Description of Historic Place

The Bus Terminal and Office Building is part of a group of structures at the border post of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle. Designed in the International Style, the terminal is a one-storey building whose volume has a horizontal emphasis. The façade and rounded corners are punctuated by the alternation of double windows and doors overlooking a spacious waiting room. A large covered platform protects custom officers and vehicles parked for inspection purposes. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Bus Terminal and Office Building is a recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Bus Terminal and Office Building, as part of a grouping of structures composing the Lacolle customs post, is closely associated with the effort by the federal government to effectively control traffic and collect import duties at the international border. Twenty-two customs posts were constructed as part of a postwar construction boom. Located on the Edward VII expressway, linking Montreal with New York state, the building is a good example of a structure associated with a significant phase in the development of one of the region’s busiest border posts.

Architectural Value
The Bus Terminal and Office Building is valued for its good aesthetic design, which represents the standard Public Works plan for the construction of border posts across Canada. These plans were designed in the International Style, with the emphasis on composition and equilibrium of volumes whereby the various functions of the program are expressed. The good functional design of the building is demonstrated in the large covered platform, treated in the streamlined style of the 1930s. It and was designed for the specific function of protecting the custom officers and vehicles parked outside for inspection purposes. The building’s exterior uniform surface of smooth-stone, is indicative of its good quality craftsmanship and materials.

Environmental Value
The Bus Terminal and Office Building is compatible with the present character of its international border, customs post and is a familiar building to traffic at the international border.

Sources:
Robert Hunter, Customs and Immigration Office, Bus Terminal, Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Québec, Federal Heritage Building’s Review Office Building Report, 89-131;
Bus Terminal, Customs and Immigration Office, Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 89-131.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Bus Terminal and Office Building should be respected.

Its International Style design, good functional design and fine quality materials and
craftsmanship, for example:
-the single-storey, asymmetrical massing with an emphasis on composition and
equilibrium of the volumes;
-the horizontal volume and rounded corners of the façade, punctuated by the alternation
of the double windows and doors overlooking the spacious waiting room;
-the large covered platform, treated in the streamlined style typical of the 1930s;
-the vertical mass of the chimney;
-the uniform surface of the walls covered in smooth stone with joints placed face to face,
and made as inconspicuous as possible.

The manner in which the Bus Terminal and Office Building is compatible with the international border, customs post setting and is a familiar building in the area, as evidenced by:
-its International Style design, and materials, which harmonize with the group of
structures composing the border post of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle;
-its familiarity to traffic at the international border given its visible and highly frequented
location on the Edward VII Expressway.