Recognized Federal Heritage Building

Building 56

CFB Trenton, Ontario

Also known as Bâtiment 56

Built
1937
Recognized
1995
By
Government of Canada

The register’s text, word for word

Description

Building 56, also known as Junior Quarters, is a three-storey barrack block located at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, and is part of a group of four identical barrack blocks. Its Modern, Art Deco design is exhibited in its flat roof, flat planes, evenly spaced windows, clean lines, and painted white stucco finishes. The building is composed of a central pavilion block with four attached rectangular pavilion wings at each corner and with lightwells between the wings. Generous balconies are located over the principal entrance and pavilion ends. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage value

Building 56 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value

Building 56 is associated with the development of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as an independent wing of the Canadian military. It is also associated with Canadian military air training, including the World War II British Commonwealth Air Training Program centered at Trenton, and more recently with international military, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. Building 56, as part of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, is strongly associated with the post-1930s economic and social development of Trenton.

Architectural Value

Building 56 is valued for its good aesthetic design. It was designed as a barrack block and is a good example of the Modern, Art Deco styling favoured by the federal government in this period. It is characterized by its symmetry, flat roof, clean lines, and well-crafted exterior with painted white-stucco finishes. The simple, classical, rectilinear plan and massing as well as its internal circulation patterns, reflect its good functional design.

Environmental Value

Building 56 has remained mostly unchanged, and as such, reinforces the formal character of its military base setting at CFB Trenton. It is part of the south-west corner element of the group of four barrack blocks which together form a prominent base orientation landmark and contribute significantly to the grid, axial planning and unity at the base. It is a familiar building at the base.

SourceBuilding #21, #22, #23, #56, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Trenton, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, NOTES, 94-090; Building #56, CFB Trenton, Trenton, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 94-090.

Character‑defining elements

The character-defining elements of Building 56 should be respected.

Its good aesthetic and functional design and its good materials and craftsmanship, for example:

  • the simple, classical, rectilinear plan and massing that consists of a central pavilion block and four attached regular pavilion wings at each corner with lightwells between the wings;
  • the classical, symmetrical planning and Modern, Art Deco styling as expressed by its flat roof, clean lines and painted-white stucco finishes;
  • the projecting balconies over the principal entrance and at the wing pavilion ends, the central pavilion stair bays and the entrance court porches;
  • the regularly spaced window pattern with wood sash windows;
  • the internal ‘H’ plan circulation layout, stairwells with balustrades and first floor

entrances.

The manner in which Building 56 reinforces the formal character of its military base setting at CFB Trenton and is a familiar building at the base, as evidenced by:

  • its overall scale, massing, axial symmetry and materials, which maintain a matching design relationship with the adjacent barrack blocks and complement the base setting;
  • its familiarity on the base as part of an ensemble of four identical buildings and as a component of the grouping of original permanent base buildings.

End of the register’s text

Location

CFB Trenton, Quinte West, Ontario, Canada

44.11500° N, 77.53900° W

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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.