Windsor's Paul Martin Building is set to be restored by the end of the year.
In 2015, the Government of Canada said it would invest in the rehabilitation of the exterior facade of the building.
This plan took effect in 2016 when a contract for $2.9 million was awarded to Colonial Building Restoration, enabling the building to be repaired within the year.
The project involves rehabilitating the Tyndall limestone on the exterior of the building and deteriorating structural systems on the south, east and north sides of the building.
Project Manager of Public Works and Government Services Canada, Atif Suhail, says there are approximately 10-15 workers at the site daily.
"The major challenge is that we want to get this work done in one construction season," says Suhail. "So we started construction in May in the hopes of getting it done before the cold onset of winter and we are on schedule right now to get it complete before the end of the calendar year."
Suhail says the building is deteriorating due to improper waterproofing.
Atif Suhail, project manager with Public Works and Government Services Canada highlights work done on the exterior of the Paul Martin Building in downtown Windsor on November 12, 2016. (Photo by AM800's John Hutton)
"There was not sufficient waterproofing done to prevent water from getting in," says Suhail. "The coping stones have been lifted and a waterproof membrane has been installed and they are being replaced back into the same location and this will, for future generations, prevent water from getting in behind the facade causing water deterioration."
He also says it is important to keep as much of the original structure intact as possible.
"It is a heritage building and the federal government has its own standards for heritage conservation," he says. "So if it is not broken do not fix it."
Suhail says the project is currently within budget and once completed, its future lies in the hands of the federal government.