Hidden amid a jumble of one-way streets and small apartment buildings stands the Public Service Alliance of Canada building. The modernist elliptical office tower sits at the intersection of Gilmour and Metcalfe, kitty corner from an old church.
Rising 12-storeys above the ground, the building is a stunning departure from the parking lots and washed out grays of the surrounding buildings. From the side, the narrow building appears less imposing, with its curved brick winding around to the front and back.
Constructed in 1968 by Ottawa architecture firm of Schoeler & Heaton, the building provided an example of ingenuity and architectural risk-taking during an otherwise unexciting era. Despite its age, the purple-brown brick still has a magnificent sheen to it, bouncing light back in an impressive glow on a bright day.
Large floor-to-ceiling windows add to the look of the building, giving the impression that the work cubicles contained above are different than the traditional dark and cramped office spaces of most government buildings. Between the windows, raised bricks appear in circular shapes like buttons, adding further texture and depth to the exterior of the building.
At night, small bulbs that resemble crystal balls light the building, shedding an eerie vibe onto the street below. During the day, street goers can peer into the James Wyllie boardroom, where spherical lights appear to float from the ceiling like Japanese lanterns. Inside the lobby of the building, the doors to the boardroom stand out, with intricate carvings and faded colour marking the wooden doors.
The architectural wonder of the building didn’t go unnoticed.
In 2000, the Royal Architectural Institution of Canada chose the building as one of the top 500 buildings built in the country during the last millennium. Today, the building remains a favourite for many Ottawa residents, its sheer peculiarity alone enough to earn the building a valuable place in Centretown history.