Ordnance Building National Historic Site of Canada

Ordnance Building was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2014. It is recognized because:

—built in 1842, it is a rare example of a military ordnance building of the colonial period, implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1825 which set out a broad defensive strategy for the colonies that was supported by the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, the Duke of Wellington; it was enlarged in 1911 with the construction of the mansard roof reflecting a period in which Canada expanded its military infrastructure;

—it exemplifies the ordnance building type in its utilitarian classicism, sturdy construction and flexibility and is noteworthy for the combination of military construction from both the colonial and Dominion periods;

—it is one of the few buildings in Saint John to have survived the Great Fire of 1877.

The Ordnance Building was designed for military storage. A rare surviving example of this building type within British military architecture in Canada, the structure exhibits utilitarian classicism, sturdy construction and flexibility. The addition of a Mansard roof in 1911 to provide additional floor space reflects a period in which Canada was expanding its military infrastructure. The combination of high-quality materials (sandstone walls and, originally, a slate roof) helped it survive the Great Fire of 1877.