1910 – Arguments over the Departmental Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario

Unbuilt designs for a large departmental building. A result of an architectural competition in 1907 that was set aside and created much dispute between the government and the architectural community.

IT NOW APPEARS that Mr. Pugsley, Minister of Public Works, has decided to carry out his determination to set aside the prize design of Messrs. E. & W. S. Maxwell, of Montreal, for the proposed Departmental Building at Ottawa and erecting this, one of Canada’s largest Government buildings, after plans prepared by Chief Architect, David Ewart, of the Department of Public Works, and his staff.

A large delegation of architects recently waited upon the Government protesting strongly against such a procedure, pointing out that the design of so important a structure was essentially work for the best architectural talent in Canada, and that the competition conducted more than two years ago by the Department was at that time calculated to give the country the benefit of the best architectural services obtainable in Canada. The petitioners further pointed out that the conditions of the competition implied that the successful competitor should be asked to prepare the final drawings and superintend the construction of the building. They pointed out that the adoption of plans prepared by the Government’s chief architect would not only constitute a breach of faith with the architectural profession in Canada but would give, the country a structure far inferior to that which might be obtained through following out their original programme.

The publication in the daily press of Mr. Ewart’s design justifies every contention made by the architects. Mr. Pugsley’s statement as recently made on the floor of the House that not one of the prize designs was considered suitable, does, by no means, justify the stand taken bv the Government. Several designs were prepared in accordance with a definite programme laid down by the Government, and the assessors that awarded the prizes were among the most competent architectural critics in Canada, one of whom was the Government’s chief architect, Mr. Ewart. In all architectural competitions, it is invariably the case that the successful design has to be changed in some few minor particulars before a working plan can be decided upon. This would be also true with regard to the design of Messrs. E & W. S. Maxwell. This design was prepared in strict accordance with the programme as laid down by the Government, and the general conception was considered good. The fact that it possibly is not suitable in every minor detail, does not justify its being thrown out by the Government, and substituted by an essentially inferior design prepared by an over-worked department.

We publish herewith Mr. Ewart’s design, together with the prize design of Messrs. E. & W. S. Maxwel.l A glance at them is sufficient to enable even the untrained eye to perceive the utter lack of character in the former as compared with the beautiful symmetrical lines of the latter. The designs of Messrs. Maxwell, when first published, some two years ago, received favorable comment from critics all over the continent. It is a beautiful adaption of Modern Gothic and would harmonize well with the old dignified Gothic piles on Parliament Hill. The utter lack of character in Mr. Ewart’s design, on the other hand, renders practically impossible a detailed criticism.
Construction, May 1910

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