Description of Historic Place

Located on Ottawa’s prominent Sussex Drive, the Institut Jeanne d’Arc is composed of five, attached, 19th century commercial buildings. A gabled portico defines the main entrance and serves the block-long grouping, which includes the mansard-roofed Johnston, Sparrow, Mansfield, Revere Hotel and the flat-roofed May buildings. The three structures at the south end of the block are constructed in limestone and share classically inspired proportions and rhythms. Their facades consist of a dressed stone ground storey, with large windows. Horizontal rows of regularly spaced multi-paned windows with stone details on the two upper storeys unify the three facades. The two buildings at the North end of the block are constructed of a light brown brick and have a ground floor with large windows separated from the upper storeys by a wooden cornice. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Revere Hotel of the Institut Jeanne d’Arc is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Revere Hotel of the Institut Jeanne d’Arc is associated with the Sisters of the Institut, who operated a boarding house for young working women from 1917 to 1989. The Order was founded by Mère Thomas d’Aquin, a French Dominican sister who arrived in Ottawa from France in the second decade of the 20th century. The building, originally a commercial structure, is also directly associated with the commercial activity which appeared on Sussex Drive in Ottawa during its mid 19th century boom and with the local development and social life of Lowertown Ottawa.

Architectural Value
The Revere Hotel of the Institut Jeanne d’Arc is valued for its very good aesthetic qualities and is an excellent example of commercial architecture dating from Ottawa’s Confederation period that has been adapted for residential use. Built in two phases, from 1846 to 1851 and from 1870 to 1876, the five buildings reflect changing architectural tastes. The influence of the Neoclassical style is seen in the tripartite division of the elevations and classically inspired rhythms and proportions, while influences of non-classical origin are seen the tall, narrow proportions of the building, the exaggerated keystones above the doors and the segmental arches above some of the windows. Nevertheless, a uniformity of size and scale combined with a conservative approach to style resulted in a harmonious row of 19th century commercial buildings.

Environmental Value
The Revere Hotel of the Institut Jeanne d’Arc reinforces the historic character of its streetscape setting in downtown Ottawa and is a well-known landmark in the National Capital’s downtown region.

Sources: Jacqueline Hucker, Institut Jeanne d’Arc, Ottawa, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 85-039; Institut Jeanne d’Arc, Ottawa, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 85-039.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements the Revere Hotel of the Institut Jeanne d’Arc, should be respected.

Its very good classically inspired design, good functional design and good materials and craftsmanship, for example: the four-storey massing with a mansard roof and flat-roofed section; -the rough-faced limestone construction with corner quoins, exaggerated keystones above the doors and the segmental arches above some of the windows; the light brown brick construction and details; -the tripartite elevation consisting of a dressed stone ground storey with shop window, separated by a wide string course from the two upper storeys; the unifying, horizontal rhythm of the upper storeys, composed of rows of regularly spaced, rectangular, multi-paned windows with dressed stone surrounds and sills and rows of regularly spaced windows with segmental arches and roof dormers; the gabled front entrance with sign; -the doors with fanlights and the brackets beneath the window sills; the thick dividing walls and back walls of the interior.

The manner in which the Revere Hotel of the Institut Jeanne d’Arc, reinforces the historic character of its streetscape setting and is well-known, as evidenced by: its overall scale, design and materials, which harmonize with the surrounding buildings between Rideau and St. Patrick streets and contribute to the 19th -century character of the east side of Sussex Drive; its visibility and familiarity within its immediate area given its location on the well- known Sussex Drive in downtown Ottawa.

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 five 19th century commercial structures comprising what is now the Institut Jeanne d'Arc were constructed between 1846 and 1876, when Sussex Drive was at the centre of Ottawa's commercial activity. The Sisters of the Institut Jeanne d'Arc acquired the properties one by one from 1917 to 1926, and converted them into a single building. The property has been owned by the National Capital Commission since 1980. See FHBRO Building Report 85-39.

Reasons for Designation
The Institut Jeanne d'Arc was designated Recognized because of its historical associations, its architectural significance, and its environmental value.

The buildings are typical of the commercial structures which appeared on Sussex Drive during its mid 19th century boom. They have been associated with businessmen and professionals who had offices in them, and with tenants who occupied the residential flats on the upper floors. The buildings are also associated with the Sisters of the Institut Jeanne d'Arc, who operated a boarding house for young working women from 1917 to 1989. The Order was founded by Mère Thomas d'Aquin, a French Dominican sister who arrived in Ottawa from France in the second decade of the 20th century. The Institut is also closely associated with the local development and social life of Lowertown Ottawa.

Architecturally, the Institut Jeanne d'Arc is an excellent example of commercial architecture dating from Ottawa's Confederation period. Built in two phases, from 1846 to 1851 and from 1870 to 1876, the five buildings reflect changing architectural tastes. Nevertheless, a uniformity of size and scale combined with a conservative approach to style resulted in a harmonious row of 19th century commercial buildings.

The buildings at 489 Sussex Drive, together with buildings on the other blocks between Rideau and St. Patrick Streets, are among Ottawa's oldest extant commercial buildings. They contribute to the 19th century character of the east side of the street.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the Institut Jeanne d'Arc resides in the scale, the proportions, the fenestration pattern, the footprint, the materials, and the exterior architectural details of the five buildings which comprise the Institut. The three buildings at the south end of the block are constructed in limestone and share classically inspired proportions and rhythms. Constructed with rough-faced stone with a small amount of dressed stone detailing, the buildings rely on their good building materials and pleasing proportions for effect.

Influenced by the Neoclassical style, their tripartite elevations consist of a ground storey, differentiated from the upper storeys by a greater use of dressed stone and separated from them by a wide stringcourse, and two upper storeys composed of rows of regularly spaced, multipaned, rectangular windows. The windows create a unifying horizontal rhythm across the three facades, and are emphasized by dressed stone surrounds or by stone sills. The corners are finished with quoins.

The Johnston building, the second building from the south corner, is the most sophisticated of the three. The facade has a unified design which takes into account the width of the shop window on the ground floor. The doors with fanlights and the brackets beneath the window sills point to the Neoclassical origins of the design.

However, the tall, narrow proportions of the building, the exaggerated keystones above the doors and the segmental arches above some of the windows, suggest that architectural styles of non-classical origin have also influenced the design.

The two buildings running south from Clarence Street are constructed of a light brown brick. The use of brick rather than stone gives the facades a lighter appearance in comparison to the earlier buildings. The rhythm across the facade is more lively and is matched by a second vertical rhythm, created by tall slender pilasters which reach the full height of the building. The windows have segmental arches, and originally the doorways were positioned off-centre.

Any new work should respect the scale, proportions, rhythm and fenestration pattern of the existing buildings. Reinstatement of shop fronts on Sussex Drive, based on the original store front configurations, would enhance the commercial character of the street. The masonry work contributes to the character of the buildings. Any work on the masonry should therefore be done in consultation with a conservation specialist.

While the interior has undergone major modifications, the definition of the basic plan of the five buildings is still legible in the thick dividing walls and back walls, the variation of floor levels, and the floor to ceiling relationships in the different buildings. The legibility of the individual buildings should be respected in future renovations.

Revised
23.11.02