Library and Archives Canada

• Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada

• Architect: Mathers and Haldenby

• Style: Federal Modernism

• Completed in: 1967

The Library and Archives Canada Building is located on Wellington St. in Ottawa, on the same street along with Supreme Court of Canada, Bank of Canada, Department of Justice of Canada and the Parliament Hill. The building symbolizes the nation’s collective history, which is gathered and disseminated to reinforce a shared national identity.

The building was constructed in 1967 by the Toronto-based architectural firm, Mathers and Haldenby in the style of federal modernism. Federal modernism is an architectural style which emerged in the 20th century, especially during 1950s, 1960s and 1970s in North America, where the buildings eliminated ornamentation and focused on functionality of the building. Various styles of modern architecture, including Brutalism and International Style were adapted in Federal modernism.

The characteristics of the Library and Archives Canada Building includes grey granite stone cladding, rows of small, recessed windows and two symmetrical four-storey wings.

"Stone cladding and rows of small windows"

"One of two symmetrical four-storey wings of the building"

"Columns inside the building"

Reference:

Government of Canada. (n.d.). Public Archives and National Library Building. Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Retrieved from https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_fhbro_eng.aspx?id=11763

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Library and Archives Canada. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 10, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_and_Archives_Canada