Description of Historic Place

Located on the north side of the Esquimalt Graving Dock, the Pump House, also known as Building 1, is a large, rectangular building constructed of brick on a concrete foundation. It is three storeys in height with two additions on the north elevation. The north and south façades have nine bays divided by piers. The west façade has a large central entrance flanked by two windows and the east façade has three bays. Ornamental brick patterning and limestone stringcourses decorate the otherwise plain façade. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Pump House is one of the best examples of a building that illustrates the theme of the shipping industry, a theme that has been integrally connected with the development of the Canadian economy. The pumping machinery housed within the pump house performs the watering and dewatering operations of the dry dock. It is an integral component of the dock’s function and operation. At the time of its completion the dry dock was the second largest in the world. It is the largest dry dock on the Canadian west coast.

Architectural Value
The Pump House is a very good example of utilitarian design exhibiting features characteristic of the Modern Classical style popular during the first half of the 20th century. The building also reflects an economic approach to construction typically employed for industrial plants. Similarly the interior layout is determined by functional consideration and machinery arrangement.

Environmental Value
The Pump House together with the surrounding buildings forms a homogenous complex where utilitarian designs in combination with machinery, contribute to the industrial character of the Graving Dock. The Esquimalt Graving Dock and its associated buildings are familiar to the residents of Esquimalt and to visitors of the site.

Sources: Sophie Drakich, Esquimalt Graving Dock, Esquilmalt, British Columbia, Federal Heritage Building Report, 90-244; Pump House (Building No.1), Esquimalt Graving Dock, Esquilmalt, British Columbia, Heritage Character Statement, 90-244.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character defining elements of the Pump House should be respected.

Its utilitarian design, modern classical features, very good quality craftsmanship and materials such as: its large three-storey rectangular, flat-roofed, massing on a well-defined concrete foundation; its division into clearly defined bays, and the regular arrangement of openings on these bays; its large vertical steel-framed windows divided into small panes; its decorative brickwork that includes the course stretchers on edge, the geometric panels with limestone infilling above the piers, the panel with the date stone above the entrance, and the patterning on the piers themselves.

The manner in which the Pump House is compatible with the industrial character of its setting and is a familiar landmark within Esquimalt as evidenced by: its utilitarian design; its relationship to the industrial buildings of the Graving Dock complex; its visibility.

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 Esquimalt Graving Dock pump house, which includes the access shafts to the dock, was constructed in 1925. Max Downing and Swinburne A. Kayll, of Vancouver, B.C., were the associate architects on the project. Two two-storey annexes were added onto the north façade of the original building. The building is owned by Public Works Canada. See FHBRO Building Report 90-244.

Reasons for Designation
The pump house was designated Recognized because of its historical association, its architectural and functional design, and its contextual value.

The Esquimalt Graving Dock was built by the dominion government between 1921 and 1926 to serve military purposes as well as commercial ship traffic. The Graving Dock is associated with the shipping industry which has been integrally connected with the development of the Canadian economy. At the time of its completion in 1927, the dry dock was the second largest in the world. Since its construction, the Esquimalt Graving Dock has been in continuous use and is the largest dry dock on the Canadian west coast. The watering and dewatering operations of the dry dock are performed by the pumping machinery housed within the pump house, which is an integral component of the dock's function and operation. The access shafts, positioned at the south elevation, are used for entry to the filling and emptying tanks.

The pump house is of a utilitarian design exhibiting features characteristic of the Modern Classical style employed during the first half of the 20th century. The building reflects an economlc approach to construction typically employed for industrial plants. The interior layout is determined by functional consideration and machinery arrangement. The original layout survives largely intact.

The pump house along with the surrounding buildings, forms a homogeneous complex where their utilitarian designs in combination with the machinery housed within contribute to the industrial character of the Graving Dock.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the pump house resides in the massing, the materials, the Modern Classical style details, the pattern and design of openings, and the interior layout and surviving machinery which reflect the function of the building. The heritage value also lies in the relationship of the building to the surrounding Graving Dock building complex.

The pump house consists of a large three-storey rectangular, flat roofed, brick building sitting on a well-defined concrete foundation, with two additions on the north elevation. The north and south façades have nine bays divided by piers. The west façade has a large central entrance flanked by two windows and the east facade has three bays. The division of the building into clearly defined bays, and the regular arrangement of openings on these bays, is a characteristic of the building that should be maintained.

Large vertical steel-framed windows divided into small panes admit much daylight into the interior. These windows are typical of industrial buildings, and they contribute to the heritage character of the pump house.

Ornamental brick patterning and limestone string courses, characteristic of the Modern Classical style, provide a decorative effect to the façades. Decorative brickwork includes the course of stretchers on edge, the geometric panels with limestone infilling above the piers, the panel with the date stone above the entrance, and the patterning on the piers themselves. The use of buff bricks and deeply raked black pointing contribute to the overall effect. The same brick colour and a simpler decorative brick pattern is found in the additions. The masonry work is of good quality and it warrants careful maintenance, with the use of appropriate expertise for any repair and repointing .

The layout of the building has been designed to facilitate the efficient operation of the equipment. The interior is divided into two functional zones large uninterrupted floor area to accommodate the equipment, with the eastern end subdivided into two levels for service facilities. The pumping machinery is largely original, and in place. Every effort should be made to retain the original layout and machinery.

It is important to maintain the relationship of the building to the adjacent access shafts and to the surrounding industrial buildings of the Graving Dock complex.