Description of Historic Place

The Arc Biotech Building (No. 34) is located at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. The rectangular building is a two-storey, red brick structure, topped by a hipped roof with gabled dormers at the short ends. A transom window and projecting pediment with mock half-timbering distinguishes the building’s central entranceway. The balanced arrangement of roof dormers and windows on the façades, reflect the building’s interior layout. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Arc Biotech Building (No. 34) is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Arc Biotech Building (No. 34) is closely associated with the development of the Experimental Farm system in Canada. The building housed the offices and laboratories of the Poultry Division, which was established in 1888 in accordance with the Farm’s 1886 mandate to introduce new and profitable farming methods to Canada. The building is named after Harry Stoneman Gutteridge, a scientist who worked as a researcher and as Divisional Chief in the Poultry Division. During his tenure, Mr. Gutteridge contributed to an increased application of scientific disciplines in solving the problems of a rapidly expanding and developing poultry industry.

Architectural Value
The Arc Biotech Building (No. 34) is valued for its good aesthetic qualities typical of the smaller science and administration buildings built in the 1920s. In keeping with the farm’s architectural program, the building’s vernacular character is further revealed through its good materials and craftsmanship, such as the brickwork, painted wood trim, pitched roof dormers and asphalt-shingled roof. The good functional design of the Arc Biotech Building (No. 34) accommodates offices, a library, laboratories for general Animal Genetics, and file storage in the attic.

Environmental Value
The Arc Biotech Building (No. 34) is an important part of the science and administration group of buildings located within the central core of the farm. The building reinforces the picturesque character of its green space setting at the farm and is familiar within the immediate area.

Sources:Arc Biotech Building, Building 34, Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, INF 96-129; Arc Biotech Building (Building No.34), Central Experimental Farm, Heritage Character Statement, 96-129.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Arc Biotech Building (No. 34) should be respected.

Its good aesthetic design, good functional design and good materials and craftsmanship, for example: the two-and-a-half storey rectangular mass; the shingled hipped roof with mock half-timbering and roof dormers; the arrangement of windows and dormers, which accentuate the balanced proportions of the façades and reflect the building’s interior layout; the interior layout of the building with rooms arranged off a central corridor, each having access to a set of windows; the ornamental eave dentils, the entrance topped by a transom window and the projecting pediment with mock half-timbering; the subtle brick coursing pattern on the red brick walls, painted wood trim and the high concrete foundation; the multi-pane windows in the building’s main double, wooden doors; the interior finishes, including the unpainted wood mouldings and flat plaster.

The manner in which the Arc Biotech Building (No. 34) reinforces the picturesque character of its green space setting at the farm and is a neighbourhood landmark, as evidenced by: its residential scale and character, masonry work and mock half-timbering, which are in keeping with the farm’s architectural program, and harmonize with the surrounding green space of mature trees and ornamental shrubs; its role as part of a group of administration and science buildings located within the central core area of the farm, which makes it familiar within the immediate area.

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 Arc Biotech Building was constructed in 1920 and received an addition in 1950 which almost doubled its size. The building's windows have been replaced. Its designer is unknown. Also called the Harry S. Gutteridge Building, the Arc Biotech Building originally served as headquarters for the Poultry Divison building, and is now used to accommodate offices, a library, heavy laboratories for general Animal Genetics, and file storage in the attic. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is the custodian. The Arc Biotech Building is part of the Central Experimental Farm NHS. See FHBRO Case File No. 96-129.


Reasons for Designation

The Arc Biotech Building has been designated Recognized because of its historical associations, environmental significance and architectural qualities.

The Arc Biotech Building is closely associated with the development of the Experimental Farm system in Canada. In accordance with the Farm's 1886 mandate to introduce new and profitable farming methods to Canada, a Poultry Division was soon established in 1888. The Arc Biotech Building housed the offices and laboratories pertaining to this Division.

The building is named after Harry Stoneman Gutteridge, a scientist who spent almost his entire professional career in the Poultry Division. Mr. Gutteridge was first put in charge of Research in Poultry Nutrition, then was appointed Divisional Chief. During his stay, Mr. Gutteridge contributed to an increased application of scientific disciplines in solving the problems of a rapidly expanding and developing poultry industry.

The Arc Biotech Building is an important building belonging to the science and administration group of the central core. Its modest scale, chosen materials and detailing are typical of the smaller science and administration buildings built in the 1920's and 1930's at the Central Experimental Farm and help the building blend with the picturesque landscape. Ornamental shrub and tree plantings further enhance this overall character.

The building's vernacular character is visible in several architectural elements and details and is compatible with the picturesque aesthetic established on the site.



Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the Arc Biotech Building resides in its massing, scale, proportions, materials, architectural details, interior layout and finishes and in the relationship of the building to its setting.

The building consists of a two-and-a-half storey rectangular mass. Although the 1950 addition to the building's north side changed the original symmetry of the three bay façade with central entranceway, it integrates well with the building's original character. Window groupings and dormers accentuate the rhythmic, balanced proportions of the façades and reflect the building's interior layout.

The red brick walls, painted wood trim, high concrete foundations, pitched roof dormers and asphalt shingle roof contribute to the building's character and are in keeping with the overall architectural program for the farm. The addition's close brick match is a positive aspect worth noting. The ornamental eave dentils and the entrance topped by a transom window and projecting pediment with mock half-timbering are distinctive details. Subtle brick coursing patterns on the walls and mock half-timbering in the upper part of the dormers visually unite the building to many other buildings at the farm. All exterior features should be preserved through regular conservation maintenance and in any alterations or modifications. Also meriting protection is the visible demarcation between the original building and the addition, which gives evidence of the building's original composition.

An important feature was lost when the original multi-paned wood sash windows were replaced with aluminum windows with no muntin divisions. The remaining multi-paned windows in the building's main double, wooden doors are the only reminder of these former architectural elements and should be protected. When new windows are at the end of their service life, the building's heritage character would be enhanced by returning them to their former appearance.

Photographs from different periods show varying colour schemes for doors, trim and window frames. Paint analysis would help determine colour treatments for these elements.

The interior layout of the building is balanced, with rooms arranged off a central corridor, each having access to a set of windows. Any alterations to the interior should


respect this general plan. Interior finishes of value include the unpainted wood mouldings and flat plaster. Newer, dropped ceilings and fluorescent lighting detract from the quality and heritage character of the interior spaces and should be reconsidered when modifications are planned.

The ornamental shrubs, mature trees and turfgrass lawn adjacent to the Arc Biotech Building enhance its character and reinforce the picturesque qualities of this area of the Central Experimental Farm. Because the foundation was designed to be expressed and to admit light into the basement, shrub plantings should not be continuous along the façade to avoid obscuring a view of the foundation. The building's siting relates to the establishment of the second group of central core buildings, the science and administration buildings, on the north side of the Driveway Promenade.