9 Columbia Street East
Woodlands Centre Block (1878)
Designated Date: 2004 January 19

The Centre Building was the first to be built on the Woodlands site. In that year, 36 patients were admitted to the twenty eight room institution - then known as the “lunatic asylum”. The original building was made of brick, two storeys high, and 125 feet long by 25 feet wide.

In 1884, a contract was awarded for improvements and additions to the value of $22,500. This included the construction of a new north wing, increasing the capacity to 70 beds. The window sills were lowered to improve external views and interior lighting. In 1889, an administration building and another wing were added south of the original buildings. Also, the original front structure was widened by 12 feet. In 1897, overcrowding necessitated the construction of another wing, containing a kitchen, dining room and bathrooms. The last addition was made at the turn of the century, in 1906, when a third storey was added to the building.

Return to the Designated Heritage Buildings page