Connaught Building, Government office building in downtown Ottawa, Canada
The Connaught Building is a government office in downtown Ottawa displaying Tudor Gothic architecture with sandstone walls, turrets, and a crenellated roofline at 555 MacKenzie Avenue next to the United States Embassy. The structure spans two basement levels and eight above-ground floors, with 1971 renovations significantly altering its internal layout.
Construction began in 1913 and concluded in 1915, initially serving as a Customs Examining Warehouse. The building later became headquarters for the Canada Revenue Agency and has remained a key site of federal administration.
The building takes its name from the Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria's third son, who served as Canada's Governor General from 1911 to 1916. This naming reflects a period when Canada emphasized its ties to the British Crown.
The building sits in a central location near the United States Embassy and is easily reached on foot. Visitors should note this is an active government building, so access and exploration may be restricted.
The walls feature randomly coursed rusticated sandstone with a granite plinth and Wallace stone details framing carefully carved windows. This craftsmanship makes the exterior a showcase of intricate stonework from the early 1900s.
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