Yukon Register of Historic PlacesYRHP

Key elements that contribute to the heritage value of this site include:

- its location within the Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site of Canada, in the Yukon;

- its orientation, set back from the street behind a green space;

- the monumental presence and dominant profile of the building with its long, rectangular two-and-a-half-storey massing under a metal hipped roof;

- its neoclassical inspired design with a symmetrical, organized façade, and slightly projecting pedimented central and flanking pavilions;

- the formality of its neoclassical decorative features such as the double Ionic columns flanking the main entrance, fluted pilasters, carved scroll work over windows and within the pediments, dentils along the cornice;

- its wood-frame construction and in particular evidence of its specific adaptation to northern conditions such as its platform frame foundation and insulated double shell wall construction;

- its relatively lightweight construction materials such as wood, tar paper, pressed metal and the surviving original exterior cove siding;

- the surviving major public spaces in their original axial configuration, materials and workmanship, including the central lobby and split staircase, and the Council Chamber, later a court room, and the materials, textures, workmanship and location of original interior finishes;

- the presence of supporting outbuildings to the rear;

- the formal treatment of the grounds to the north and west sides of the building with a wide walkway from the street to the main entry,

- the materials, scale and location of the boardwalk leading to its main entrance;

- the rectangular footprint of the formal Victory Garden to the north of the building with its Victorian, geometric layout of diagonally configured paths sub-dividing the space into triangular quadrants radiating from a central planting bed containing the cenotaph;

- surviving original botanical species in their types and locations;

- viewscapes from Fifth Avenue towards the building and the three-quarters view from the Victory Garden to the building.