City Pulse: Arts Court Redevelopment – Part 1

The face of our city is constantly changing and one doesn’t have to look very far to notice it.  New condo developments are springing up all across town, the Lansdowne redevelopment project is now in full-swing, and the construction of the much-anticipated Confederation light rail line is finally underway.  This is just a small taste of the projects and initiatives that are changing the fabric of our city, our communities, and our lives.

The City Pulse feature will shed light on some of the more recent developments in our City as well as some up-and-coming trends to look out for in the near future.

To kick things off I’ve decided to take a look at the Arts Court Redevelopment project located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, just steps away from Rideau Centre.  This project will transform the existing Arts Court heritage building at the corner of Nicolas and Daly into a new and modern art centre.

West face of existing Arts Court building

Those that have been to the current Arts Court building, and have grown to appreciate this 1870’s heritage building, may be concerned about the fate of the existing building.  No cause for panic there.  The existing heritage building is staying in place and will be preserved.  The new building will be going up just east of it, replacing a parking lot and an open area.

Before diving into the new plans by the City, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a look at the current Arts Court building, formally the Carleton County Courthouse. The building was designed by architect Robert Surtees and was built in 1870-1871 to replace the 1842 courthouse building that was destroyed during a fire.

Heritage Designation Plaque

The new limestone building was designed in the Neo-Renaissance style with tall first level windows, pediment roof, and rusticated quoins.  The building was transferred over to the City in 1988, after the new courthouse on Elgin was opened, and has since been used as an art centre.

Let’s not get too carried away with looks or architecture terminology.  What really makes the Arts Court building so important is what’s on the inside.  Its home to more than 25 different art organizations including the Ottawa Art Gallery, SAW Gallery, and the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art.

The building is also the venue for many key events in the art community such as Art Battle, and other great events that support and encourage local artists.

Now that we know the existing Arts Court building will be preserved, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Coming up in Part 2 of the Arts Court Development, we’ll take a look at how the City is planning to redevelop the area over the next few years.  Stay tuned until next Monday!