Report
to/Rapport aux:
Planning and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de
l'environnement
and Council / et au Conseil
8 December 2005 / 8 décembre 2005
Submitted by/Soumis par : Ned Lathrop, Deputy City Manager /
Directeur municipal adjoint
Planning and Growth Management / Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance
Contact Person/Personne
ressource : Grant Lindsay, Manager / Gestionnaire
Development Approval / Approbation des demandes
d'aménagement
(613) 580-2424 x 13242, grant.lindsay@ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Planning and Environment
Committee recommend Council approve the application for new construction in the
Sparks Street Heritage Conservation District at 100 Wellington Street in
accordance with the plans filed by Dixon Jones/Teeple Architects/COLE +
Associates Architects Inc. included as Documents 3 to 6.
(Note: Approval of this application under the Ontario Heritage Act must not be construed to meet the requirements for the issuance of a building permit)
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité Comité de l’urbanisme et de
l’environnement recommande au Conseil d’approuver la demande de nouvelle
construction dans le district de conservation du patrimoine de la rue Sparks au
100, rue Wellington, conformément aux plans déposés par Dixon Jones/Teeple
Architects/COLE + Associates Architects Inc. ci-joints comme documents 3 à 6.
(Nota : L'approbation de cette demande aux termes de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l'Ontario ne
signifie pas qu'elle satisfait aux critères de délivrance d'un permis de
construire.)
LACAC supports the departmental
recommendation subject to the following amendment:
That the front façade of the new addition on Wellington Street line up to the existing Beaux Arts building.
BACKGROUND
The property at 100 Wellington Street is situated
within the Sparks Street Heritage Conservation District which is designated
under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA)
through By-law 174-2000. New construction within a heritage conservation
district requires the approval of City Council following consultation with the
Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC). A location plan is
included as Document 1.
DISCUSSION
The Portrait Gallery project will
restore the former Embassy of the United States. This building was constructed in 1931-32 to the design of
prominent American architect Cass Gilbert Jr. This Federally-Classified
heritage building is considered to be one of the finest examples of the Beaux
Arts Classical Style in Canada. The features of this style evident on this
limestone-clad building include the monumental Corinthian pilasters extending
the height of the second and third storeys, the garland/swag decoration below
the third storey windows and the stone balustrade above the cornice. A more
complete description of the architectural and historical significance of this
building is contained in the heritage survey form included as Document 2.
The new addition will be constructed
on vacant land to the immediate west of the former embassy. The addition will
be linked to south end of the heritage building. The height of the new addition
corresponds to the height of the heritage building to the east and the cornice
level of the Langevin Block. A courtyard will separate the heritage building
and the new addition. It will be covered by a canopy roof cantilevered from the
fourth floor of the new addition so there will be no contact with the heritage
building. This canopy roof will be perforated by circular skylights which will
direct light to the sculpture garden below. The Wellington Street and courtyard
elevations of the addition will be clad in Indiana limestone to match the
heritage building. Drawings of the proposed
addition are included as Documents 3 through 6. The project is also described
and illustrated on the Portrait Gallery of Canada website at:
The Portrait Gallery of Canada
project conforms to the following principles contained in the Central Area West
Heritage Conservation District and Plan (copy on file with the LACAC
Coordinator).
Principles for additions and new
construction
a)
Where
existing built form and fabric is to remain, distinguish new work from
existing. The new addition has been designed to be clearly distinguishable in
terms of form and style from the former American embassy. The new addition is
also physically separated from the heritage building by an open courtyard.
b)
Add to
the overall heritage value of the complex with new work. The new addition has been designed with a great
deal of attention to detail so that while it complements the heritage building
it also stands apart and on its own as a significant architectural statement.
c)
Identify
a specific design strategy for visual and material fit of new details. The use
of limestone with specific detailing on the new addition provides a
"fit" within the overall project and a visual unity on the
streetscape which complements the heritage building. The Cultural Heritage
Impact Statement included as Document 7 provides greater detail on this design
strategy.
d)
Make
additions that complement what exists. This has been accomplished, in part,
through the use of limestone on principle elevations of the new additions,
separation of the buildings by a courtyard and the matching of building heights.
e)
Recognize
explicitly the conservation and new construction that will be part of the
site's evolution. The new and old are clearly distinguishable in this project.
General urban design/conservation
principles
a)
Reinforce
the historic and existing area alignment to street and lot lines and
conspicuous axial views. The new addition matches the setback of the former
embassy on Wellington Street.
b)
Maintain
the overall quality of surviving building groupings and frontages, paying
attention to both overall forms and particular details. The former embassy and
its new addition create a grouping on Wellington Street that partially fills a
void on the streetscape.
c)
Fit
new development to the scale and skyline of neighbouring structures, both
adjoining and close by. The new addition matches the height of adjacent
buildings such as the former embassy and the cornice of the Langevin building.
An architectural statement/cultural
heritage impact statement describing the project in greater detail and its
overall relationship to its historic context is included as Document 7.
The Department supports this application. The proposal conforms to the principles for additions, new construction, urban design and conservation in the Sparks Street Heritage Conservation District as described above.
CONSULTATION
Adjacent property owners were notified by letter of
the date of the LACAC and Planning and Environment Committee meetings and were
provided with comment sheets to be returned to LACAC. This is in accordance
with the municipal public participation policies of the City of Ottawa. The
subject property and all adjacent properties are owned by the federal
government.
The Ward Councillor supports this
project.
The Sparks Street Mall Management
Board and Sparks Street Merchants Association are aware of this project.
The Centretown Citizens Community
Association is aware of this project.
Heritage Ottawa has been informed of
this project.
The restoration of 100 Wellington
Street and the proposed infill addition have been reviewed and approved by the
Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office and the National Capital Commission
Design Committee.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 2 Heritage Survey Form 100 Wellington
Document 3 Wellington Streetscape looking south west
Document 4 Aerial/Axonometric View
Document 5 Wellington elevation
Document 6 Site Plan
Document 7 Cultural Heritage Impact Statement
DISPOSITION
The Department of Corporate Services, Council and
Committee Services Branch, to notify the applicant/ agent Kathleen O' Neill
Cole, COLE + Associates Architects Inc. on behalf of Paul Caracristi, Public
Works and Government Services Canada 1327A Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
K1Y 3B6 and the Ontario Heritage Foundation (10 Adelaide Street, 3rd Floor,
Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1J3) of City Council’s consent for new construction in
the Sparks Street Heritage Conservation District at 100 Wellington Street.
Document 1
LOCATION PLAN
Document 2
HERITAGE SURVEY FORM 100 WELLINGTON
Document 3
WELLINGTON STREETSCAPE LOOKING SOUTH
WEST
Document 4
AERIAL/AXONOMETRIC
VIEW
Document 5
WELLINGTON ELEVATION
Document 6
SITE PLAN
Document 7
CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT
