Description of Historic Place

The Bus Terminal and Office Building is part of a group of structures at the border post of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle. Designed in the International Style, the terminal is a one-storey building whose volume has a horizontal emphasis. The façade and rounded corners are punctuated by the alternation of double windows and doors overlooking a spacious waiting room. A large covered platform protects custom officers and vehicles parked for inspection purposes. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Bus Terminal and Office Building is a recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Bus Terminal and Office Building, as part of a grouping of structures composing the Lacolle customs post, is closely associated with the effort by the federal government to effectively control traffic and collect import duties at the international border. Twenty-two customs posts were constructed as part of a postwar construction boom. Located on the Edward VII expressway, linking Montreal with New York state, the building is a good example of a structure associated with a significant phase in the development of one of the region’s busiest border posts.

Architectural Value
The Bus Terminal and Office Building is valued for its good aesthetic design, which represents the standard Public Works plan for the construction of border posts across Canada. These plans were designed in the International Style, with the emphasis on composition and equilibrium of volumes whereby the various functions of the program are expressed. The good functional design of the building is demonstrated in the large covered platform, treated in the streamlined style of the 1930s. It and was designed for the specific function of protecting the custom officers and vehicles parked outside for inspection purposes. The building’s exterior uniform surface of smooth-stone, is indicative of its good quality craftsmanship and materials.



Environmental Value
The Bus Terminal and Office Building is compatible with the present character of its international border, customs post and is a familiar building to traffic at the international border.

Sources:
Robert Hunter, Customs and Immigration Office, Bus Terminal, Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Québec, Federal Heritage Building’s Review Office Building Report, 89-131;
Bus Terminal, Customs and Immigration Office, Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 89-131.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Bus Terminal and Office Building should be respected.

Its International Style design, good functional design and fine quality materials and
craftsmanship, for example: the single-storey, asymmetrical massing with an emphasis on composition and
equilibrium of the volumes; the horizontal volume and rounded corners of the façade, punctuated by the alternation
of the double windows and doors overlooking the spacious waiting room; the large covered platform, treated in the streamlined style typical of the 1930s; the vertical mass of the chimney; the uniform surface of the walls covered in smooth stone with joints placed face to face,
and made as inconspicuous as possible.

The manner in which the Bus Terminal and Office Building is compatible with the international border, customs post setting and is a familiar building in the area, as evidenced by: its International Style design, and materials, which harmonize with the group of
structures composing the border post of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle; its familiarity to traffic at the international border given its visible and highly frequented
location on the Edward VII Expressway.

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 bus terminal is part of a group of structures composing the border post of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle. The Customs and Immigration buildings are older (1948-49). The bus terminal and examining warehouse were built between 1951-52, according to the standardized Public Works Department plans. The terminal was enlarged later to accommodate a steadily increasing demand. See FHBRO report 89-131.

Reason for Designation

The bus terminal has been designated Recognized because of the theme it expresses. It is typical of the postwar construction boom, when 22 customs posts were constructed right at the international border, in order to more effectively control traffic and collect import duties. The location of the Lacolle customs post, located on the Edward VII Expressway linking Montreal with New York State, made it one of the region's busiest border posts.


Character Defining Elements

The heritage value of this building relates to its design, which represents the standard Public Works plan for the construction of border posts across Canada. These plans are designed in the international style, a new approach whereby the outward form expresses the function of the building and in which all elements related to the classical vocabulary are excluded.

The bus terminal is an asymmetrical single-storey building. The emphasis is on composition and equilibrium of the volumes whereby the various functions of the program are expressed. With its facade and rounded corners, the horizontal volume is punctuated by the alternation of the double windows and doors overlooking the spacious waiting room. The large covered platform, treated in the streamlined style of the 1930s, was designed to fulfill a specific function of the program, namely protecting the customs officers and vehicles parked for inspection purposes. With the vertical mass of the chimney, the composition is kept in balance, and the addition is fairly well integrated. The exterior has a covering of smooth stone. In order to obtain as uniform a surface as possible, modern architecture no longer exhibits an interplay of textures; rather, the joints are placed face to face, and made as inconspicuous as possible. The interior has been redone and no longer necessarily expresses the original concept.

Any expansion should aim at coming to terms with the building's volumetry, respecting its horizontal and vertical lines of force, striking a balance between the windows and walls, and keeping the same access points, if possible.

The architectural vocabulary should be compatible with the existing one and should not mask the remaining elements of the international style. The exterior covering materials should be made uniform, and consideration should even be given to replacing the metal panels with a material more in harmony with the stone exterior. As for the interior, the existing original elements, space arrangement, volumetry and architectural details should be identified and properly integrated with the new arrangement. Rather than looking at enhancement of the original part as an insurmountable constraint, it should be treated as an important part of the new design, which while being a current expression would tastefully harmonize with the old terminal.