you find his attitude towards architectural conservation work inspiring.
K: Could you tell our ACO Matters readers more about your programme and the work you’ve been doing in your co-op studies?
I am in the Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Engineering Co-Op Program at Carleton University with a Minor in Business for Engineers. I am between my third and fourth year of studies (the co-op program involves taking a year off school after third year to allow students the opportunity to work and gain experience) and am currently completing a semester of business classes to finish my minor. I am taking this minor because I have interest in the project management side of engineering and construction projects.
I most recently completed a co-op with the Government of Canada on the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project and will be returning to this project again in May, but with the General Contractor. I will be completing my final year of studies starting September 2025 and will be graduating with my iron ring in April 2026.
K: What kind of projects have you been building, studying, restoring, or researching? What is something you’ve accomplished that you are particularly proud of in the past two years?
In fall 2024, I completed a four-month co-op term (September–December 2024) with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) as an Assistant Project Manager on the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project within the Design Mock-Up Program at Parliament Hill.
The Design Mock-Up Program involves creating full-scale replicas of proposed designs within the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project that government stakeholders and consultants can use to inform their final design.
In this role, I assisted in the management and delivery of full-scale mock-ups that informed the Centre Block’s final design, including the House of Commons Chamber Seating Mock-Up. This involved the full-scale enactment of proposed seating types and configurations to help Members of Parliament and designers make decisions about seating layouts that meet increased capacity requirements, building code, and heritage value.
Another project was the Hall of Honour Broadcast Lighting Mock-Up, where I was trusted to lead on-site testing of the proposed broadcast lighting system. The system is being designed to seamlessly integrate with existing heritage elements, maintaining the character and beauty of the space while providing adequate lighting for broadcast events. This is being achieved through a lighting system that camouflages well with the existing masonry stone and character elements of the space.
In May 2025, I will be returning to the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project for another four-month co-op term, this time as an engineering student with the construction management firm PCL. This will allow me to see both the client and contractor sides of the rehabilitation project.
K: The programme seems to have a dual focus on heritage and sustainability. As your studies have continued, which of these has become more interesting to you personally, and why?
I have come to appreciate both heritage and sustainability throughout my time in this programme. I’ve realized they often go hand in hand, because it is usually more sustainable to rehabilitate an existing building than to demolish it and start again from scratch.
I feel excited by new and innovative methods of sustainable design that reduce the environmental impact of buildings and help mitigate climate change for a greener future. I have also come to more deeply appreciate the value of maintaining the heritage value of existing structures. Given the large number of historic buildings reaching the end of their useful life, I hope to combine these interests by rehabilitating historic buildings using innovative sustainable design practices that reduce environmental impact.
K: Do you have any thoughts on heritage trade training? Would you recommend young people seek out heritage trades as a field of study?
I can’t say much about heritage trade training specifically, but I think heritage trades would be a solid career path. Skilled trades are in demand in Canada, and I expect that would also include heritage trades.
Many heritage buildings, particularly in Ottawa with its historic government buildings, are masonry. I could see masonry-related heritage trades being a solid career path, especially given the ongoing conservation projects the government is undertaking.
K: Do you have any advice for high-school students who might be interested in your programme? How can they plan early to take the right courses?
If you search “Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Engineering Program,” you will find a page on Carleton Admissions that provides information about the program, including details, examples of classes, required high-school courses, typical admission averages, and the application process.
I completed a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) at Port Hope High School, graduating with a Red Seal in construction. This involved taking specific courses offered by the school in my field, completing a co-op placement, and earning extracurricular industry certifications.
Perhaps a short training course could be offered as a substitute for some existing construction SHSM courses that would expose students to heritage trades and teach basic skills or knowledge. This could help inspire students who are considering a career in construction to pursue it within a heritage trade.
K: And finally, what has been the highlight of your studies so far?
I am very proud of being nominated for the Carleton Co-op Student of the Year Award by my supervisor and the Senior Project Managers of the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project, Caitlin Rouse and Madeleine Krayem, for my contributions to the Design Mock-Up Programme. It was rewarding to hear that my work—such as helping implement a three-phase approach that reduced the number of lighting fixtures required for the Hall of Honour mock-up and saved public funds—made a noticeable impact and was recognized by senior management.
Being involved in such a large and high-profile rehabilitation project in Canada’s capital has been a huge honour, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important restoration work.
As I look ahead to my final year, I am excited to return to the Centre Block Project this summer and to begin my eight-month Capstone Design Project in September. I will work alongside fellow engineering students to apply the knowledge and skills we’ve acquired over the past four years to solve a real-world design problem under faculty supervision.
We at the Port Hope ACO wish Spencer every bit of good fortune as he continues his studies, and thank him for representing his hometown of Port Hope so strongly in our nation’s capital—both at Carleton University and as part of the team restoring Parliament Hill.