Sir John A. Macdonald Building facts for kids
The Sir John A. Macdonald Building is a special building in Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It used to be a Bank of Montreal branch, but now the Canadian government owns it. You can find it at 144 Wellington Street, right at the corner of O'Connor Street. It's also close to Sparks Street and just in front of the West Block of Parliament.
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What Does the Building Look Like?
The Sir John A. Macdonald Building is a great example of Beaux-Arts architecture. This style mixes old classical ideas with new designs. A person named E.I. Barott designed the building. It was finished in 1930.
Design Details
The building has some classical features. For example, it has flat Doric columns. Instead of old figures, the outside walls show carvings of Canadian industries. You can see scenes of farming and building.
Materials Used
The building is on a slight hill. Because of this, the entrance on Sparks Street is one floor lower than the Wellington Street entrance. The lower part of the building is made of strong granite. The upper part is made of lighter limestone.
How the Government Acquired It
The Bank of Montreal used to be the last business on this part of Wellington Street. This street is very important because it's right in front of the Parliament buildings. In 2005, the Canadian government asked the Bank of Montreal to move out. Now, all the buildings on Wellington Street between Elgin Street and the Ottawa River Parkway belong to the federal government.
What It's Used For Today
On January 11, 2012, the building was officially named the Sir John A. Macdonald Building. This name honors Canada's first Prime Minister. Since 2015, the building has been used for important parliamentary events. It hosts meetings and special receptions for members of Parliament and other guests.
