Description of Historic Place

The Cereal Crops Building, also known as Building 75, is located at the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site of Canada in Ottawa. The brick and stone structure consists of a two-storey, pitched roof office building with a gambrel-roofed laboratory section and modest greenhouses at the rear. The building’s main façade features stone banding and a front porch with decorative turned posts. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Cereal Crops Building is one of the best examples of a building associated with the Central Experimental Farm’s (CEF) contributions to Canadian agricultural science. Cereal research, an essential component of the experimental farms’ programs, has been conducted in the Cereal Crops Building, since 1889. CEF staff analyzed, sorted, tested, packaged and distributed seeds to Canadian farmers and to the growing experimental farm network, in what was then known as the Seed Testing and Distribution Building. The staff also developed numerous varieties of wheat, oats and barley in the building throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the most notable being Marquis wheat. The building is also associated with the development of a distinctive cultural landscape at the CEF.

Architectural Value
The Cereal Crops Building is valued for its very good aesthetic design and is a good example of an early agricultural research building. Its good functional design combines an office section for administration, laboratories and workrooms for experimentation, and greenhouses for testing and proving seed viability. In its construction and detailing, the Cereal Crops Building demonstrates a competent handling of brick and stone that is consistent with the high quality of work managed by the Department of Public Works in the late 19th century and in the 1920s.

Environmental Value
The Cereal Crops Building is one of few, extant, pre-1890 structures located within the original core area of the CEF. The building reinforces the character of its experimental farm setting and is a familiar building within the immediate area.

Sources: Central Experimental Farm, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 97-035; Cereal Crops Building, Building Number 75, Ottawa, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 97-035.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Cereal Crops Building should be respected.

Its very good aesthetic design, good functional design and very good materials and craftsmanship, for example: the building’s massing which consists of a pitched roof building with a gambrel-roofed laboratory section and greenhouses of modest scale and simple construction; the brick walls, stone foundation and decorative stone detailing of the office and laboratory section; the composition and detailing of the front porch, in particular, the turned posts; the extant system of steam pipes and control mechanisms, which were responsible for maintaining controlled experimental conditions in the greenhouses.

The manner in which the Cereal Crops Building reinforces the agricultural character of its experimental farm setting and is a neighbourhood landmark, as evidenced by: its overall design, brick and stone construction and details which are consistent with all major CEF buildings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; its relationship to the adjacent structures which were directly associated with its work, including the Cereal Barn (Building 76) and insectaries (Buildings 75b,c and d); its importance as part of a group of administration and research buildings located in the original core area of the farm, which makes it a familiar building to visitors and employees.

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.

Building #75 consists of three interconnected parts: a two-storey office building erected in 1888-9 as the Seed Testing and Seed Distribution Building, a two-storey laboratory, headerhouse and office structure built in 1928-9, and a double row of greenhouses built in 1928-9. The 1888-9 structure was designed by the Chief Architect's Branch of the Department of Public Works under the direction of Chief Architect Thomas Fuller. The addition was also designed by the Department of Public Works. The interior of the office and laboratory sections of Building #75 have been altered by the removal of laboratory furnishings, the installation of ceiling panels on the ground floor, changes to partitions, and the removal, repair and replacement of interior trim. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAF) is the custodian. Building #75 is currently used as offices for an agricultural association and as a greenhouse for the Crop Science division of AAF. The structure is a Level 1 cultural resource located within the core of the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site.

Reasons for Designation

Building #75 has been designated 'Recognized' because of its historical, architectural and environmental significance.

Historical Significance
Building #75 is closely associated with two nationally significant themes: the Central Experimental Farm's (CEF) contributions to Canadian agricultural science and the creation of a distinctive cultural landscape at the CEF. Cereal research, an essential component of the experimental farms program, has been conducted in Building #75 since 1889. CEF staff analyzed, sorted, tested, packaged and distributed seeds to Canadian farmers and to the growing experimental farm network from Building #75, then known as the Seed Testing and Distribution Building. They also developed numerous varieties of wheat, oats and barley in the building throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the most notable being Marquis wheat.

The building is also closely associated with two celebrated scientists ' William and Charles Saunders. William Saunders conducted cereal breeding experiments in Building #75. His son Charles became the Experimentalist for the CEF in 1903 and chief of the Cereal Division in 1905. Charles, whose office was located in Building #75, developed several varieties of wheat, oats and barley, including Marquis wheat.

Architectural Significance
Building #75 is a remarkably complete example of an early agricultural research building. It comprises an office section for administration, laboratories and works rooms for experimentation, and greenhouses for testing and proving seed viability. In its construction and detailing, Building #75 demonstrates a competent handling of brick and stone that is consistent with the high quality of work managed by the Department of Public Works in the late 19th century and in the 1920s.

Environmental Significance
The1888-9 section of Building #75 is one of only three, extant, pre-1890 structures still located on its original site with the original core area of the CEF. Several adjacent structures, including the Cereal Barn (Building #76) and insectaries (Buildings #75b, c and d), were directly associated with the work conducted within Building #75. Its eclectic styling is consistent with all major CEF buildings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Changes to the immediate environment are consistent with the evolution and expansion of the farm and with changing activities within Building #75.

Character-defining elements

The heritage character of Building #75 resides in the following character-defining elements:

' The shingled roof and brick and stone construction of Building #75, in keeping with its use for administration and research. Important original fabric includes interior trim and the composition and detailing of the front porch, whose turned posts are repeated on other 19th century CEF buildings. The brick walls, stone foundation and stone detailing of the office and laboratory section help smooth the otherwise rough transition between the earlier pitched roof building and the gambrel-roofed laboratory section.

' The modest scale and simple construction of the greenhouses, in keeping with their utilitarian role in support of agricultural research.

' The extant system of steam pipes and control mechanisms which were responsible for maintaining controlled experimental conditions in the greenhouses.

' The building's siting and the direction of its main entrance, consistent with the original plan for the CEF.

All maintenance and repair work, as well as future interventions, should respect these character-defining elements.