Description of Historic Place

The Federal Building, also known as the former Montréal Postal Terminal, is a massive, seven-storey building in downtown Montréal. Its façade is divided into a one and two-storey granite-clad base, which supports the subsequent floors clad in brick. Gothic detailing is found around the main entrance, and the corners of the building are accented by slightly projecting pavilions with tripartite window groupings. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Federal Building, the first of its kind, is directly associated with a new type of postal facility in the 1930s in Canada, found primarily in large urban transportation centers.

Architectural Value
The Federal Building is valued for its very good aesthetic and functional design. A slightly gothic influence is seen in its design, reinforced by the gothic detailing around its main entrance. The building represents the first time that principles of modern industrial design and planning were applied to the problem of mail handling in Canada and is a distinctive building type.

Environmental Value
The Federal Building reinforces the present character of its urban setting in downtown Montréal. It is a familiar building in the area.

Sources: Marc de Caraffe, L’ancien Hôtel des Postes, Montreal, Québec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 83-029; Federal Building, Montreal, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 83-029.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Federal Building should be respected.

Its very good aesthetic and functional design and good craftsmanship and materials, for example: the seven storey massing; the reinforced concrete and steel construction; the façades, divided horizontally into a one and two storey granite-clad base, which support the subsequent brick-clad floors; the strong vertical emphasis of the three street elevations defined by narrow brick piers which extend the full height of the building; the corners of the building, which are accented by slightly projecting pavilions punctuated by a distinctive tripartite window grouping; the use of metal spandrels between each of the wide windows, which visually unites the space between the piers into a series of elongated panels, which are capped by a slightly pointed arch; the gothic detailing around the main entrance; the window treatment and arrangement.

The manner in which the Federal Building reinforces the present character of its urban setting in downtown Montreal and is a familiar building, as evidenced by: its overall scale, design and materials, which harmonized with the architectural fabric of the neighbourhood; its large scale and prominent location which make it a familiar building in downtown Montréal.

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.

The former Montreal Postal Terminal is a massive seven-storey building constructed of reinforced concrete and steel sheathed in red brick and granite. It was built in twostages: the original section between 1934 and 1937, and an addition, which doubled the size of the building, in 1953. It was the first of a new type of postal facility in Canada which, while not replacing the traditional urban post office which served the immediate community, was a distinctive building type rooted in industrial design and found primarily in large urban transportation centres. The Montreal Postal Terminal represents the first time that principles of modern industrial design and planning were applied to the problem of mail handling in Canada. The façade was divided horizontally into a one and two storey granite base which supported the subsequent floors sheathed in brick. The three street elevations have a strong vertical emphasis defined by narrow brick piers which extend the full height of the building. The horizontal floor divisions were de-emphasized by the use of mental spandrels between each of the wide windows. This device visually unites the space between the piers into a series of elongated panels which were capped by a slightly pointed arch. This pattern imparts a slightly gothic caste to the design which was reinforced by the gothic detailing around the main entrance. The corners of the building are accented by slightly projecting pavilions punctuated by a distinctive tripartite window grouping. Its setting, in downtown Montreal, is compatible with the dominant character of the area. Because this building has a certain gothic decoration it harmonizes well, even as an industrial building, with the architectural fabric of the neighbourhood. The 1953 addition was faithful to the architectural integrity of the original exterior materials and design features.