Description of Historic Place

The Yorkton Armoury is located near to the center of Yorkton. The T-shaped plan of the two-storey building consists of a front office wing, which obscures a large, rectangular drill hall from view from the street. The building is clad in very high quality Claybank brick, trimmed with stone and terracotta. The monumental front entrance bay features Art Deco details and finely sculpted panels that depict heavy artillery. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Yorkton Armoury is a good example of one of three drill halls which were constructed by Department of Public Works as a result of the reorganization and modernization of the militia in 1936.

Architectural Value
The excellent aesthetic design of the Yorkton Armoury is derived from its scale, massing, Art Deco details and finely sculpted representational panels. The massive scale and articulated geometry of the front entrance bay recalls the monumental military arches and memorial art of the 1920s. The armoury is also of value for its dual-function design. Its T-shape layout places the drill hall behind a front office wing obscuring it from view from the front street, while continuing to maintain an axial relationship with the monumental entrance. In addition, the building is of value for its very good craftsmanship as evidenced in the detailed stonework executed to a high standard, and its very high quality materials including Claybank brick, trimmed with stone and terracotta.

Environmental Value
The Yorkton Armoury is compatible with the character of its residential community setting and is a familiar building in the area.

Sources: Jacqueline Hucker, Yorkton Armoury, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Federal Heritage Building’s Review Office Building Report, 97-029; Yorkton Armoury, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Heritage Character Statement, 97-029.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Yorkton Armoury should be respected.

Its excellent aesthetic design, good functional design, and very good materials and craftsmanship, for example: the massive scale of the front entrance bay, which together with its incised panels, recall a monumental military arch; the T-shaped configuration of the office section and perpendicularly placed drill hall, providing axial access to the hall while masking its presence from the street; the stone detailing of the front entrance, including the articulated Art Deco geometry on the surrounds, and the sculpted panels depicting heavy artillery; the exterior cladding of very high quality Claybank brick, trimmed with stone and terracotta.

The manner in which the Yorkton Armoury is compatible with the character of its residential community setting and is a familiar building, as evidenced by: its overall aesthetic design and materials which harmonize with its adjacent residential and public buildings; its large scale, central location, and use by the community which makes it a well-known building in the 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 Yorkton Armoury was built in 1939 by the Department of Public Works. It was designed by prominent Saskatoon architect David Webster. The Armoury has been altered by the installation of new windows. The Department of National Defence is the custodian.

Reasons for Designation

The Yorkton Armoury has been designated 'Recognized' because of its historical, architectural and environmental significance:

Historical Significance
The Yorkton Armoury was one of three drill halls built by the Department of Public Works as a result of the reorganization and modernization of the militia in 1936.

Architectural Significance
The design of the Yorkton Armoury is notable for its scale, massing, Art Deco details and finely sculpted representational panels. The massiveness and articulated geometry of the front entrance bay recalls the monumental military arches and memorial art of the 1920s. The drill hall is situated behind the front office wing of the building. Its presence is masked from the street, but its axial relationship with the monumental entry continues. The Art Deco surrounds and front entrance are finely designed and crafted, especially the sculpted panels. The panels depict heavy artillery, thereby mimicking common industrial motifs found in public and bank buildings of the period. The decorative treatment of the Yorkton Armoury is atypical of Canadian armouries, many of which feature Tudor Revival elements. The axial, T-shaped layout of the Yorkton Armoury is well-suited to its dual office and drill-hall functions. The Yorkton Armoury was constructed of very high quality Claybank brick, trimmed with stone and terracotta. The detailed stonework--in particular the incised panels and Art Deco motifs--was executed to a very high standard.

Environmental Significance
Due to its scale, design, function and location near the centre of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, the Armoury is well-known in the community.

Character-Defining Elements

The heritage character of the Yorkton Armoury resides in the following character-defining elements:

- The scale and massiveness of the front entrance bay, which together with its incised panels recall a monumental military arch.
- The stone detailing of the front entrance, including the articulated Art Deco geometry on the surrounds, and the sculpted panels depicting heavy artillery.
- The exterior cladding of very high quality Claybank brick, trimmed with stone and terracotta.
- The T-shaped configuration of the office section and perpendicularly placed drill hall, providing axial access to the hall while masking its presence from the street.
- The large scale and central location of the Yorkton Armoury in the context of a relatively small Canadian community.

All maintenance and repair work, as well as future interventions, should respect these character-defining elements.