The Historic Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Building in Ottawa

 

Our travels during this past year have looked significantly different because of the pandemic. We travelled nowhere, as was necessary, and even our local outings changed. While we went for walks in different parts of the city and the surrounding areas through our weekly Breakfast in the Park outings, we were not able to personally visit any of Ottawa’s amazing museums, galleries and buildings nor to participate in any of the city’s usual offerings, which were cancelled.

Last night we joined Heritage Ottawa and Conservator Kelly Caldwell for a lecture on Zoom. Normally, Heritage Ottawa provides walking tours but things have changed for them, too, and they have pivoted to providing lectures about Ottawa’s history. 

Last night’s lecture was called Gold, Snakes and Mother Insurance: Preservation of the 180 Wellington Building Mosaic. We learned about a building that we previously knew nothing about. That is, the 1920s era Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Building as shown above on a postcard from eBay.

Located downtown, the building was built in 1927 and is an example of Beaux-Arts architecture that was designed by architects D. Everett Waid of New York and J.A. Ewart of Ottawa for the Canadian headquarters of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company that some call ‘Met Life.’ 

What you cannot see or even guess at from looking at the outside of the building is that the interior contains an amazing vestibule with an elaborate Byzantine-style mosaic ceiling. The mosaic, created in the United States by American muralist Barry Faulkner, has nearly one million pieces of coloured glass tile. It was designed as an elaborate advertisement of sorts to promote Metropolitan Life and their products and depicts “The Great Metropolitan Mother” protecting her policy holders.

Since then the building has evolved and changed hands. In the 1950s, two levels and a wing on the east were added. By 1970, Metropolitan Life was finished with the building and had moved out and, in 1973, the building was purchased by the federal government for offices and to house the Canadian Postal Museum. In 1984, some Members of Parliament (MP) had their offices moved to the building.

The building was closed in 2010 for a 425 million dollar renovation that saw the interior pretty much demolished and the foundation rebuilt with important historical details preserved. The work included asbestos abatement and seismic reinforcement and in 2016 reopened as a modern, safe office space, which now houses MP Offices, committee rooms and a library.

The following is a three-minute video about the building, the restoration and the mosaic. It will make you want to see the inside of the building, too.

Considered a hidden jewel, you need to walk through the brass doors at 180 Wellington Street and look up. My husband and I would love to see the interior of the building, but do not know if the public is welcome since it is now a secure government building. 

Have you been inside the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Building or the Wellington Building, as it is now called? Do you know if it is open to the public?

Brenda

Treasures By Brenda

Quick Links:

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Building postcards & collectibles on eBay.