"Residence of the Prime Minister of Canada" by Alasdair McLellan is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Prime Minister’s residence, unoccupied due to maintenance that has not been kept up, is now the focus of an independent national design-and build competition to rehabilitate and modernize 24 Sussex Drive.

A news release from the Prime Minister’s Office said, “Canada has a responsibility to restore and protect this national landmark, put it back into service, and ensure it once again reflects our ambition, excellence, and national pride.”

An independent jury of Canadian experts will assess the proposals and will recommend a winning design to Cabinet with the winning proposal, which is open to all eligible Canadian firms, will be announced by Canada Day next year.

The new release says Canadians and philanthropic individuals or organizations can be part of renewing the national landmark and to that end the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) will lead a national, non-partisan fundraising campaign, with the goal of raising all or most of the cost of the project.