Description of Historic Place

Located in downtown Winnipeg, the Federal Building is an irregularly shaped, seven storey, stone structure with a vertically emphasized eleven storey angled tower which consists of a tall main arched entranceway, finely etched detailing and narrow pilasters that rise several storeys in height. Contrasting this are its two sides where the emphasis is more horizontal, enhanced by the directional pull of long rows of evenly spaced windows and the banding of different materials and texture. The building has a seven-foot band of polished granite at its base, topped by a single storey of bush-hammered limestone, punctuated by arched windows. Above there are six storeys of smooth limestone walls and plain rectangular windows topped with a band of stylized carving. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Federal Building is one of the largest buildings constructed under Canada’s Public Works Construction Act of 1934 and represents a new type of office building that efficiently housed several departments under one roof. It was also one of a very few buildings constructed in Winnipeg during the Depression era and is one of the best examples of construction intended to alleviate the immediate and pressing problem of unemployment in Winnipeg. It was built as part of the 1932 unemployment relief program of the City of Winnipeg, employing all with the exception of one, local or provincial companies as general and sub-contractors. The influx of 1.5 million dollars in contracts plus significant numbers of jobs was a considerable benefit to the City of Winnipeg.

Architectural Value
The Federal building is an excellent example of Classical Moderne Style reflected in the building’s massing, pronounced horizontality and contrasting verticality of the tower and its construction materials and craftsmanship. Its formal and symmetrical composition, exterior elevations, regionally inspired decoration, significant interior features and the use of Canadian materials characterize the building. Designed by George William Northwood a Winnipeg architect with the firm Northwood and Chivers, the building is one of the best examples of their public works and one of their largest commissions out of a number of notable Winnipeg private and public buildings constructed in the post World War I period.

Environmental Value
The Federal Building is an attractive, prominently sited building whose age, appearance, location and public function reinforce the present character of downtown Winnipeg.
Distinguished by regionally inspired decoration and the use of Canadian materials, it is a physical landmark within Winnipeg and a major component of Main Street.

Sources:
Kate MacFarlane, Federal Building, 269 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Building Report 89-109Federal Building, 269 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Heritage Character Statement 89-109.

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements of the Federal Building should be respected.

Its excellent Moderne Classical style, construction materials and craftsmanship as manifested in: its formal and symmetrical composition; its stepped massing, flat walls, and regionally inspired stylized decoration clustered around the entrance and first floor windows; its pronounced horizontality emphasized by the verticality of the tower and clear juxtaposition of horizontal and vertical elements; its smooth limestone walls with long rows of evenly spaced rectangular windows and band of stylized carving; its interior patterned marbled floors and steps, elevator surrounds, stone light brackets, gilded ceiling beams, glazing above entrance, bronze and glass railing, and stairwell walls of Manitoba limestone.

The manner in which the Federal Building reinforces the present character downtown Winnipeg and Main Street as a major component and physical 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 Winnipeg, Manitoba Federal Building was built in 1935-36 to the design of Winnipeg architect George William Northwood. It is the property of Public Works Canada. See FHBRO Building Report 89-109.

Reasons for Designation
The Winnipeg Federal Building was designated Classified for its historical, architectural and environmental significance.

One of the two largest buildings constructed under Canada's Public Works Construction Act of 1934, it represents a new type of office building that efficiently housed several departments under one roof. It was also one of a very few buildings constructed in Winnipeg during the Depression era. Little altered, the building is an excellent example of "Classical Moderne" architecture, which is characterized by formal and symmetrical composition, a sense of mass and weight, and stylized, symbolic decoration. Distinguished by regionally-inspired decoration and the use of Canadian materials, it is a physical landmark within Winnipeg and a major component of Main Street.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the Winnipeg Federal Building is defined by its exterior elevations and significant interior features, and by its site, setting and landmark qualities.

The "Classical Moderne" is reflected in the Federal Building's pronounced horizontality, which is enhanced by its wide polished granite base and single storey of bush-hammered limestone, and in the contrasting verticality of the tower. The stepped massing, flat walls and stylized decoration clustered around the entrance and first floor windows are also elements that characterize it as an example of "Classical Moderne" architecture. Above are six storeys of smooth limestone walls, long rows of evenly spaced rectangular windows and a band of stylized carving. The clear juxtaposition of horizontal and vertical elements, as well as the building surfaces and decoration should be carefully maintained and repaired.

The lobby is richly decorated, with patterned marble floors, elevator surrounds, stone light brackets, gilded ceiling beams, glazing above the main entrance and off the lobby, stairwell walls of buff Manitoba limestone, marble steps and bronze and glass railing. These elements merit careful repair and restoration as required.

Physically the Federal Building is an attractive, prominently sited building whose age, appearance, location and public function combine to make it a major component of downtown Winnipeg. Its role is best preserved through the retention of a range of federal or related public activities.