Building 207

Building 207 is located within the self-contained community of Pleasantville on the north shore of Quidi Vidi Lake. It is a one-storey, flat roofed, rectangular concrete two-unit apartment building. It features a white painted exterior with green trim. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Building 207 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value

Building 207, as part of the former United States military base of Fort Pepperrell, is closely associated with the Second World War perimeter defence plan. This plan called for strategic continental outposts such as Newfoundland and Jamaica to be armed and fortified to prevent an attack on the United States. The base was vacated by the United States in the 1950s and is now owned by the Canadian government.

Architectural Value

Building 207 was designed as a two-unit apartment building and is an example of pleasing, but austere, modern architecture with few aesthetic considerations. Integral to the complex, the structure’s architectural significance lies in its contribution to the overall visual unity of this cohesive group of modernistic white buildings.

Environmental Value

Building 207 maintains an unchanged relationship to its site and the adjacent structures. It also reinforces the 1940s character military character of the military base setting and is familiar to those living and working at the base.

Sources: Julie Harris, Pleasantville Site (41 Buildings) St. John’s, Newfoundland, Federal Heritage Building Report 86-016; Buildings 102, 202, to 207, 209, 501, 517 and T562, Pleasantville Heritage Character Statement 86-016.

The character-defining elements of the Building 207 should be respected.

Its modern functional design and good quality materials and workmanship, for example:

- the scale and low massing of the rectangular structure;

- the flat roof with extended eaves;

- the exterior white, shingles and the size, form and spacing of the door and window openings.

The manner in which Building 207 maintains an unchanged relationship to its site, reinforces the military character of Pleasantville, and is familiar to those living and working on the base, as evidenced by:

- its ongoing relationship to its open site and adjacent structures;

- the modern plain aesthetic of the utilitarian structure, which harmonizes with the cohesive grouping of the buildings, and creates a strong visual unity on the base;

- the building’s function as offices that makes it a familiar point of reference.