The Strathcona Building (Ground Floor) - integrated Project Dossier 2014

The Strathcona Building is a five-storey apartment building constructed in 1927 using state-of-the-art materials and technologies. The building is located in the Sandy Hill region which, at the time, was one of the more affluent regions within Ottawa. Lord Strathcona is a prominent historical figure in the community, where there is also a neighbouring park bearing his name. The Strathcona is recognized by the Ontario Heritage Act. The plaque was mounted on the building but has since gone missing. The Strathcona Building’s heritage value derives from its Neo-Classical and Art Nouveau architectural styles, and its association with important leaders in Canadian history. The Strathcona was built in 1927 and was named after Lord Strathcona, a popular politician and businessman from the days after Confederation. The building was the largest apartment building in Ottawa at the time of construction. With innovative technologies and design features, including a refrigeration system, fireproofing terra cotta wall construction and a roof garden. The Strathcona is representative of the transition to apartment dwelling in Canada, where it held the largest number of dwellings under one roof in Ottawa. The Strathcona Apartments have housed some important leaders in Canadian history including former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and former New Democratic Party Leader Tommy Douglas. The scope of this dossier was to create a record of the ground floor and document the heritage qualities of the Strathcona. This is the Integrated Project Dossier compiled by a group of undergraduate students of the Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Program (Engineers and architects) at Carleton University for the CIVE3207 (ARCN4100) Historic Site Recording and Assessment course in 2014.