Designed by the renowned American mural artist Barry Faulkner and crafted by European artisans in 1927, the Byzantine-style vaulted mosaic ceiling sits in the main entrance lobby of the 180 Wellington Building in Ottawa. The Beaux-Arts building — designed by architects D. Everett Waid and J. A. Ewart and built between 1925 and 1927 — features thousands of glass tesserae depicting scenes of wealth, well-being, and prosperity, celebrating the building's original occupant, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
As part of a comprehensive building restoration, our team was contracted to conserve the mosaic ceiling. After reviewing previous and ongoing testing and stabilization efforts, our conservators completed a comprehensive survey and a detailed treatment plan. Treatment involved removing the protective facing paper, cleaning, consolidating loose or detached tesserae, and replacing missing glass tesserae and grout — accompanied by detailed process documentation and maintenance recommendations for the client.
Gallery
