Armoury
Recognized Federal Heritage Building
Montréal, Quebec
Corner view
© Department of National Defence / Ministère de la Défense nationale, 1992.
Address :
3721 Henri Julien, Manège Henri-Julien, Fusilliers Mont-Royal, Montréal, Quebec
Recognition Statute:
Treasury Board Policy on Management of Real Property
Designation Date:
1992-08-10
Dates:
-
1911 to 1911
(Construction)
Other Name(s):
-
Fusiliers Mont-Royal Armoury
(Other Name)
Custodian:
National Defence
FHBRO Report Reference:
92-016
DFRP Number:
07087 00
Description of Historic Place
The Armoury, also known as the Fusiliers Mont-Royal Armoury, located on a corner site, sits prominently on the streetscape in a densely packed, mixed neighbourhood. It is a two-storey, gable-roofed drill hall whose form and detailing conjure up the image of a fortress through the incorporation of crenellated turrets, varied parapet profiles and a low, wide arched entrance that leads to the large, rectangular drill hall. The building’s smooth brick, load bearing exterior walls feature white carved and smooth limestone detailing and arch-headed multi-pane windows. 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 values.
Historical Value
The Armoury is closely associated with the pre-World War I building campaign and the reform and expansion of the volunteer militia. It reflects government policy to provide good training facilities to the militias. The prosperity and growth of Montreal is reflected in the construction of this armoury.
Architectural Value
The Armoury is valued for its very good aesthetic qualities and functional design. The references to medieval military architecture in a monumental and ordered style are evocative of a fortress, a common motif in Canadian armouries. The functional planning makes effective use of the entire inner city site by surrounding the large clear-span volume of the gable-roofed drill hall with administrative areas. The use of steel hinged trusses in the drill hall is a typical feature in the development of the structural design of the Canadian drill hall and demonstrates very good craftsmanship.
Environmental Value
The Armoury is a significant contribution to the adjacent Montreal streetscape and is compatible with its dense neighbourhood setting. It is a familiar building within the community.
Sources: Armoury, Montreal, Quebec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 92-016; Armoury, Montreal, Quebec, Heritage Character Statement, 92-016.
Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements of the Armoury should be respected.
Its very good aesthetic and functional design and very good quality craftsmanship and materials, for example: the symmetrical composition and two-storey, gable-roofed massing with three-storey, flat-roofed corner pavilions; the crenellated and stepped roof profiles; the well-scaled facades executed in buff brick, with white carved and smooth limestone detailing; the darker stone castellation of the turrets; the medieval architectural details, including the masonry turrets, crenellations, pilasters, arcading and carved details; the two-over-two, wood sash windows with transoms and the multi-paned wood sash windows with arched heads; the large, arched, wood panelled entrance doors that are located at the middle of the drill hall, a characteristic of armoury planning; the large open volume, and well-lit character of the drill hall with exposed steel trusses and extensive glazing.
The manner in which the Armoury reinforces the present character of its mixed neighbourhood setting and is a familiar building within the community, as evidenced by: its high standards of design and construction and its prominent corner site location, all of which contribute to the adjacent streetscape and are compatible with its dense neighbourhood setting; its large scale, monumental design and ongoing use as a regimental armoury, which makes it an important building to 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 Mount-Royal armoury was constructed in 1911. The designer is unknown. The building is currently used as a regimental armoury. The Department of National Defence is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 92-16.
Reasons For Designation
The Mount-Royal armoury was designated Recognized because of its architectural importance and environmental significance, and its historical associations.
The references to medieval military architecture in a more monumental and ordered style is a feature of this armoury's design. The unique gallery and balustrade reinforces the horizontal expression of the symmetrical main facade and is contrasted by the gable-roofed drill hall which rises behind. The functional planning makes effective use of the entire inner city site by surrounding the large clear-span volume of the gable-roofed drill hall with administrative areas.
The armoury is a significant contribution to the adjacent Montréal streetscape, with its massing on the corner site reinforcing the adjacent building scale. The importance of the building to the community is reflected by its high standard of design and construction. The building is very compatible with its densely packed, mixed, three-storey neighbourhood.
The construction of this armoury is associated with a pre-World War I building campaign and the reform and expansion of the volunteer militia. It reflects governmental policy to provide good training facilities to the militias. The prosperity and growth of Montréal is reflected in the construction of this armoury. The use of steel hinged trusses in the drill hall is a typical feature in the development of the structural design of the Canadian drill hall.
Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the Mount-Royal armoury resides in its overall form, proportions, construction materials, Medieval Revival architectural details, interior planning and volumes, and site relationships.
The massing consists of a two-storey gable-roofed hall surrounded by flat-roofed
ancillary blocks. The two-storey massing of the sides with three-storey corner pavilions reinforces the symmetrical composition. The external massing and crenellated and
stepped roof profiles have a picturesque character. The simple footprint reflects the compact planning and should be maintained. The symmetrical, regular pattern of windows and doors contributes to the visual richness of the facades. The gable roof profile has contemporary turbine ventilators, residential in character, which are prominent and inappropriately scaled. These should be replaced with a lower profile system.
The visual prominence of this building derives from well-scaled facades executed in buff brick, with white carved and smooth limestone detailing providing subtle colour and textural contrast. The darker stone castellations of the turrets adds a dramatic quality to these details. The medieval military architectural details of the masonry turrets, crenellations, pilasters, arcading, and carved details contribute to the picturesque character. The masonry requires an ongoing maintenance program, and conservation expertise in the choice of materials and techniques for cleaning, repair and replacement.
The roof of the armoury is a prominent feature. The current asphalt roofing may not follow original design intentions. Future replacement roof material should be based on research to confirm historical precedent for materials and colours.
The two-over-two, wood sash windows with transoms and the drill hall's multi-paned, wood sash windows with arched heads appear to be original. These should be maintained. There have been some modern window replacements. At the end of their life, the modern windows should be replaced with units based on historic research or existing examples. The Pine Avenue facade has windows blocked off with panels, altering the symmetrical expression of the glazing and introducing an inappropriate material to the building exterior. The windows should be reinstated where blocked off. The Medieval Revival design is expressed in the original wood entrance doors with their panelling. Replacements for existing modern doors should follow historic precedent.
The principal entrance is located at the middle of the drill hall, a characteristic of armoury planning. The armoury interior is characterized by the large open volume of the hall, with exposed steel trusses and extensive glazing. The spatial openness and bright, well lighted character of the hall should be maintained, as should original finishes.
A simple ground plane is characteristic of the historic setting for armouries of this period. The use of asphalt or concrete paving supports the austere character of this restricted site, and should be continued.
97.03.03