Confederation Building (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Government building in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

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Confederation Building

Confederation Building East Block

Alternative names| French: Édifice de la Confédération
General information
Type| Legislative Assembly
Architectural style| Post-War Modern
Location| St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Address| 100 Prince Philip Drive
Town or city| St. John's
Country| Canada
Elevation| 100 metres (330 ft)
Current tenants| Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Construction started| 1959
Completed| 1960; 1991
Inaugurated| 1960
Renovated| 1982 & presently
Cost| $9,000,000
($91.2 million in 2023 dollars[1])
Client| Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Owner| Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Landlord| Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Height| 64 metres (210 ft)
Dimensions
Other dimensions| 198 metres (650 ft) wide
64 metres (210 ft) tall (East Block)
Technical details
Floor count| 11
Floor area| 34,838 square metres (374,990 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators| 9
References
[2]

The Confederation Building serves as the home of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. It is located on Confederation Hill overlooking Newfoundland and Labrador's capital city, St. John's. The brick- and concrete-clad building has 11 stories and is 64 metres (210 ft) tall. It was completed in 1960 at a cost of $9 million to replace the Colonial Building. A lantern is located at the top of the copper roof of the central tower and acts as a beacon when turned on at night.[3]

In 1982, construction began on the West Block extension, a modern 7-storey structure, which is a six-storey building, with a gross floor area of 34,838 square metres (374,990 sq ft). The original building is now considered the East Block of the Confederation Building.[2] A third building on the legislature campus is the Service Building Annex a two-storey building housing a day care centre and garage for some provincial government vehicles.

## Complex

[edit]

The complex consists of two buildings that house most departments of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. It also contains the provincial legislature, and offices for elected members.

### East Block

[edit]

The original and tallest of the two buildings.

It is home to these provincial government departments, agencies, and offices:

* Office of the Premier
* Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
* Department of Finance
* Department of Justice and Public Safety
* House of Assembly
* Office of the Official Opposition
* Office of the Third Party
* Government Members Office
* Protocol Office
* Cabinet Secretariat
* Communications and Consultation Branch
* Hansard Office
* House of Assembly Broadcast Centre

### West Block

[edit]

Opened in 1985, this building is to the west of the East Block and contains most other provincial government departments, and various offices and agencies:

* Department of Immigration, Skills and Labour
* Department of Education
* Department of Health and Community Services
* Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
* Department of Environment and Climate Change
* Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development
* Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
* Department of Municipal Affairs and Community Engagement
* Digital Government and Service NL
* Office of Public Engagement
* Center for Learning and Development
* Policy Innovation and Accountability Office
* Office of Women and Gender Equality
* Disability Policy Office

### Off site

[edit]

Remaining departments of the provincial government are located in other offices in St. John's:[4]

* 81 Kenmount Road - Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development
* Petten Building, Strawberry Marsh Road - Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
* Industry, Energy and Technology Building, 50 Elizabeth Avenue - Department of Industry, Energy and Technology
* Howley Building, Higgins Line - Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Municipalities
* 40 Higgins Line - Office of the Chief Information Officer
* Sir Brian Dunfield Building, 50 Mundy Pond Road - Public Service Commission
* Argyle Building, Portugal Cove Rd - Research and Development Corporation
* 25 Hallett Crescent - Fire and Emergency Services
* 2 Canada Drive - Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

## Statues and landmarks at the Legislature

[edit]

A rear facing view of The Confederation Building, in St. John's Newfoundland.

A number of statues and landmarks are located near the building:

* Statue of Gaspar Corte-Real \- located southeast of the building[5][6][7]
* Statue of John Cabot \- located at the foot of the steps at the East Block
* Statue of Sir Wilfred Grenfell
* An enamel-coated metal coat of arms of Newfoundland and Labrador donated by businessman Paul J. Hohnson in 2000 is surrounded by a Gothic Revival stone lookout located in front of the East Block
* The flag of Canada, flag of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the British Union Jack fly in front of the building

## See also

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Confederation Building (Newfoundland and Labrador).

* Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador
* Memorial University of Newfoundland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 17 April 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
2. ^ a b About Newfoundland and Labrador – Seat of Government – Confederation Building, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, 8 October 2015, retrieved 2 March 2016
3. ^ "Confederation Building". Vertical access. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
4. ^ "Departmental Executive Directory". Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
5. ^ "Controversial statue of Portuguese Corte-Real in Canada is "colonialist narrative" and can be removed". Publico. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
6. ^ "Gaspar Corte-Real Statue - The Scope Archive". thescope.ca. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
7. ^ James McLeod (25 August 2017). "N.L. indigenous leaders say Corte-Real statue is an insulting relic". www.thetelegram.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.

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