Description of Historic Place

Situated on a corner site immediately west of Parliament Hill, the Confederation Building is a large government office building designed in a picturesque Chateau style. It has a V-shaped plan composed of two wings flanking a tall towered entranceway. The building is faced in rusticated and random coursed stonework, and is crowned with steep copper roofs decorated with dormer windows, turrets, finials and cresting. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Confederation Building was designated a Classified Federal Heritage Building primarily because of its importance in defining the character of the federal precinct west of Parliament Hill. Its size, siting, and rich architectural detailing have played a key role in extending the vocabulary established by the original Parliament buildings. Its original construction was an important step in the efforts of successive federal governments to transform Ottawa into a worthy national showplace. The building continues to have a strong influence on the ambience of the Wellington Street core.

Sources:
Ian Doull, Confederation Building, Ottawa, Ontario, Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report 87-037; Confederation Building, Ottawa, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 87-037.

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the Confederation Building include:
the major façades, which were carefully designed to establish an appropriate "Civil Gothic" vocabulary for new federal government buildings; the rich blending of dormers, turrets, oriels, pavilions and towers, with extensive corbelling and carved detailing in the stonework; the Wellington Street façade, which displays a variety of carved detailing including the provincial coats of arms, the representation of Canadian occupations, and carvings of Canadian youth, wildlife, and native peoples; the selection and detailing of material in the principal public interior areas, including most of the marble, brass, bronze, terrazzo and decorative plasterwork; the decorative plasterwork on the frieze and cornice of the ground floor lobby, which continues the Canadian symbolism of the exterior.

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 Confederation Building was completed in 1932 as the first major component of a new federal government precinct in the area west of Parliament Hill. It was designed by the Chief Architect's Branch of the Department of Public Works, with official attribution to R.C. Wright, David Ewart, and Thomas Adams. The exterior is virtually unchanged; the interior was rehabilitated in the 1970s to mark a shift from accommodating departmental staff to housing a number of government ministers and members of Parliament. The custodial department is Public Works Canada. See FHBRO Building Reports 87-34 to 87-37.

Reasons for Designation
The Confederation Building was designated a Classified heritage property primarily because of its importance in defining the character of the federal precinct west of Parliament Hill. Its size, siting, and rich architectural detailing have played a key role in extending the vocabulary established by the original Parliament buildings. Its original construction was an important step in the efforts of successive federal governments to transform Ottawa into a worthy national showplace. It continues to have a strong influence on the ambience of the Wellington Street core.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of this property is defined primarily by the east and south façades, including the southeast entrance, and by the principle interior lobbies.

The major façades were carefully designed to establish an appropriate "Civil Gothic" vocabulary for new federal government buildings. The rich blending of dormers, turrets, oriels, pavilions and towers, with extensive corbelling and carved detailing in the stonework, created a picturesque silhouette and visual appeal considered particularly appropriate in the Parliament Hill context. It is important that these features be meticulously preserved, and that any restoration be done with careful attention to material and detail.

The other façades, although not as dominant, are also highly visible given the open siting of the building and should be maintained in a consistent way to preserve the integrity of the complex.

The Wellington Street façade displays a variety of carved detailing described in glowing reports at the time of construction as the epitome of "patriotic symbolism."

The provincial coats of arms, the representation of Canadian occupations, the carvings of Canadian native peoples, Canadian youth, and Canadian wildlife, and the accompanying decorative elements are works of art. Their protection should be entrusted to those with expertise in the conservation of stone carving and sculpture.

For the interior, considerable care was taken in the selection and detailing of material in the principle public areas. Most of the marble, brass, bronze, terrazzo and decorative plasterwork in these areas was preserved and restored during the changes of the 1970s, and they should continue to be carefully maintained. The decorative plasterwork on the frieze and cornice of the ground floor lobby continues the Canadian symbolism of the exterior and warrants particular attention.