Central Chambers

The Central Chambers is a historic commercial building in downtown Ottawa, standing at the corner of Elgin and Queen streets and facing Confederation Square. Built between 1890 and 1891, the six-story red brick building combines Neo-Baroque and Classical elements in the Queen Anne Revival style. Architecturally, it stands out for its lower arcade arches and the rows of blue bay and Palladian windows above them. The building has been protected as a national historic site since 1990 and is now used by the National Capital Commission. Visitors can admire the imposing ensemble in the Centretown neighborhood, where a connection to the neighboring high-rise, The Chambers, creates a distinctive urban unity.