Description of Historic Place

Salaberry Armoury is situated in downtown Gatineau, Hull sector, in a mixed industrial and residential area. The large structure features a steeply pitched gable roof and its prominent chimneys contribute to the late Château Style of the building. Features include an arched main entrance, medieval inspired towers and loopholes. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Salaberry Armoury is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
Salaberry Armoury is associated with the development of Canada’s militia regiments during the interwar years and is one of twelve armouries constructed between the First and Second World Wars. The armoury was constructed as a result of a major reorganization and modernization of the militia.

Architectural Value
Salaberry Armoury is valued for its very good aesthetic design, executed in the late Château Style. The modern structural design, consisting of concrete floors supporting a steel frame, is specifically an interwar feature in the development of the Canadian drill hall. The round towers that flank the arched troop entrance emphasize its fortress motif and convey strength and solidity. Very good functionality is exhibited in the large unobstructed drill hall that is the dominant feature. The brickwork exhibits very good craftsmanship and materials.

Environmental Value
Salaberry Armoury reinforces with the present downtown character of the mixed industrial and residential setting and is a conspicuous local landmark.

Sources: Joan Mattie, Salaberry Armoury, 188 Taché Boulevard, Gatineau, Hull sector, Quebec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 92-046; Manège de Salaberry,188 Taché Boulevard, Gatineau, Hull sector, Quebec, Heritage Character Statement 92-046.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Salaberry Armoury should be respected.

Its very good simplified late Château Style aesthetic, very good functional design, and very good craftsmanship, for example: the building’s two and three storey massing, the stepped profile, monumental scale and proportions; the steep pitch of the roofs, the gable roofed drill hall, the hipped roof, and prominent chimneys; the red brick and white limestone exterior with the central arched main entrance flanked by round towers; the decorative elements including stringcourses, copings, window trims, concentric Tudor entrance arches, and carved plaques; the large, unobstructed interior of the drill hall spanned by exposed steel trusses and with extensive glazing; the multi-paned wood sash windows and the large multi-paned steel windows; the entrance doors of panelled wood, the heavy iron hardware and the multi-paned glazing; the original interior finishes including the wooden mouldings and trims, wooden double-panelled doors, and rooms such as the officer’s mess, ancillary offices, mess halls and classrooms set in a three-storey block at one end.

The manner in which the Salaberry Armoury reinforces the present industrial and residential character of its downtown Gatineau, Hull sector setting and is a conspicuous landmark, as evidenced by: its scale, design and distinctive profile that contribute to the character of its downtown setting; the structure’s specialized military role that make it a well-known community landmark.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Manège de Salaberry was constructed in in 1938. It was designed by L. Sarra-Bournet architect. It is currently used as an armoury. The Department of National Defence is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 92-46.

Reasons For Designation

The armoury was designated Recognized for its architectural importance and environmental significance and also for its historical associations.

The steeply pitched roof and prominent chimneys of the building contribute to the late-Chateau style of the building. The arched main entrance has medieval inspired towers centered on the stepped profile of the brick and stone facade. The use of Tudor arches over the doorways, loophole and grouped sash windows, and carved plaques also exhibit the stylized, simplified details and smooth, crisp appearance of the late-Chateau style. The exposed steel truss is a characteristic feature of the drill hall of the 1930s.

The armoury is one of twelve constructed between the Great Wars. The armoury was constructed for new units created as a result of a major reorganization and modernization of the militia. The modern structural design - concrete floors supporting a steel frame - is specifically an inter-war feature in the development of the Canadian drill hall.

The armoury building is setback on the flat site and has a generous front lawn which reinforces the importance of the building. The building and its setting are a good transition between the adjacent residential areas and the mixed-use urban core. The prominent location of the building and its use for public functions contribute to its landmark status.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the armoury resides features expressing the simplified, late Château style, including the massing, monumental scale and proportions, construction materials, interior planning and volumes, and site relationships.

The stepped massing of the Manège de Salaberry is dominated by the two-storey, gable roof of the drill hall which is well integrated into the Chateqeausque three-storey steep hipped-roof massing at one end. The hipped roof has a variety of gabled
dormers and prominent chimneys and finials which reflect the simplified, late Château



style. The twin-towered frontispiece of the two-storey entrance block has a varied
parapet profile which contributes to the pleasing balance of masses of the design which reflects modern preferences for simply composed volumetric compositions. The external massing, profiles and footprint reflect internal functions; the clarity of this expression should be respected.

The simplified, late Chateau style detailing is applied to all facades creating considerable variety and interest, with the richest details around the entrances as befits their importance. The well designed facades are executed in red brick, with white limestone detailing such as the string courses, copings, window trims, concentric Tudor entrance arches, and carved plaques which create prominent colour and textural contrast. The masonry requires an ongoing maintenance program and conservation expertise in the choice of materials and techniques for repair and replacement.

The asphalt shingle finish of the drill hall roof is a prominent feature. The roofing has an uniform, inappropriate colour which lacks visual texture. When the roofing is being replaced, historic precedent should be followed for the selection of the roof colour.

The multi-paned wood sash windows as well as the large multi-paned steel windows appear original and should be maintained. The glazing of the drill hall introduces interior day lighting to the spacious volume and should be maintained. The revival design of the armoury is expressed in the original wood entrance doors with their panelling, heavy iron hardware and multi-paned glazing; these should be maintained.

The stepped massing is reflected in the interior layout of spaces with the principal entrance in the centre of the drill hall's long facade, and ancillary offices, mess halls and classrooms in a three-storey block at one end. The drill hall is characterized by its large open volume with exposed steel trusses and extensive glazing which should be maintained. Original interior finishes such as the wooden mouldings and trims, wooden double-panelled doors, and special rooms like the officer's mess should be documented and maintained.

The simple turfgrass ground plane should be maintained reflecting the characteristically simple landscaping of armouries. The presence of mature deciduous or coniferous trees should be maintained; and the use of shrub material should be limited to the site perimeters. Site furniture, such as flag poles, railings and bollards, appear to be sympathetic to the design vocabulary of the armoury and should be maintained.