Constructed as part of a larger mixed use complex with a connected office building by developer Bill Teron in 1974 as the Inn of the Provinces, the hotel had 374 rooms (8th largest in Ottawa at its closing).  The taller hotel portion is identifiable by somewhat articulated glass walls set in from primarily flat, ribbed pre-cast concrete balconies.  In order to provide some variety in the built form, some of the balconies are also articulated, modulating the building’s profile.  The brown brick, glass and brown, ribbed precast is found throughout the complex unifying the various masses that make up this block.  Large in scale, the complex occupies the majority of its block bounded by Sparks, Lyon, Queen and Bay Streets.  Urbanistically the building’s primary feature is a large vehicular drop-off with its canopy off Queen Street. Other than the drop off the remainder of the ground floor is sealed discouraging pedestrian activity.

The hotel operated under various hotel brands including Delta (relocated to the former Skyline/Crowne Plaza) and independently as the National Hotel and Suites.  It closed in December 2013 and remains closed.

If and when the building re-opens in what ever form, significant modifications should be encourage at street level to improve pedestrian activity, especially along Sparks where the aggregation of office buildings does not do the street any favours.