Hangar 2
Recognized Federal Heritage Building
Cold Lake, Alberta
General view
(© Department of National Defence / Ministère de la Défense nationale, 2000.)
Address :
4 Wing Cold Lake, CFB Cold Lake - 4 Wing, Cold Lake, Alberta
Recognition Statute:
Treasury Board Policy on Management of Real Property
Designation Date:
2001-02-27
Dates:
-
1953 to 1953
(Construction)
Custodian:
National Defence
FHBRO Report Reference:
00-007
DFRP Number:
15684 00
Description of Historic Place
Located at Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, Aircraft Hangar No.2 is an economical structure of impressive scale and dynamic form. One of four identical hangars arranged along the runway, its distinguishing features are its curved roof and wide doorways. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Heritage Value
Heritage Value
The Aircraft Hangar No.2 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.
Historical Value
The Aircraft Hangar No.2 is a very good example of the theme Canada’s National Defence and the commitment of the Canadian government, in the 1950s, to international military preparedness. It was constructed as one of the 21 original buildings of the base, which was designed and operated as an independent community until 1996, when it became part of the municipality of Cold Lake.
Architectural Value
Aircraft Hangar No.2 is a very good example of a functional building designed according to a standard plan. It reflects The Department of National Defence’s preference, in the early 1950s for, functional, economical and conservative designs. It is similar in size and design to the base’s other four hangars, which is about half the size of the larger Hangar 1 on the base. It demonstrates good-quality workmanship and appropriate use of materials.
The Environmental Value
Aircraft Hangar No. 2, is located along the northeast-heading runway of the base’s L-shaped arrangement of runways. It is an integral part of the high-security aircraft zone and enjoys comfortable spatial and visual relationships with the other hangar, the runways and the base. It reinforces the present character of its post-war military training base setting.
Sources:
Aircraft Hangar No.2, Cold Lake, Alberta, Heritage Character Statement, 00-07.
Character-Defining Elements
The following character defining elements of Aircraft Hangar No.2 should be respected, for example:
Its functional, economical design and high quality construction such as:
Its impressive scale, and its dynamic form, dominated by its gently curved roof. Its high, wide doorways that span its east and west elevations, the raised central sections
for particularly high aircraft, and the brick pylons at each end. Its arrangement of windows and doors on its north and south elevations. Its interior structure and finishes of its hangar space: the exposed bowstring truss system, the wood roof deck, the reinforced concrete slab floor, the windows and balconies of the adjacent offices and service spaces. Its interior layout, which clearly distinguishes between its two related functions.
The manner in which the Aircraft Hangar No.2 maintains a spatial relationship with the runways, the other hangars and the rest of the base, and reinforces the visual military character of its base setting within 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.
Aircraft Hangar No. 2 is a ‘Recognized’ Federal Heritage Building because of its historical, architectural, and environmental values:
Historical value
Hangar No. 2 at 4 Wing Cold Lake, a post-war base for training military personnel in air weaponry, is associated with Canada’s national defence and the commitment of the Canadian government, in the 1950s, to international military preparedness. It was constructed in 1953 as one of the 21 original buildings of the base, which was designed and operated as an independent community until 1996, when it became part of the municipality of Cold Lake.
Architectural value
Hangar No. 2 was constructed according to a standard plan that reflects the DND's preference, in the early 1950s, for functional, economical, and conservative designs. About half the size of Hangar No. 1, it is similar in size and design to the base’s other four hangars. Its most prominent feature is its gently curved roof, which rises above the wide, high doorways of its two side elevations. These are flanked by brick-covered pylons that serve as door pockets. The two-storey elevations facing the base and runway, set back from these pockets, have functional arrangements of doors and windows, and the runway side has a projecting observation bay. The walls were clad in corrugated asbestos cement panels, and the roof was also covered with asbestos panels. Inside, the spacious, lofty hangar has a curved ceiling supported by steel bowstring trusses and flanked by two-storey support spaces. Despite many modifications - an addition on the runway side, the replacement of the cladding, and the installation of insulation, new windows, and a metal projection above the aircraft doors - the original design is legible.
Environmental value
Hangar No. 2, located along the northeast-heading runway of the base's L-shaped arrangement of runways, is an integral part of the high-security aircraft zone and enjoys comfortable spatial and visual relationships with the other hangars, the runways, and the base.
Character-defining elements
The following character-defining elements of Aircraft Hangar No. 2 should be respected:
Its illustration of Canadian military defence and the federal government's commitment, since the Second World War, to international defence preparedness:
- Its continued use, for over 50 years, for the purpose for which it was designed: the repair, maintenance, and storage of aircraft used for air weaponry, and related administrative, service, and training activities.
Its functional, economical design and high-quality construction:
- Its impressive scale, and its dynamic form, dominated by its gently curved roof.
- Its good-quality workmanship and appropriate use of materials.
- The high, wide doorways that span its east and west elevations, the raised central sections for particularly high aircraft, and the brick pylons at each end.
- The arrangement of windows and doors on its north and south elevations.
- Its interior layout, which clearly distinguishes between its two related functions: a wide, high, column-free volume for parking, repairing, and maintaining aircraft, and related two-storey office, work, and service spaces on each side.
- The interior structure and finishes of its hangar space: the exposed bowstring truss system, the wood roof deck, the reinforced concrete slab floor, the windows and balconies of the adjacent office and service spaces.
Its spatial relationships with the runways, the other hangars, and the rest of the base:
- Its comfortable position within the L-shaped arrangement of runways and hangars that forms the base’s high-security zone, and the visual and physical link between its base-facing elevation and the community.