Description of Historic Place

The Mackenzie Building, also known as Building No. 16 and former Education Block, is situated in the Royal Military College Kingston at Point Frederick Buildings National Historic Site of Canada. It‘s a three-storied rectangular building with symmetrical pavilion massing typical of the Second Empire style. Constructed in 1876-78, a four-storey central tower contains the main entrance that is flanked by five bays to either side. The copper clad mansard roof and classically detailed stone chimneys provide a distinctive roofline. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical value:
The Mackenzie Building is one of the best examples of the theme of the establishment of a permanent military force in Canada. It was the first principle purpose built college structure at the Royal Military College and was for the training of military and civil engineers in Canada. Lieutenant-Colonel E.O. Hewett is also associated with the Mackenzie building being the first commandant of the facility. Its construction, with the associated economic benefits and the subsequent influx of personnel, had a significant impact on Halifax.

Architectural value:
This building is an excellent example of the Second Empire Style popular in Canada in the 1870s and 1880s used in the context of educational or institutional structures. This style was considered an appropriate medium of expression for local, state or federal building commissions. The goal was to establish a strong, yet dignified presence. One of the unique features of this building is its scale. Its value also lies in the excellent quality of its materials and craftsmanship. It is one of the best surviving works of Thomas Seaton Scott Chief Architect of Public Works.

Environmental value:
The dramatic and boldly sited Mackenzie Building is still the centrepiece among several buildings organised around a parade ground and playing field. Although the site has changed the Mackenzie Building retains its original relationship with the open expanse of the parade ground and is an integral component of the Royal Military College. In Kingston, the Mackenzie building is representative of the Royal Military College and is well known to the students of the college.

Sources: Katherine Spenser-Ross, The Mackenzie Building No 16, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario 93-039; The Mackenzie Building No 16, (former Educational Block), Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario. Heritage Character Statement 93-039.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Mackenzie Building should be respected.

Its construction style and good quality materials and craftsmanship as manifested in: the copper-clad mansard roof, the round headed dormers, the iron cresting, and the classically detailed stone chimneys; the three-storied rectangular symmetrical massing of the building with central four-storey tower; the five bays to either side of the central tower punctured by rectangular basement windows, and two floors of rectangular windows with ear trimmed surrounds. The main entrance including a double leafed wood and glass doorway with iron grilles over the glass panels, a semi-circular transom light, stone quoins and voussoirs; the limestone walls, and high quality exterior masonry ornamented with stringcourses between the floors, pilasters framing the central tower, quoins framing the tower ends and the elaborate window surrounds; the rich interior detailing, especially in the assembly hall, and elsewhere the Corinthian columns, moulded wood arches, three-foot high wooden wainscoting, six panelled wood doors in the hallways, panelled wood embrasures, coved ceilings, double staircase, decorative iron chandeliers, and memorial stained glass; the six panelled wood doors and surrounds of the top and second floors.

The manner in which the building reinforces the setting of the Royal Military College through its construction, scale, and its location, and also its physical and functional relationship to the other buildings on the site.

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 Mackenzie Building at the Royal Military College (RMC) was built in 1876-78. The design originated with the Department of Public Works under the supervision of Thomas Seaton Scott, the Chief Architect; local Kingston architect, Robert Gage, provided the working drawings. In 1903, the porch on the east was altered; the porch on the west was removed in 1919. The Department of National Defence is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 93-39.

Reasons for Designation

The Mackenzie Building was designated Classified because of its historical associations, its importance as a work of architecture, and because of the quality of its site.

Erected as the principal building at the RMC, the Mackenzie Building symbolizes the founding of Canada's first military college. It is also associated with the adoption of the new Canadian flag in 1964: inspiration for the maple leaf flag was taken from the RMC flag, which George F. Stanley, then dean of arts at the RMC, saw flying atop the Mackenzie Building.

The Mackenzie Building is a successful adaptation of the Second Empire style, with its mansard roof, round-headed dormers, iron cresting, classically detailed chimneys and symmetrical pavilion massing. The quality of workmanship is excellent, most notably the exterior masonry and the interior woodwork. The Mackenzie Building stands as one of the best surviving examples of the work of the Department of Public Works under Scott.

The Mackenzie Building is the centrepiece among several buildings which are organized around a parade ground and playing field, reminiscent of collegiate quadrangles. In Kingston, the Mackenzie Building is representative of the RMC.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage value of the Mackenzie Building resides in all aspects of its Second Empire design, including front, east and rear elevations plus the rear annex. Value also lies in the axial interior plan, interior features dating from the early years of the building, and in the memorial windows. The building's pivotal location is also part of its heritage character.

The building's symmetrical pavilion massing is typical of the Second Empire style and should not be compromised. The four-storey central tower contains the main entrance, which includes a double-leafed wood-and-glass doorway with iron grilles over the glass panels, a semi-circular transom light and stone quoins and voussoirs surrounding. Restoration of the small stone balcony which used to overhang the main entrance would add to the building's picturesque Victorian appearance.

Five bays to either side of the central tower are punctured by rectangular basement windows with quoins surrounding and two floors of rectangular windows with ear-trimmed surrounds. The fenestration pattern extends to the end towers, except that the tower windows are paired. In the third floor of each tower, there is a pair of round-arched windows. The original windows (still seen in the east porch) have been replaced with aluminum sash of different profile from the original, and should be replaced with appropriate units when window replacement is planned.

The limestone walls are ornamented with stringcourses between the floors, pilasters framing the central tower, quoins framing the end towers and with elaborate window surrounds, all of which contribute to the rich Second Empire presentation.

The mansard roof, currently clad in copper, was originally covered in polychromatic slate. Missing or damaged parts of the decorative metal cornice and iron roof cresting should be restored. Classically detailed stone chimneys contribute to the building's distinctive roofline, and should be maintained.

While patterns from the main facade generally continue to the rear, several windows in the rear elevation and annex have been blinded with stone infilling, ventilators or plywood sheets. A program for window maintenance should be instituted to ensure that any future changes to windows are approached in a consistent manner.

The original interior planning of the building survives: the central entrance connects at right angles to a main hallway spanning the length of the building, and a central staircase leads to a similar hallway above. Rich detail distinguishes the interior layout and circulation: Corinthian columns; moulded wood arches; three-foot-high wooden wainscotting and six-panelled wood doors along the hallways; panelled wood embrasures; coved ceilings; magnificent double staircase; decorative iron chandeliers; and memorial stained glass windows. While the top floor is much plainer than the first and second floors, the six-panelled wood doors and surrounds carry the elegant quality throughout the interior. Removal of the drop acoustic tile ceiling in the stairwell, top floor and first floor senate room would enhance the heritage character of the interior.

Despite the asphalt which replaces the earlier grass surface, the Mackenzie Building retains its original relationship to the open expanse of the parade ground. This should be protected.