Historic Waterfront Buildings

The key character-defining elements of the Halifax Waterfront Buildings include:

-elements related to the relationship between the buildings, waterfront and surrounding area including: the spatial relationship of the buildings to each other to the harbour, and to the street; open and undeveloped spaces between the buildings; and simple, rectangular massing with minimal exterior detailing;

-elements related to the fluid functional interior designs historically intended to evolve with changing needs of use or tenants;

-all elements associated with the evolution of Collins Bank and Simon's Warehouse from two buildings into one rectangular, three-and-a-half storey massing under a hipped roof with large "hoistway" dormers vertically aligned with large "loading" openings on the elevations; regularly placed windows, timber and random-coursed ironstone construction of Collins Bank portion and the timber and granite construction of the Simon's Warehouse portion, with sandstone quoins, lintels, and belt-courses, interior brick fire walls;

-all elements of the Pickford & Black Building in its rectangular four-and-a-half massing under hipped roof with large "hoistway" dormers vertically aligned with large "loading" openings on the elevations, timber and rough ironstone construction with sandstone quoins, lintels and belt-courses, the two-storey glass storefront on the Water Street corner, interior brick fire wallls;

-all elements of the Old Red Store in its timber frame and wood construction, rectangular, three-and-a-half-storey massing, verticle alignment of large "loading" openings flanked by smaller windows with high ratio of solid wall surface to openings;

-all elements of the Privateers' Warehouse in its rectangular three-and-a-half storey massing under gable roof, timber frame and split-faced random-coursed ashlar ironstone construction with dressed sandstone quoins and lintels, small window apertures, and loading doors on the ground floor;

-all elements of the Wooden Storehouse/Loft in its rectangular three-and-a-half-storey massing under a pitched roof, heavy timber frame construction, classically inspired detailing such as returned eaves and balanced fenestration;

-all elements of the Carpenter's Shop in its rectangular two-storey, flat roofed massing, heavy timber frame construction and legible pattern of alternating windows and doors.