Halifax Armoury
The Halifax Armoury is a military structure in central Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The armoury is the home base of The [Princess Louise Fusiliers], and several cadet units.
Architecture
The armoury was designed in 1895 by Chief Dominion Architect Thomas Fuller. It was opened the next year though work on the structure was not completed until 1899. While the sandstone exterior is based on a medieval castle, it was actually one of the most advanced structures of its day. It was pioneering in its use of a series of Fink trusses to create a large interior space with no columns or walls, and is today the oldest surviving example of such a building. It was also one of the first buildings in Halifax to be lit by electricity. The plan is similar to that of Fuller's Toronto Armoury, completed in 1894.History
It has played an important part in many wars in which Canada participated, being an important transit point for soldiers before departing by ship for the Boer War and both World Wars. It was damaged in the Halifax Explosion in 1917, the west wall being displaced by about 60 centimetres. Still usable after the explosion, the armoury provided shelter for many who had lost their homes.The armoury again served as an emergency shelter during the 1945 Bedford Magazine explosions, when thousands of North End residents evacuated toward the Halifax Common. The St. John Ambulance Brigade and the army worked together to shelter the evacuees for about 25 hours following the first explosion.
The building was designated a National [Historic Sites of Canada|National Historic Site of Canada] in 1989. In 1991, it was designated a Classified [Federal Heritage Building].