1915 – Connaught Building / Customs Examining Warehouse, Ottawa, Canada

Construction on the Customs Examining Warehouse was started by David Ewart as Dominion Chief Architect (1896-1914) of the Department of Public Works, and was completed by E.L. Horwood who was Chief Architect (1915-17). Work had begun on the building in 1913, but the First World War intervened, greatly slowing construction. The building was completed in 1915 and named after the Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria, who served as 10th Governor General of Canada from 1911 to 1916. Originally it had one basement level and seven levels above ground. In 1971 two additional levels were created by adding floors the basement and ground floors which were double height. Now home to government offices.

The new Customs Building, Ottawa has been built from designs prepared by the Department of Public Works, Ottawa.

The building, which is Gothic in treatment, is situated between Sussex Street and Mackenzie Avenue, with the main frontages to these streets, and extends the entire length of the block between George Street and York Street, a distance of three hundred and thirty-two feet by depth of eighty-eight feet, and is six storeys and basement in height, with a central tower comprising two more storeys.

The building throughout is fireproof. The outer walls are faced with stone backed with brick and lined with terra cotta blocks.
The lower storey next Sussex Street and the ends are faced with granite, the remainder being Nepean stone with Wallace stone trimmings.

The floors are of reinforced concrete having a hardwood finish in all offices, with marble and marble mosaic in halls, staircases and corridors.

The partition walls are formed of terra cotta blocks and the ceilings of metal lath finished in plaster. All halls, corridors and staircases are finished with a marble dado and plaster above.

The three main entrances to the offices are on Mackenzie Avenue on the first floor level. The ground floor on the Sussex Street level is used as an examining warehouse, the entrances for goods being at the rear of the building reached by a covered driveway under Mackenzie Avenue. The remainder of floors are used for departmental offices. The interior of the warehouse has been finished with a grey silicate brick.

In the main hall facing the central entrance on Mackenzie Avenue is a spacious marble and bronze staircase which rises to the top floor. Wide corridors extend on both sides from the central hall giving access to the various offices and which terminate at staircase at both ends. This is typical of all office floors, making a splendid working and well-balanced plan, all rooms and corridors being well lighted.
Construction, March 1917

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