Description of Historic Place

The Lighttower is located on an isolated site high above the Pacific Ocean at the end of Hesquiat Peninsula and along the treacherous western coastline of Vancouver Island. It is a unique one-hundred-foot (30.5 metres) high, white octagonal tower of reinforced concrete comprised of a central column surrounded by immense flying buttresses and crowned with a red lantern. It has an elegantly tapered profile and strong vertical emphasis created by the buttresses and the interplay of light and shadow produced by the curving buttress attachments. The tall narrow window openings, placed in accordance with the interior spiral staircase, emphasize the verticality of the tower. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Lighttower is a very good example of the expansion of the navigation system along the British Columbia coast and within Canada for the provision of coastal navigational aid. It is among the early reinforced-concrete buildings in Canada, and is considered to be the supreme example of Colonel William Anderson’s, Chief Engineer, Department of Marine and Fisheries, experimental lighttower design employing flying buttresses. This groundbreaking application of reinforced concrete construction to tall structures gained Colonel Anderson international attention in the world forefront of reinforced engineering for the first decade of the 20th Century. The Lighttower is also associated with the acceptance of Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s Mobilization Act, which instituted conscription during the Second World War, after the Light Tower was reputedly shelled by a Japanese submarine while a crucial debate on conscription was occurring in Parliament.

Architectural Value
The Lighttower is an excellent example of innovative design, construction and application of materials, combining experimental engineering with pleasing aesthetic expression. No decorative elaboration detracts from the clarity of its silhouette. The Lighttower is characterized by its tall, tapered profile and a strong vertical emphasis.

Environmental Value
The Lighttower reinforces the maritime coastal setting of Estevan Point and its associated seascape through its isolated nature in its rugged setting. Dominating its Cliffside site, the Lighttower is a west coast landmark. As the first sentinel seen by marines on the approach to Canada’s coastline, it was designed to function as a landfall light on its region of the Pacific Coast and is well known to deep sea and coastal traffic as a manned lighttower.

Sources: Martha Phemister, Estevan Point Lightstation, Estevan Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Building Report 90-64; Light Tower , Estevan Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Heritage Character Statement 90-64.

Character-Defining Elements

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

Its role as an illustration of the expansion of the Canadian navigation system and the provision of aids to navigation.
Its excellent innovative design, construction and application of materials as manifested in: its tall, white octagonal structure; its central column; its tapered profile created by its flying buttresses and curving buttress attachments; its application of reinforced concrete; its tall narrow window openings placed in accordance with the interior spiral steel staircase; the lantern.

The manner in which the Lighttower reinforces the maritime coastal setting of Estevan Point and its associated seascape as a west coast landmark through its isolated nature in its rugged setting.

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 Estevan Point Lighttower was built in 1909 to designs by Col. William Anderson, Chief Engineer of the Department of Marine and Fisheries, in an expansion of the navigation system along the British Columbia coast. The original light has been replaced. The manned Lighttower continues to serve its original function. The Canadian Coast Guard is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 90-64.

Reasons for Designation

The Estevan Point Lighttower was desingated Classified as a result of its experimental design and use of materials; for its landmark status; and for its association with the provision of coastal navigational aid. The tower may also be associated with the passage of the Mobilization Act, which instituted conscription during the Second World War.

The Estevan Point Lighttower is among the early reinforced-concrete buildings in Canada, and is considered by many to be the supreme example of Colonel Anderson's experimental lighttower design employing flying buttresses. This pioneering application of reinforced concrete construction to tall structures gained Anderson international attention. The Estevan Point Lighttower, combining experimental engineering with pleasing aesthetic expression, is of national importance.

The lighttower is located on an isolated site high above the Pacific Ocean at the end of Hesquiat Peninsula. It is only accessible by helicopter or overland since the treacherous shore makes landing by boat too dangerous. Dominating its cliffside site, the lighttower is a west coast landmark.

One of a series of towers built along the treacherous western coastline of Vancouver Island, the Estevan Point tower was designed to function as a landfall light on this region of the Pacific coast. It continues to serve deep sea and coastal traffic today. During the Second World War, the lighttower reputedly was shelled by a Japanese submarine while a crucial debate on constription was occuring in Parliament. The attack led to the acceptance of Prime Minister Mackenzie King's Mobilization Act.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the Estevan Point Lighttower resides in its pioneering design, elegant profile and early use of reinforced concrete, and by its physical significance within its setting.

The one-hundred-foot-high octagonal tower, comprised of a central column surrounded by flying buttresses, represents an experimental approach to lighthouse design based on Anderson's assessment of stresses and wind loading.

The buttresses are designed to stiffen the tower and thus to stabilize the light during high winds, and are open rather than solid to reduce costs. The physical expression of the structural design is essential to the heritage character of this structure and should be maintained and protected.

While the desire to achieve international navigation standards motivated the designer, the elegantly tapered profile, the strong vertical emphasis created by the buttresses, and the interplay of light and shadow produced by the curving buttress attachments reflect his highly-developed aesthetic sensibility. No decorative elaboration detracts from the clarity of the silhouette. The tall narrow window openings, placed in accordance with the interior spiral staircase, emphasize the verticality of the tower. The modern instrument-support projecting from the lantern platform, while vertically oriented, tends to detract from the purity of the profile. An alternate location should be found is possible. Alterations which are required to accommodate the tower's continuing use should be designed with minimal disruption or loss of historic fabric and minimal disruption of the tower's profile.

The Estevan Point lighttower is a very early example of the use of reinforced concrete in the construction of tall structures. A program of regular inspection and maintenance should be followed, and should be based on the advice of conservation specialists with knowledge of historic concrete. The lantern, the spiral steel staircase, and other original fittings should be preserved.

The lighttower is set among secondary structures associated with the operation of the light station, although the original buildings have been replaced over time. The isolated nature of this self-contained enclave in its rugged setting should be protected.