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Halifax Armoury

Coordinates: 44°39′6.4″N 63°35′13.1″W / 44.651778°N 63.586972°W / 44.651778; -63.586972
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Halifax Armoury
The Halifax Armoury overlooking Halifax Common
Map
General information
TypeDrill Hall / armoury
Architectural styleRomanesque Revival Style
LocationHalifax Nova Scotia Canada
Address2667 North Park Street
Current tenants1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, The Princess Louise Fusiliers, 33 (Halifax) Field Ambulance
Construction started1895
Completed1899
OwnerCanadian Forces
Design and construction
Architect(s)Thomas Fuller, Chief Dominion Architect
Official nameHalifax Drill Hall National Historic Site of Canada
Designated1989

In the Canadian Forces, an armoury is a place where a reserve unit trains, meets, and parades. The armoury is currently the home base of 1st (Halifax-Dartmouth) Field Artillery Regiment, The Princess Louise Fusiliers, and several other reserve units. The building remains an active military structure.

Architecture

The armoury was designed in 1895 by Chief Dominion Architect Thomas Fuller, and was opened the next year and work on the structure was completed in 1899. While the exterior is based on a medieval castle, it was actually one of the most advanced structures of its day. It was pioneering in its use of a series of Fink trusses to create a large interior space with no columns or walls, and is today the oldest surviving example of a such a building. It was also one of the first buildings in Halifax to be lit by electricity.

M4A3E8(76)W "Easy Eight" outside the Halifax Armoury
Detail of the Cunard Street facade

The Halifax Armoury is a prominent and historic structure in central Halifax Nova Scotia.

History

It has played an important part in many Canadian wars, being an important transit point for soldiers before departing by ship for the Boer War and both World Wars. After the Halifax Explosion the armoury provided shelter for many who had lost their homes.

The building was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1989.[1] In 1991, it was listed as a Classified Federal Heritage Building.[2]

See also

References

44°39′6.4″N 63°35′13.1″W / 44.651778°N 63.586972°W / 44.651778; -63.586972