Connaught Building
Encyclopedia
The Connaught Building is a historic office building in Ottawa
, Canada
, owned by Public Works and Government Services Canada
. It is located at 555 MacKenzie Street just south of the American Embassy
. To the east the building looks out on the Byward Market
and to the west is MacKenzie Avenue and Majors Hill Park.
By the early twentieth century the Parliament Buildings
were running out of space to house Canada's civil service. The Tudor-Gothic structure was designed by chief architect David Ewart
who did the similarly styled Victoria Memorial Building
and Royal Canadian Mint
. Work began on the building in 1913, but the First World War and other problems intervened, greatly slowing construction. The building was completed in 1916 and first used as the Customs Examining Warehouse by the customs department. The building was named after the Duke of Connaught, then Governor General. It originally had 1 basement level and 7 levels above ground. In 1971, the whole building underwent extensive renovation and two additional levels were created by building floors inside the high ceilings of the basement and ground floors. The building subsequently comprises 2 basement levels and 8 above grade levels (on the Sussex Drive side). The third floor also exits to MacKenzie Avenue at street level. Today it houses the headquarters the Canada Revenue Agency
.
The building has been designated a Federal Heritage Building of “Classified” Status, the highest level of recognition, since 1988.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, owned by Public Works and Government Services Canada
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Public Works and Government Services Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for the government's internal servicing and administration....
. It is located at 555 MacKenzie Street just south of the American Embassy
Embassy of the United States in Ottawa
The United States Embassy in Ottawa is a building located in Ottawa which opened in 1999.-Original mission:Before this date the mission occupied a 1930s era building directly across from Parliament Hill at 100 Wellington Street...
. To the east the building looks out on the Byward Market
Byward Market
ByWard Market is a district in Lower Town located east of the government & business district, surrounding the market buildings and open-air market on George, York, ByWard and William Streets.The district is bordered on the west by Sussex Drive, on the...
and to the west is MacKenzie Avenue and Majors Hill Park.
By the early twentieth century the Parliament Buildings
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
were running out of space to house Canada's civil service. The Tudor-Gothic structure was designed by chief architect David Ewart
David Ewart
David Ewart was a Canadian architect who served as Chief Dominion Architect from 1896 to 1914.As chief government architect he was responsible for many of the federal buildings constructed in this period...
who did the similarly styled Victoria Memorial Building
Canadian Museum of Nature
The Canadian Museum of Nature is a natural history museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Its collections, which were started by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1856, include all aspects of the intersection of human society and nature, from gardening to gene-splicing...
and Royal Canadian Mint
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
. Work began on the building in 1913, but the First World War and other problems intervened, greatly slowing construction. The building was completed in 1916 and first used as the Customs Examining Warehouse by the customs department. The building was named after the Duke of Connaught, then Governor General. It originally had 1 basement level and 7 levels above ground. In 1971, the whole building underwent extensive renovation and two additional levels were created by building floors inside the high ceilings of the basement and ground floors. The building subsequently comprises 2 basement levels and 8 above grade levels (on the Sussex Drive side). The third floor also exits to MacKenzie Avenue at street level. Today it houses the headquarters the Canada Revenue Agency
Canada Revenue Agency
The Canada Revenue Agency is a federal agency that administers tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most provinces and territories, international trade legislation, and various social and economic benefit and incentive programs delivered through the tax system...
.
The building has been designated a Federal Heritage Building of “Classified” Status, the highest level of recognition, since 1988.
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