A Touch Of Cuban Architecture on Collingwood’s Main Street
When you drive down Collingwood’s main street, it’s impossible to miss the unusual building on the west side near Loblaw. People often ask about it so here’s the scoop.
The address is 44 Hurontario Street and locally, people just call it the federal building as it is the property of Public Works Canada. It is home to Service Canada and of course, is open to the public during business hours.
This grand Beaux-Arts style building was designed by Philip Palin who is said to have been inspired by the Finance Building in Havana, Cuba. Construction was completed in 1915 and it seems fitting that such a romantic looking building was opened on February 14th; Valentine’s Day. The building is pure Canadian and was built with marble from the Macmillan quarry outside of Bancroft, Ontario. Inside, there is an impressive rotunda with a large stained glassdome ceiling that bears the coats of arms of the four levels of government, including the Town of Collingwood.According to the heritage description, “it is an outstanding work in the Beaux Arts style, with symmetry and balance of the exterior carried through into the very fine public spaces of the interior. It is marked throughout by a richness of materials and ornament rare in Canada for a building of this type.”
Next time you are downtown, do take a moment and pop in to see this gem.
