History

The Armoury is a prominent component of its largely undeveloped treed site located on the southwest perimeter of Mount Royal Park, on the Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges in Montréal. It is a large, two-storey, stone drill hall and riding school with a flat roof and low-pitched gable roof. Its form and detailing conjures up the image of a Château with its twin stone towers and elaborate arched entrance. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

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

Historical Value
The Armoury is closely associated with the reform and expansion of the Canadian militia. One of twelve armouries constructed during the inter-war period, it is an important relic of the history of military architecture in Canada and a very good example of an inter-war armoury.

Architectural Value
The Armoury is valued for its very good aesthetic and functional design. It reflects a stripped down Château style in the details of its entrance and exhibits the stylized and simplified details, which reflect contemporary interests in smooth surfaces and geometric volumes. The functional plan of this armoury was unique, including a riding hall, administrative head-house and drill hall. Typical of inter-war armouries, it employs modern structural design with concrete floors supporting a steel frame and exposed Warren trusses for its large, unobstructed space. High quality craftsmanship is evident throughout.

Environmental Value
The Armoury reinforces the present character of its park-like setting in Montréal and is a well-known building in the area.

Sources: Jacqueline Hucker, Côte-des-Neiges Armoury, Montréal, Québec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 91-030; Côte-des-Neiges Armoury, Montréal, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 91-030.

Character-Defining Elements

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

Its very good aesthetic and functional design and very good craftsmanship and materials, as for example: the massing, footprint and profile that reflect modern preferences for simply composed volumetric compositions and consists of a two-storey, flat roof “head house”, a two-storey flat-roof drill hall, and a two-storey gable-roofed riding school which is the predominant structure; the elements of the stripped down Château style, including the twin-towered frontispiece which also contributes to the symmetry of the design, and the detailing concentrated around the main entrance on the main façade; the principal façades executed in limestone with a subtle textural contrast between the rough-faced even-coursed stone and the dressed stone quoining, stringcoursing, coping and carved stone shields; the smooth stone surfaces of the façades with simple, flat moulding details, the slate roofing of the towers and the asphalt shingle finish of the drill hall roof; the multi-paned wood sash windows as well as the large multi-paned steel window; the original wood entrance doors with their panelling, heavy iron hardware and multi-paned glazing which reflect the revivalist design of the armoury; the interior plan, with major functions in separate buildings; the large, open unobstructed space of the drill hall and riding school with exposed steel trusses and extensive glazing, as well as the spatial openness and bright naturally lit character of the halls; the design of the seating found in the riding school and the surviving significant interior finishes.

The manner in which the Armoury reinforces the present character of its park-like setting in Montréal and is a well-known building in the area, as evidenced by: its scale, high standards of construction and materials, and its position set back from the corner, all of which contribute to and are in keeping with its surroundings; its role in the community as housing the local militia, as well as its scale, proportions and location on the perimeter of Mount Royal Park, all of which contribute to its local familiarity.

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 Côte-des-Neiges Armoury was constructed in 1934-35. It was designed by the Montreal architectural firm of Ross and Macdonald. The armoury design was unique for including a riding hall (the only extant one in the country) and maintains its original militia functions. The Department of National Defence is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 91-30.

Reasons For Designation

The armoury was designated Recognized for its architectural importance and its environmental significance and also for its historical associations.

The armoury reflects a stripped down Chateauesque style in the details of the entrance with its paired conical roofed stone towers, parapet loophole recesses, and arch headed too entrance. The three buildings exhibit the stylized and simplified details which reflect contemporary interest in smooth surfaces and geometric volumes. The unusual plan features an administrative head house, a linking small drill hall and a clear span, large riding school reflecting the functional planning. The riding school features exposed Warren trusses for the non-standard design.

The building is set back from the corner and is a prominent component of the largely undeveloped treed site. The scale and proportions of the building is in marked contrast to the park-like setting and contributes to its prominence. The building is located on the southwest perimeter of Mount Royal Park which has contributed to its local familiarity.

The armoury is associated with the pre-World War 1 armoury building campaign and is one of twelve constructed between the Great Wars. Typical of inter-war armouries it employs modern structural design – concrete floors supporting a steel frame – which augments the more simpler and functional designs used for armouries.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the armoury resides in its massing, proportions, construction materials, architectural details, interior planning and volumes, and site relationships.

The massing of the armoury is comprised of three structures, a two-storey flat-roof ‘head house’, a two-storey flat-roof drill hall, and a two-storey gable-roofed riding school which is the predominant structure. The massing, footprint, and profile reflect modern preferences for simply composed volumetric compositions. The twin-towered frontispiece expresses the stripped down Chateauesque style and contributes to the symmetry of the design. The external massing, profiles and footprint reflect internal functions; the clarity of this expression should be respected.

The principal facades are executed in limestone with a subtle textural contrast between the rough-faced even-coursed stone and the dressed stone quoining, stringcoursing, coping and carved stone shields. The masonry requires an ongoing maintenance program, cleaning at the entrance, and conservation expertise for repair and replacement. The Chateauesque detailing is concentrated around the main entrance on the main facade and the slate roofing of the towers are a feature to be maintained. All the facades have simpler, flatter moulding details using smooth surfaces and geometric forms. These forms and details should be respected.

The asphalt shingle finish of the drill hall roof is a prominent feature. The roofing has an uniform, inappropriate colour which lacks visual texture. When the roofing is being replaced, historic precedent should be followed for the selection of the roof colour.

The multi-paned wood sash windows as well as the large multi-paned steel windows appear original and should be maintained. The glazing of the drill hall introduces interior day lighting to the spacious volume and should be maintained. The revival design of the armoury is expressed in the original wood entrance doors with their panelling, heavy iron hardware and multi-paned glazing; these should be maintained.

The unique plan, with major functions in separate buildings should be maintained. The drill hall and riding school is characterized by its large open volumes, with exposed steel trusses and extensive glazing. The spatial openness and bright, naturally lit character of the halls should be maintained. The design of the seating found in the riding school is a unique feature which should be maintained. Original interior finishes should be maintained.

The simple turfgrass ground plane should be maintained reflecting the characteristically simple landscaping of armouries. The presence of mature deciduous or coniferous trees should be maintained and the use of shrub material should be limited to the site perimeters. Site furniture, such as the flag pole appear to be sympathetic to the design vocabulary of the armoury and should be maintained.