Description of Historic Place

The Armoury, also known as Building 1, is located on a residential street in Beauport. It is a two-storey, low-pitched, gable-roofed drill hall with red brick, load-bearing exterior walls and buttress-like pilasters on all elevations. Its front façade is flanked by square corner towers with flat projecting roofs, and features a central entrance that leads to the large, rectangular drill hall. Iron framed, mutli-pane windows are geometrically arranged close to the eaves. Exterior decoration is limited to contrasting stone around the windows, along the roofline and on top of the lateral piers. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Armoury is associated with the provision of drill halls for the active volunteer Militia in Canada, specifically under Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence from 1911 to 1916. He expedited the program of armoury construction initiated by Frederick Borden. Hughes turned over the design of the majority of armouries to his Engineering Services Branch, who devised a set of five standard plans based on size. The relatively small armoury at Beauport is associated and accommodates three companies. The building continues to serve as a drill hall.

Architectural Value
The Armoury is a good example of an armoury building built from one of five standard drill hall plans produced under the direction of Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence. The design of these drill halls concentrated on the functional and structural aspects of the building and incorporated the "Type B plan with towers", which directly expresses the building’s utilitarian function. This plan provides additional office space in square corner towers flanking the front façade and was the first plan to employ width spanning trusses. The structure exhibits elements of the symbolic fortress motif common in Canadian armouries, but the design aesthetic is more modern than other armouries of its type. It is typical in the use of red brick for the walls, but the emphasis on compact massing shows influence of contemporary modern design, in particular the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his followers.

Environmental Value
The Armoury is compatible with the present character of its residential setting in Beauport and is a community landmark.

Sources: Jacqueline Adell, Armoury, Beauport, Québec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 90-059; Beauport Armoury, Beauport, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 90-059.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Armoury should be respected.

Its good aesthetic, very good functional design and good quality materials and craftsmanship, for example: the compact massing and standard armoury plan with flanking entrance towers and large gable roof; the elements of the fortress motif expressed in square corner towers flanking the front façade, limited fenestration and buttress-like pilasters on all elevations; the red-brick load-bearing exterior walls; the contrasting stone around the windows, along the roof line and on top of the lateral piers; the iron framed, multi-pane windows close to the eaves; the steel truss structural system that spans the large, unobstructed interior of the drill hall; the standard interior plan that accommodates service rooms, additional rooms and a viewing gallery; the surviving interior finishes.

The manner in which the Armoury is compatible with the present character of its residential setting in Beauport and is a community landmark, as evidenced by: its overall appearance, design and materials, which harmonize with the surrounding residential buildings in its neighbourhood; its scale and ongoing operation as an armoury, which makes it familiar within the community.

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 Beauport Armoury was built in 1913-14 to designs by the Engineering Services Branch of the Department of Militia and Defence. The building continues to serve as a drill hall. The Department of National Defence is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 90-59.

Reasons for Designation

The Beauport Armoury was designated Recognized as a result of its environmental qualities, its functional design, and its association with the provision of drill halls for the Active Volunteer Militia under Sam Hughes.

Located on a residential street, the armoury is a dominant presence and a community landmark.

Under threat of war, Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence from 1911 to 1916, expedited the program of armoury construction initiated by Frederick Borden. In the interests of efficiency and cost reduction, Hughes turned over the design of the majority of armouries to his Engineering Services Branch, who devised a set of five standard plans based on size. The relatively small armoury at Beauport, a Type B, accommodates three companies. In the standard designs, the rectangular drill hall is the dominant feature of the plan, with the administrative block reduced in size. The Beauport Armoury is a good example of the "Type B with Towers" design, which provides additional office space in square corner towers flanking the front facade. The structure exhibits elements of the symbolic fortress motif common in Canadian armouries, but the design aesthetic is more modern that other armouries of its type. It is typical in the use of red brick for the walls, but the flat projecting roofs of the towers, and the geometrical arrangement of windows close to the eaves, suggest the Prairie Style of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the Beauport Armoury resides in its massing, functional design, high quality materials and craftsmanship, and the character of the drill hall interior.

The armoury reflects its military function in the distinctive profile of the gable-roofed drill hall and in the fortress motif here expressed in corner towers, limited fenestration, and buttress-like pilasters on all elevations. Disruption of the characteristic profile and composition should be resisted.

The Beauport Armoury exemplifies the care taken in the construction of these structures despite the threat of war. The armoury retains its original multi-paned windows; they should be carefully maintained, and repaired or replaced in kind when necessary. Repairs to the masonry should be undertaken with the assistance of a masonry expert.
The large, unobstructed interior of the drill hall is achieved through the use of steel trusses. The structural system should be respected in any modification or repair work. The organization of space is characteristic of drill halls designed by the Engineering Branch and should be preserved. Service rooms are located at one end of the drill hall, with additional rooms and a viewing gallery above. All early interior finishes and historic building fabric should be maintained and repaired in kind.

Parking spaces are provided on one side of the building, with a fenced driveway located on the other. Landscaping at the front of the structure is simple and low, and provides an unobstructed view of the major facade; this should be preserved.