Renovations to 24 Sussex that include the construction of a new annex building with private quarters and a pool are forecasted to cost close to $38 million, according to documents obtained by iPolitics.

The documents, which contain itemized breakdowns and estimates from as recently as February 2016 — primarily provided by Marshall & Murray Incorporated, development consultants, and Ottawa-based KWC Architects — suggest a preferred option that would transform the prime minister’s residence into something more like the White House.

The most recent estimate in the documents — from February 5, 2016 — breaks down the proposed renovation and construction into five categories — Site Services & General Civil Work, Demolition and Abatement, Main Building, Annex Building (including pool), and Grounds Rehabilitation — that collectively add up to $37,753,887,000.

Of those five categories, renovations to the main building are projected to cost the most, with $13.49M required to — among other things — completely replace the electrical system, replace all exterior windows and doors and build a new sunroom.

The second most expensive proposed outlay, however — at $11.99M — is the construction of a new building “adjoining the south side of the main house,” replacing a controversial pool house built for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1975.

Built at a cost of around $200,000 at the time, according to the Globe and Mail — closer to $860,000 in 2016 dollars — the pool house’s construction was financed, in large part, by mostly anonymous private donors.

After demolishing the existing pool house for roughly $105,000, construction could begin on the approximately 7,500 square foot building that “would house the private quarters thereby freeing the existing residence to accommodate the state and support functions”, the documents say.

Emails on February 9 between Stephen Willis, executive director of Capital Planning at the National Capital Commission (NCC), and Stephen Robertson, a protect manager and architect at NCC, further establish the preference for that option.

“Do we know what it would cost to replace the pool building without any additional space being added?” Willis asks Robertson.

“With or without pool?” Robertson replies. “With pool,” Willis answers.

Both the PMO and NCC assured no decisions have been made.

“The NCC continues to work with its federal partners, including the RCMP, to develop a plan for the future of 24 Sussex Drive to ensure the government is able to make a prudent and informed decision,” NCC spokesperson Jean Wolf wrote in an emailed statement.

“This includes issues related to security, functionality, environmental sustainability, universal accessibility, and heritage preservation. Further information will be available in due course.”

“No decisions have been made regarding any proposals for renovations at 24 Sussex Drive. We will have more to say as the process moves along,” added PMO press secretary Andrée-Lyne Hallé.

Rather than moving into 24 Sussex after being elected in October 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family moved into Rideau Cottage on the Governor General’s grounds “until further notice”.

“The prime minister-designate will make decisions regarding 24 Sussex Drive once he has been fully briefed by officials,” a Liberal Party spokesperson told Huffington Post at the time.

In 2008, then Auditor General Sheila Fraser estimated that “completely rehabilitating 24 Sussex Drive would cost about $10 million and would require full access to the residence for a minimum of 12 to 15 months.”

“Delays are likely to result in further deterioration and higher costs,” Fraser said then.