Transportation Building (Ottawa) facts for kids
The Transportation Building is a very old and important building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. You can find it at 10 Rideau Street, right where Sussex Drive meets Rideau Street. It's a tall office building with a special design that mixes two styles: Gothic Revival and Chicago School.
A Look at the Transportation Building's History
This interesting building was finished in 1916. It was built by C. Jackson Booth, whose father, J.R. Booth, was a very successful businessman in the lumber industry. The building got its name, the Transportation Building, because it was right across the street from Union Station. Union Station was a big train station, and it's now known as the Senate of Canada Building.
When the Building Became City Hall
Something surprising happened in 1931. Ottawa's second city hall building was destroyed in a big fire. Because of this, the Transportation Building became Ottawa's temporary city hall! At first, the city only used part of the building. But over time, they needed more space and eventually took over the whole building. The city government stayed there until 1958, when they moved to a new city hall on Green Island.
What is the Building Used For Today?
In 1965, the Canadian government took ownership of the building. Since then, it has been a workplace for many federal government employees. Today, the lower parts of the Transportation Building are connected to the Rideau Centre, which is a large shopping mall in downtown Ottawa.
