Federal building getting facelift
COLLINGWOOD:
Posted By MORGAN IAN ADAMS
Posted 2 months ago
The downtown isn't the only thing getting a makeover; one of the town's architecturally-significant buildings is getting a facelift as well.
On Thursday, theEnterprise-Bulletin confirmed Public Works Canada will invest more than $330,000 to fix up the Federal Building.
The facade has been supported in place by steel beams for the last year or so; those will be removed once the work is complete. Upgrades will include repairs to the exterior masonry, accessibility upgrades, and an overall structural analysis, according to Simcoe- Grey Member of Parliament Helena Guergis.
Designed by architect Phillip Coles Palin, the building was constructed between 1913 and 1915 for a cost of $160,000; it boasts a large, stained-glass dome, white marble columns, walls, floors and steps.
Palin based his design on the Ministerio De Finanzas Y Precios in Havana, Cuba; Palin also designed the parish hall at All Saints' Anglican Church
The Federal Building underwent a major restoration in 1985, and a second, minor restoration, in 2005.
The federal government also declared the building surplus in 2002, and the municipality has explored buying the building on several occasions. As of presstime, the E-B was unable to confirm whether the building is still on the surplus list.
In August, Guergis facilitated a meeting with Mayor Chris Carrier and public works executive director Ed Houghton met with senior officials with Public Works Canada to discuss the previously- announced federal grant for the downtown. Guergis said at the conclusion of the meeting, Public Works officials indicated restoration of the building would be accelerated to coincide with the work on the downtown.
The contractor was on site last Friday to start the process of reviewing what needs to be done.
The building is presently home to Georgian College.
