Halifax Armoury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Halifax Armoury |
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The Halifax Armoury overlooking Halifax Common
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| General information | |
| Type | Drill Hall / armoury |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival Style |
| Address | 2667 North Park Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 1C6 |
| Current tenants | 36 Signal Regiment The Princess Louise Fusiliers 2501 Artillery Army Cadets Halifax Rifles Army Cadets |
| Construction started | 1895 |
| Completed | 1899 |
| Renovated | 2017 - |
| Renovation cost | $131 million (2017) |
| Client | Canadian Forces |
| Owner | Government of Canada |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Sandstone structure; Fink Truss Roof |
| Floor count | 1 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas Fuller, Chief Dominion Architect |
| Official name: Halifax Drill Hall National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1989 |
The Halifax Armoury is a historic military building located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It serves as the home base for several Canadian military reserve units, including the 36 Signal Regiment and The Princess Louise Fusiliers.
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Building Design and Features
The Halifax Armoury was designed in 1895 by Chief Dominion Architect Thomas Fuller. It opened its doors in 1896, and construction finished in 1899. Even though its outside looks like a medieval castle, it was actually a very modern building for its time.
It was one of the first buildings to use special roof supports called Fink trusses. These trusses allowed for a huge open space inside without any columns or walls. Today, it is the oldest building still standing that uses this type of design. The Armoury was also one of the first places in Halifax to have electricity for lighting. Its design is quite similar to the Toronto Armoury, which was completed a few years earlier in 1894.
A Look at Its History
The Halifax Armoury has played a big part in many Canadian wars. It was an important stop for soldiers before they left by ship for the Boer War and both World Wars.
Damage from the Halifax Explosion
In 1917, the Armoury was damaged by the huge Halifax Explosion. The powerful blast pushed its west wall about 60 centimetres (about two feet) out of place. Even after this damage, the Armoury was still useful. It provided a safe place for many people who had lost their homes in the explosion.
Helping During Emergencies
The Armoury also served as an emergency shelter during the 1945 Bedford Magazine explosions. Thousands of people from the North End of Halifax had to leave their homes and came to the Halifax Common. The St. John Ambulance Brigade and the army worked together to give shelter to these people for about 25 hours after the first explosion.
Recognized for Its Importance
Because of its important history, the building was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1989. In 1991, it was also called a Classified Federal Heritage Building.
Restoring the Armoury
In January 2017, big plans were announced to fix the Armoury. The goal was to move the west wall back to its original spot, as the tilt from the 1917 Halifax Explosion had slowly gotten worse over time. About 20 percent of the wall needed to be replaced. Workers found stone from the original quarry near Pugwash, Nova Scotia, to make sure the new parts matched the old ones perfectly.
Phase One: Fixing the West Wall
The first part of this big repair project focused on fixing the damaged west wall. This work was expected to be finished by October 2019.
Phase Two: Future Plans
The second part of the restoration is expected to be completed by 2024. This phase will involve restoring the inside of the building, as well as the other three outside walls and the roof.
