A modernist office tower that served as headquarters for Canada’s agricultural ministry, demolished in 2014 but remembered for its distinctive cafeteria wing.
At a glance
The Sir John Carling Building stood along Carling Avenue at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. An 11-storey structure, it housed approximately 1,200 employees and remained the headquarters of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada until 2010.
History
Named after John Carling, the building served as the administrative and political centre of Canada’s agriculture ministry for decades. The offices of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Agriculture occupied prominent positions within the tower. On July 13, 2014, the structure was demolished—a significant loss to Ottawa’s federal architecture—though not entirely erased from the landscape.
What you see
The main tower rose 11 storeys, accommodating administrative and ministerial offices. A 3-storey east wing handled shipping and receiving operations. Most distinctively, the building featured a single-storey cafeteria wing topped by an arched roof—an architectural element that distinguished it from the rectilinear main structure and proved resilient enough to survive demolition.
Cultural significance
The building represented mid-20th-century federal office design in Canada’s capital, embodying the institutional modernism of the agriculture ministry’s post-war expansion. Its demolition marked the end of an era of centralized bureaucratic architecture on the Central Experimental Farm.
Key facts
- Location: Central Experimental Farm, Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Coordinates: 45.39°N, 75.71°W
- Stories: 11 (main tower)
- Capacity: Approximately 1,200 employees
- Demolished: July 13, 2014
- Notable survivor: Arched-roof cafeteria wing remains
Practical information & getting there
The building no longer stands, but the Central Experimental Farm remains accessible in Ottawa’s south-central area. Visitors interested in the farm’s history and heritage can explore the grounds where the Sir John Carling Building once anchored federal agricultural administration.
Sources & resources
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