Description of Historic Place

The Drill Hall, also known as the Cartier Square Drill Hall, is a large, brick structure composed of a gable-roofed central hall and a façade on the short side with a large central door and corner towers. The unencumbered drill hall space is spanned by an impressive queen-post truss system, and lit by a clerestory, which runs along the ridge of the roof. Across its parade ground, the Cartier Square Drill Hall looks onto the heart of downtown Ottawa. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Drill Hall is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
The Drill Hall is one of the best examples of a significant building type that emerged in the 1870's as Canada took over responsibility for its own defence. The building was at the time of construction, and still is, the home of an active voluntary militia within the city. It serves two regiments, the Governor General's Foot Guards and the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, both of which are direct successors of the units originally housed there.

Architectural Value
The Drill Hall is a very good example of post-Confederation (1868-1890) drill hall architecture, and features Second Empire and Italianate style architectural elements that clearly reflect the official government style of the period. Its excellent functional design and the good quality of construction materials are exhibited through its spacious, two-storey brick construction, and a simple pitched roof with a large clerestory to allow light and air to enter the building. The five tall, Italianate windows, typical of buildings during Thomas Seaton Scott’s tenure as chief architect of the Department of Public Works, make reference to the expansive interior space of the building. Two towers, capped by mansard roofs and decorated with iron cresting, anchor the façade and give the building a picturesque silhouette.

Environmental Value
The Drill Hall, bordered by the public recreational areas of Confederation Park and the Rideau Canal, is the oldest unchanged building of its type that survives from this post-confederation period. Its sober façade and architectural elements reinforce the present character of the area, and it remains a familiar local landmark within the downtown core.

Sources: Jacqueline Adell, Cartier Square Drill Hall, Ottawa, Ontario, Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report 84-038; Cartier Square Drill Hall, Ottawa, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 84-038.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Drill Hall should be respected.

Its very good aesthetic and excellent functional design, and good quality craftsmanship and materials, as evidenced by: its large, two storey brick construction, topped by a low gable roof; the aesthetic qualities of the building's exterior revealed in the composition of its main (north) façade and in the decorative qualities of its brickwork; the picturesque appearance of its Italianate window patterns on the front façade and its flanking mansard towers; the large round-headed windows across the front of the building and the large clerestory along the roof ridge which provide sufficient natural light; the circular, stained-glass medallion in the central window on the main façade; the 19th-century technology of framing a clear open space, which is expressed in the eleven exposed queen-post trusses, braced and reinforced with iron ties; within the quarters, the two officers' messes which preserve the character of the recreational life associated with militia regiments;

The manner in which the Drill Hall reinforces the present character of Cartier Square and is a familiar landmark in the region, as evidenced by: its prominent downtown setting, bordered by two important public recreational areas; its distinctive military design, which is readily identified by the region.

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 Cartier Square Drill Hall was built in 1879 to plans drawn up by the Department of Public Works. The building is now the property of the Department of National Defence. See FHBRO Building Report 84-38.

Reason for Designation
On April 23, 1985, the drill hall was designated Classified because as a functioning drill hall it continues to serve its historical and ceremonial role in the city, and because it is an early and fine surviving example of post-Confederation (1868-1890) drill hall architecture.

The Cartier Square drill hall is the oldest unchanged drill hall of the four that survive from this period and remain in government hands. It exemplifies a significant building type that emerged in the 1870's as Canada took over responsibility for its own defence. The building was at the time of construction, and still is, the home of an active voluntary militia within the city. It serves two regiments, the Governor General's Foot Guards and the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, both of which are direct successors of the units originally housed there. While space within the building is now at a premium, it is doubtful that the two units could meet their regimental requirements in other premises still situated within sight and marching distance of the city's ceremonial core.

Character Defining Elements
Because of the continuity of its historical function, its architectural representativeness, and its prominent public profile, careful attention should be paid to those aspects of the building wherein this character particularly resides: its interior drill space, its two officers' messes, and its exterior, particularly the north façade.

Essential to militia drill in 1879 as at present is a large, clear span of covered, lighted space. In this drill hall the 19th Century technology of framing a clear open space is clearly expressed in the eleven exposed Queen Post trusses, braced and reinforced with iron ties. Nothing interferes with the appreciation of this exposed structural system, a situation that should be continued. Sufficient natural light is provided by the large round-headed windows across the front of the building and by the clerestory along the roof ridge. These should be maintained. Additional openings that have been obscured should be restored to their original function if the opportunity arises to modify the later additions on the exterior.

Important to any drill hall is access to an adjacent outdoor parade square. The retention in Cartier Square of sufficient unobstructed exterior space should continue to be a priority. As well as being functionally necessary, this space serves to isolate the drill hall from its urban neighbours and to give it a prominent profile within the city core. Circulation in and out of the hall takes place through three large doors in the north façade. Although the original segmental arches have been somewhat altered and obscured, the circulation pattern should be maintained. It is also important on the interior that the traditional relationship and patterns of circulation between drill hall and flanking regimental quarters be respected. Within the quarters, the two officers' messes best preserve the character of the recreational life associated with militia regiments, and should be protected. Another significant decorative feature is the circular stained glass medallion set into the central window on the main façade.

The aesthetic qualities of the building's exterior are best revealed in the composition of its main (north) façade and in the decorative qualities of its brickwork. Intended to be simple and functional, the drill hall nonetheless achieves a picturesque appearance in its Italianate window patterns on the front façade and its flanking mansarded towers. These towers originally evoked the towers of the Parliament Buildings, and have recently been imitated by the towers of the new Carleton County Court House just west of the site. They must be preserved, preferably with their iron cresting reconstructed, as an essential element of the building's design context. Much of the polychromatic effect of the exterior has been lost in the recent application of protective paint; the possibility of returning the brick to the original polychromy should be investigated. Every effort should be made to preserve and enhance the decorative brick panels and moulded string courses.