Brockville Arts Centre, library set to receive heritage status

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Two of Brockville’s iconic buildings are on track to receive heritage designation.

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The Brockville Arts Centre and the Brockville Public Library have received a recommendation from the city’s municipal heritage committee to designate them as heritage buildings due to their cultural heritage value or interest.

The Brockville Arts Centre was built in 1858 and designed by John Steacy, who was also responsible for constructing Victoria Hall, which is now Brockville City Hall, as well as doing work on some alterations to the Brockville courthouse and some local churches.

According to the city, the arts centre predates most buildings on King Street and is considered a landmark in Brockville.

The arts centre was originally Brockville’s first town hall following Brockville’s incorporation in 1832, before the municipal offices moved to Victoria Hall in 1880.

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At that time, the building originally contained the police station, lock-up cells, a butcher’s market and firehall. It served as the firehall until a new one was built on Perth Street in 1910.

In 1880, it was converted to an opera house, which was rare for a city of Brockville’s size and at the time; it had the third-largest stage in Canada.

In 1911, the building was expanded and the fly tower addition was built, and it was designed by architect Andrew Stuart Allaster.

“The fly tower is a tall vertical structure that allows for complex stage productions,” reads the report that recommends the building be designated as a heritage site. “It remains a rare and significant feature in Canadian theatre architecture.”

The arts centre largely remained untouched until 2008 when renovations were made to restore the auditorium.

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Aside from its historical value, the building is also being designated on the merits of its landmark status, with the fly tower being a key part of the Brockville skyline.

“It can be seen from a distance, especially when entering Brockville from the west,” reads the report. “It was the tallest structure in Brockville for many years – only surpassed in the 1980s with the construction of modern condominium buildings.”

“It’s one of the most important assets in the community’s repertoire,” said Brockville Mayor Matt Wren. “It supports the performing arts, which is an important part of our cultural fabric. Since it played so many roles throughout the history of our city, it behooves us to do what we can to preserve it.”

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The heritage committee’s recommendations state that the exterior of the building will receive heritage status, which includes the fly tower and the brick facade. Any restoration work that needs to be done in the future would need historical consideration.

As for the inside, renovations will be allowed to happen without much interference, but will still be done carefully to encapsulate the venue’s aesthetic.

“The inside of the building has been modified many times,” said Wren. “The focus here is the outside of the structure.”

The other building, the Brockville Public Library, is set to receive its designation based on its landmark status, as well as its architectural uniqueness.

Previously known as Carnegie Library, it was built in 1904 and is considered a Neo-Classical Revival example of local architecture, which was a prominent design in the years of 1880-1940.

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It was designed by Brockville architect Benjamin Dillon, who also designed the Perth Street firehall in 1910, the Hotel Strathcona in 1901 and the remodelling of the Brockville Opera House.

The main features the committee is basing the heritage status on are the facade of the building, the portico with its iconic pillars, the slate roof and its intricate stained-glass windows.

Over the years the library has undergone a number of changes – an addition was installed in 1971 east on George Street; the building was renovated in 1994; and an expansion in 1995-1996 was built along Buell Street.

“Besides the age of it, it’s unique in a sense that it’s one of 125 Carnegie libraries across Canada,” said Wren. “These were libraries funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, and they have a very distinctive design. Much like the arts centre, it’s a unique and important piece of architecture in the community and we want to be sure to preserve it.”

The same heritage rules apply to the library as they do with the arts centre regarding any work or renovations that may need to occur in the future.

The heritage designation report was accepted by council on Oct. 14, and now there is a public notice period for residents to provide their input before council decides whether or not to adopt it as a bylaw at a later date.

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