Hidden Heritage under threat: Patterson Hall, a university landmark

Paterson Hall is a modernist building of an international style. It is the only building which no major additions have been made to from the original Carleton Rideau Campus.

Patterson Hall - Courtain wall panels and Crinkle Cut Walls (2017-11-26) by Mario Santana QuinteroICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Location

Paterson Hall is located in the southwestern part of Carleton University campus and is one of five buildings which creates the main Quadrangle.  The building is located in close proximity to both the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal.

Patterson Hall - Blue Glazed Brick Crinkle Cut Walls and garden (2017-11-26) by Mario Santana QuinteroICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Why is it significant?

It is a simplistic rectangular modernist building that was built to accommodate the new student population of Carleton University’s Rideau Campus.

It portrays many authentic and character defining elements contributing to the original modernist Rideau Carleton Campus of 1957, the heritage value of the site: Blue glazed brick and zig-zag walls.

Today, it is the only original building from when the university was first built that has not undergone major alterations.

Patterson Hall, architectural context (2017-10-10/2017-10-10) by Mario Santana QuinteroICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

History

Paterson Hall was conceived as part of the original Master Plan of 1953-1961 by Waston Balharrie, Hart Massey, john bland and Campbell Merrett (Architectural Associates for Carleton University), all leading architects in modern design in Ottawa and influencing other cities in the country. 

Patterson Hall - Courtyard west of the building (2017-11-26) by Mario Santana QuinteroICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Original design

The building was built in 1959 and added on to shortly after. Although named Paterson Hall today,  to commemorate the oldest serving Canadian Senator, Norman Paterson’s contribution to the School of International Affairs, the building was originally named the Arts Building.  Today, the building still serves art students but the name is no longer the Arts Building.

Patterson Hall - Detailed of the glazed brick (2017-11-26) by Mario Santana QuinteroICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

A detail of the steel blue glazed bricks

Patterson Hall - Modernist facade by Katie SharkeyICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Facade elements

Patterson Hall - Aerial view from the North by Mario Santana QuinteroICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Patterson Hall - Recessed First Floor by Kathleen ChinICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Patterson Hall, north view (2017-10-10/2017-10-10) by Mario Santana QuinteroICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Modernism as a Character Defining Element

Features include: Connecting curtain wall suspended staircase, fourth-floor catwalk reconstructed granite columns, deep moat and bridged walkway, simplistic modern rectangular form, and concrete lift slab construction.

Patterson Hall - Interior design (2017-11-26) by Mario Santana QuinteroICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Why is this building under threat?

Carleton University has recently updated its master plan and Paterson Hall is recommended for demolition.

Patterson Hall - Drawing of the North facade by Chelsea JacobsICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Patterson Hall - Fourth Floor Catwalk by Chelsea JacobsICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites

Catwalk

Credits: Story

This page has been produced with content from Waddington, N. and Celine Boulanger - Final Report: Paterson Hall, Carleton University, 2014

Photographs and streetviews by Mario Santana Quintero and Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS)

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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