Crown Assets Details the History of the Building programme of the Department of Public Works from 1867 to 1967. One hundred years of government construction generated a broad and diverse network of post offices, federal office buildings, customs houses, drill halls, quarantine stations, government hospitals, experimental farms, research institutions, and many other types of structures. Janet Wright interprets these buildings as a reflection of the forces that shaped their design and construction. Federal buildings mirrored the evolution of Canadian architecture in terms of changing styles and building technologies. They were also the product of a political and bureaucratic process and were shaped by policies, programs, and priorities. It was the interaction of these two forces - external architectural influences and the internal requirements and expectations of government - that defined the unique character and scope of federal building in Canada.Crown Assets is lavishly illustrated with 196 black-and-white illustrations and eight colour plates, richly depicting the federal government's profound impact on the character of the built environment in Canada.
It is also available in a French language edition.
