Description of Historic Place

The Currie Building sits directly on the parade square and is a centerpiece at the Royal Military College campus. The large, impressive building is a stone structure composed of a central clock tower flanked by two projecting pavilions, accented by parapet gables. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Currie Building, as a focal point of the early expansion of the Royal Military College (RMC), is closely associated with the emergence of a professional armed forces in Canada through officer training. The building’s construction marked the beginning and the end of an interim phase in the history of the College. The intermittent building program spanned over forty years, testifying to the difficult economic times that prevailed in the first half of the 20th century.

Architectural Value
The Currie Building is a good example of the Collegiate Gothic style of architecture, adopted by universities throughout North America as an evocation of the British universities. The functional interior plan reflects the new ideals for modern technical training through its use of naturally-lit, and well-ventilated, lecture halls and classrooms. The building’s stone detailing and patterning are evidence of its high quality craftsmanship. The interior decorative program, designed by prominent Montreal architect Percy Nobbs, has strong symbolic associations with the achievements of the Canadian Corps in the Great War, and with the British Monarchy.

Environmental Value
The Currie Building maintains an unchanged relationship to this site. The building made an important contribution in establishing the character of the parade square and reinforces the present character of the campus setting at Royal Military College. Designed to be the centerpiece of the campus, it is a familiar landmark to those who work, live and frequent the College.

Sources:
Janet Wright, Currie Building, Building 15, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, Federal Heritage Building Review Office 93-099.

Currie Building, Building 15, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 93-099.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Currie Building should be respected, for example:

Its Collegiate Gothic style, very good functional design and very good craftsmanship, for example:
The two-and-a-half storey massing, symmetrical plan, consisting of a central clock tower flanked by two projecting pavilions accented by parapet gables. The rusticated stone facing, smooth cut-stone tracery and deep mouldings. The semi-circular, raised approach to the arched entry, surmounted by a carved coat-of arms. The variety of windows, including the segmentally-arched, tri-partite basement windows, the fixed and double-hung sash of the upper levels and the oriel and bay windows. The interior plan with naturally-lit, and well-ventilated, lecture halls and smaller classrooms. The interior decorations with notable symbolic significance, including the Royal
monograms and initials of senior generals on the ceiling beams, the badges of units displayed on the oak panels, and the municipal coat of arms that decorate the underside of the balcony. The beamed ceiling, and wide stairway of the entry hall.

The manner in which the Currie Building maintains an unchanged relationship to its site, reinforces the character of the campus setting and is a familiar landmark, as evidenced by:
Its ongoing relationship to its surrounding open space and adjacent buildings. Its scale, Collegiate Gothic style, materials and fine detailing, which make an important contribution to the formal character of the parade square and which complement adjacent buildings on the campus. Its prominent central location, large scale and symbolic associations, which make it a familiar building at the College.

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.

Kingston, Ontario
Currie Building (Building No. 15)
Royal Military College


The Currie Building was built in 1918 to the designs of the Chief Architect's Branch, Department of Public Works. Of the original plans, only the western wing and rear assembly hall were completed. There have been no significant alterations and the building retains its function as an administrative and educational building. The Department of National Defence is custodian. See FHBRO Report 93-99.

Reasons For Designation

The Currie Building was designated Recognized for its environmental significance, its architectural design and its historical associations.

The Currie Building was designed to be the centerpiece of the Royal Military College's (RMC) parade square and of the entire campus. Although never entirely completed as designed due to federal government austerity measures following the First World War and during the 1920s, the existing Currie Building makes an important contribution in establishing the character of the parade square. It presents the most elaborated execution of the Collegiate Gothic style of architecture, which was envisioned for all new buildings on the square. Had it been completed as foreseen in RMC's 1910 expansion plan, the building would have replaced the Mackenzie building (1878) as the College's main administrative and educational building.

The Currie Building is a superior example of the Collegiate Gothic style of architecture which was adopted by universities throughout North America as an evocation of the great British Universities. The selection of this style was particularly influenced by the contemporary redesign of the United States Military Academy at West Point which was based on a medieval theme. The western wing and rear assembly hall present only a partial vision of the intended whole, yet demonstrate a mature interpretation of the style in the adept use of stone detailing and patterning of its details.

As the focal point of the early expansion of RMC, the Currie Building is associated the emergence of a professional armed forces in Canada. The intermittent building program at the College spanned over the next forty years, testifying to the difficult economic times that prevailed in the first half of the 20th century. The interior decorative programme of Currie Hall, designed by prominent Montreal architect Percy Nobbs, has strong symbolic associations with the achievements of the Canadian Corps in the Great
War and with the British Monarchy

HERITAGE CHARACTER STATEMENT Page 2

FHBRO Number 93-99

Kingston, Ontario
Currie Building (Building No. 15)
Royal Military College


Character Defining Elements

The heritage significance of the Currie Building resides in the quality of its architectural design, in its superior level of craftsmanship, and in its contribution to the character of the parade square.

The building displays elements typical of the Collegiate Gothic, such as the rough surface texture of the rusticated stone facing which contrasts with the smooth cut-stone tracery and deep mouldings. The visual interest of the facade is enlivened by the projecting pavilion with its parapet gable, by the semi-circular raised approach to the arched entry surmounted by the carved coat-of-arms, and by the variety of window styles employed. The segmentally-arched tri-partite basement windows, the fixed and double-hung sash of the upper levels and the oriel and bay windows are significant elements of the building's character. The continued careful maintenance of these well-crafted wood windows should be assured.

The interior plan of the Currie Building reflects the ideals of modern technical training developed early this century in its use of naturally-lit and well-ventilated large lecture halls and smaller classrooms. The building is generally utilitarian and well-crafted, while the entry hall, with its beamed ceiling and wide stairway, is more ornate. The interior decorations of Currie Hall have notable symbolic significance, both for the volunteer effort to complete it during a period of financial austerity, and for the military personnel and units that are honoured on its walls. The Royal monograms and initials of senior generals on the ceiling beams, the badges of units displayed on the oak panels and the municipal coats of arms that decorate the underside of the balcony all have great significance to the College and should warrant ongoing maintenance and protection.

The superior design and fine detailing of the Currie Building make an important contribution to the formal, if somewhat eclectic, character of the parade square. All interventions should be avoided that detract from these elements or from the established relationship of the building with the square.