Description of Historic Place

Building 22, also known as Headquarters, is a three-storey, barrack block located at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, and is part of an ensemble of four identical barrack blocks. Its Moderne, Art Deco design can be seen in its flat roof, clean lines, evenly spaced windows and painted white stucco finishes. The building is composed of a central pavilion block with four attached rectangular pavilion wings at each corner and with lightwells between the wings. Large balconies are located over the principal entrance and pavilion ends. Lettering above the central entrance identifies the building as the base headquarters. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Building 22 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
Building 22 is associated with the development of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as an independent wing of the Canadian military. It is associated with Canadian military air training, including the World War II British Commonwealth Air Training Program centred at Trenton, and more recently with international military, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. Building 22, as part of Canadian Forces Base Trenton is also associated with the post-1930s economic and social development of Trenton.

Architectural Value
Building 22 is valued for its good aesthetic design. It was designed as a barrack block and is a good example of the Moderne, Art Deco styling favoured by the federal government in this period. It is characterized by its symmetry, flat roof, clean lines, and well-crafted, exterior with painted white-stucco finishes. The simple, classical, rectilinear plan and massing as well as its internal circulation patterns, reflect its good functional design.

Environmental Value
Building 22 reinforces the formal character of its military base setting at CFB Trenton. It is part of the north-east corner element of the ensemble of four barrack blocks which together form a prominent base orientation landmark and contribute significantly to the grid, axial planning and unity of the base. It is a well-known building in the area.

Sources: Building #21, #22, #23, #56, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Trenton, Ontario, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, NOTES, 94-090; Building #22, CFB Trenton, Trenton, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 94-090.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Building 22 should be respected.

Its good aesthetic design and functional design and good materials and craftsmanship, for example:
-the simple, classical, rectilinear plan and massing that consists of a central pavilion block and four attached regular pavilion wings at each corner with lightwells between the wings;
-the classical, symmetrical planning and Moderne, Art Deco styling as expressed by its flat roof, clean lines and painted-white stucco finishes;
-the projecting balconies over the principal entrance and at the wing pavilion ends, the central pavilion stair bays and the entrance court porches;
-the regularly spaced window pattern with wood sash windows;
-the lettering above the central entrance that identifies the building as the base headquarters;
-the internal ‘H’ plan circulation layout, stairwells with balustrades and first floor entrances.

The manner in which Building 22 reinforces the formal character of its military base setting at CFB Trenton and is a well-known landmark, as evidenced by:
-its overall scale, massing, axial symmetry and materials, which maintain a matching design relationship with the adjacent barrack blocks and complement the base setting;
-its familiarity on the base as part of an ensemble of four identical buildings and as a component of the grouping of original permanent base buildings.