The Canadian War Museum (CWM) is one of the country's National museums, including both permanent and temporary galleries as well as extensive collection storage and conservation spaces. A large painting vault contains the extensive Beaverbrook collection of war art, which is in regular rotation within the temporary gallery when not out on external loans. 

The concept of regeneration is manifested in this building, which appears immersed by the surrounding landscape of the Ottawa River. Its low-lying forms hug the earth, while its gently sloping green roof operates as a pedestrian walkway that offers a hint of the museum’s multiple layers of meaning. Inside, angled walls sharply emerge. Concrete is raw, joints are rough. Floors are sometimes sloped, creating a sense of disequilibrium. Many walls and spaces are intentionally austere, without distractions. Emptiness has profound strength. The intended effect is to encourage the thoughts, memories, and emotions of visitors.

The CWM is the recipient of over 15 national and international design awards, including a Governor General award, and several awards for sustainable design. Perhaps most significantly, the CWM ranked 3'rd best out of 70 international cultural institutions that participated in the IAMFA Annual Benchmarking Survey for operations and maintenance costs.

The inspiration for the Canadian War Museum design came from the people portrayed in the Museum’s photography collections: ordinary Canadians fighting in wasted foreign landscapes, accomplishing extraordinary and heroic deeds. The second source of inspiration was nature. Ravaged landscapes have the remarkable ability to endure the devastation wrought by humans. Not only does nature survive, it regenerates and hybridizes.