Description of Historic Place

Building 29, also known as the Old Pump House, stands in the King's Bastion within the walls of the Québec Citadel National Historic Site of Canada. The small, rectangular single-storey building has a pavilion roof clad in sheet metal. The building is of massive appearance with thick sandstone walls. Its minimal details include arch stones over the doors. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Building 29 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
Building 29 is associated with the defence of the city of Québec in the colonial defence system under the British Regime. Built in 1855 by the Royal Engineers, its original purpose was to house the fire pumps, but now it accommodates the air-conditioning equipment for the nearby Governor General's Residence. Building 29 is also part of the historic district of Old Québec City, which was created in 1963 and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.

Architectural Value
Valued for its good aesthetics, Building 29 is of solid stone construction with thick stone walls and a chimney of regular bond. It is a functional building as evidenced in its simple utilitarian design. The stonework and the arch stones over the doors display good craftsmanship.

Environmental Value
Building 29 reinforces the historic character of its site within the Québec Citadel National Historic Site of Canada, and together with the associated adjacent buildings is a well-known local landmark.

Sources: Rhona Goodspeed, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 90-314, Citadel, Quebec, Quebec; Old Pump House (building No. 29), Equipment Room (air conditioning), The Citadel, Quebec, Heritage Character Statement 90-314.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Building 29 should be respected.

Its good aesthetics, functional design and quality materials, for example:
- the sturdy single-storey, rectangular massing with pavilion roof clad in sheet metal;
- the solid masonry construction;
- the arch stones over the doors;
- the interior configuration and remaining original layout and interior finishes.

The manner in which Building 29 and adjacent buildings are compatible with the historic character of the fortress setting, and are a familiar regional landmark, as evidenced by:
- the design and form, which complement the location in the city of Québec’s old defence system;
- the structure's high visibility and ongoing relationship to nearby historical components that include the Governor General's Residence.