Description of Historic Place

The Revenue Canada Building is an impressive, three-storey, stone-clad building prominently located on a corner site in Thunder Bay. It is designed in the Beaux-Arts Classical style and it is distinguished by its compact, temple-like form and rich, classically-inspired decoration. This includes, two-storey paired pilasters that separate two-storey arch-topped windows, rusticated corner pilasters, a massive entablature and a central pedimented entryway. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Revenue Canada Building is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Revenue Canada Building is associated with the federal government’s expansion of services into smaller communities, and with its provision of well designed, up-to-date facilities. The former city of Fort William, which is now Thunder Bay, was once one of the world’s largest grain-handling ports and a major trade and transportation point and railway terminal. The construction of the building reflects the unprecedented prosperity and optimism of the early 20th century as well as the expansion of east-west trade and the economic importance of customs activities.

Architectural Value
The Revenue Canada Building is a very good example of Beaux-Arts Classicism. This style was commonly used by the Department of Public Works for public institutions in the early 20th century. The building is characterized by its monumental massing, symmetrical composition and its strong horizontal division of base, body, and cornice that is typical of the Beaux-Arts style. The building’s good craftsmanship and materials are demonstrated in its use of pale limestone veneer and granite accents on the two principal elevations and in the masonry details.

Environmental Value
The Revenue Canada Building reinforces the character of its mixed residential/ commercial setting in the city of Thunder Bay. The building is a familiar landmark within the city.

Sources:
Revenue Canada Building, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 89-149; Revenue Canada Building, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 89-149.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Revenue Canada Building should be respected.

Its very good Beaux-Arts Classical design, good functional design and quality craftsmanship and materials, for example: the monumental massing, which consists of a compact, three-storey stone-clad volume on a rectangular plan; the steel-and-concrete structural system; the strong horizontal division of base, body, and cornice that is typical of the Beaux-Arts style; the use of pale limestone veneer and granite accents on the two principal elevations; the classically-inspired features such as the two-storey paired pilasters separating two-storey arch-topped windows, rusticated corner pilasters, a massive entablature, and a central pedimented entryway within a shallow rontispiece; the interior layout, original finishes and the iron staircase with marble steps.

The manner in which the Revenue Canada Building reinforces the character of its mixed residential/ commercial setting and is a well-known landmark in the city, as evidenced by: its monumentality, Beaux-Arts style and materials which contribute to it’s the character of its setting at the edge of a residential area and commercial sector of the city; its visibility and familiarity to residents and visitors to Thunder Bay, due to its scale, style and prominent corner site location in the city.

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 Revenue Canada building in Thunder Bay was constructed in 1913-15 to plans prepared by the Chief Architect's Office of the Department of Public Works. It accommodated customs services until being taken over by Revenue Canada in the 1960s. Public Works & Government Services Canada is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 89-149.

Reasons for Designation

The Revenue Canada building was designated Recognized because of its architectural design and environmental significance, and also for historical reasons.

The impressive three-storey stone and brick building is a very good example of Beaux-Arts Classicism, a style commonly used by Public Works for public institutions in the early 20th century. Prominently located on a corner site, the Revenue Canada building stands at the edge of a residential area and a commercial sector of the city, and is well known locally.

The building reflects the unprecedented prosperity and optimism of the pre-war years, as well as the expansion of east-west trade and the economic importance of customs activities. The city of Fort William (now Thunder Bay) was one of the world's largest grain-handling ports and a major trade and transportation transshipment point and railway terminal. Locally, the federal presence was increased by expanding services in the community, and by providing well designed, up-to-date facilities.

Character Defining Features

The heritage character of the Revenue Canada building resides in its Beaux-Arts design, in its monumental massing, materials and detailing, in its symmetrical composition, in its extant interior details, and in its relationship to its site and setting.

A steel-and-concrete, stone-clad box of rectangular plan, the Thunder Bay Revenue Canada building exhibits the strong horizontal division of base, body, and cornice that is typical of the Beaux-Arts. The use of pale limestone veneer and granite accents on the two principal elevations, and the presence of such classically-inspired features as two-storey paired pilasters separating two-storey arch-topped windows, rusticated corner pilasters, a massive entablature, and a central pedimented entryway within a shallow frontispiece are also characteristic features. The scale, proportion,
arrangement and materials of these features are integral to the Beaux-Arts formality
and monumentality of this building and must be respected. The rear and north elevations are less conspicuous, and could be handled with more flexibility; however, alterations or additions that would interfere with the pure box-like profile must be resisted.

The current fenestration has been altered from the original designs; when upgrading is required, the original fenestration and paneling patterns for the principal facades should be confirmed and replacement units of a compatible design installed.

The interior layout has been modified for office use, and nondescript modern finishes installed. The original iron staircase with marble steps survives, as do some finishes in the core area (main entrance, lobby and elevator). These should be retained, as should major patterns of access and circulation which recall the original plan.