Today I feature 2 architects, Thomas Stent and Augustus Laver. The architects of the East & West Blocks of Parliament Hill. Centre Block of course gets most of the attention but these two buildings complete the Hill and are certainly of merit.

The East Block, officially the Eastern Department Building is of the Victorian High Gothic Style, otherwise known as neo-gothic or gothic revival. The East block is one of the buildings on the Hill that has the most retained its original character. Remember that it is open for tours during July and August. Construction of the East Block started in 1859.

The West Block officially the Western Department Building is also built in the Victorian High Gothic Style. Construction on it also started in 1859. It is Currently undergoing restoration and preparing to be the new temporary home of the House of Commons Chamber.

Laver also designed the Russell House Hotel (1840-1928). The hotel occupied the location of what we now know as Confederation Square. It was the most glamorous Hotel in Ottawa before the Chateau Laurier was built. Alas when the Chateau opened its doors the Russell House lost its cachet. Sir Wilfrid Laurier lived there for 10 years before moving to Laurier House. Perhaps he had dinner with other visitors – Oscar Wilde, Anna Pavlova, and Lord Stanley: Imagine that. It fell victim of a fire in 1928.

In addition Laver designed the James Flood Mansion in San Francisco. A testament to Layer – it is the only building on Nob Hill to survive the earthquaque and fire of 1906.

With the sesquicentennial celebrations in full swing it’s an appropriate time to feature Thomas Fuller. Fuller was born in England in 1823. In 1857 he immigrated to Canada. Two years later his firm, Fuller and Jones was selected by the Governor General Sir Edmund Walker Head to design a Parliament House: the Centre Block. It was to be built in gothic revival, the neo classical style was considered but at the time was rejected as it was too closely associated with American republicanism.

In 1867 he was selected to build the New York State Capital in Albany. Cost overruns had him removed and he returned to Canada, he was hired as Chief Dominion Architect. He held that position from 1881 to 1896. In that capacity he was involved in the design of every Federal Building.