Making a city function  can be a challenge and utilities are a fundamental, if unexciting, part of that.  The Slater Street Transformer Station, similar to the nearby Bell Switching Station is another functional building that is critical to the operation of central Ottawa.  It is one of four utility stations that supply the core area with power.

Constructed in stages, there are two main buildings that make up the station, a red brick building with buff stone pilasters and a more recent buff brick with brown siding building, both of which appear linked to particular development periods.  The larger red brick building appears historically connected to other hydro buildings including stations near King Edward and Rideau, Bronson and Glebe along with Carling and Merivale.  These buildings belie or hide their function to present quietly dignified elevations with an institutional sense.

While the ground floor of the older building is problematic as it relates to activity along the sidewalk, the station’s modern addition is even more so.  Constructed during a period with an increased emphasis of efficiency, the addition is made up of three primary masses:  upper brick mass, base brick and stone mass and brown siding mass.  Although the form and massing is interesting the addition gives little to its context.  As a note within the addition, the eastern brick portion was built first and the brown siding portion was built later (it is difficult to determine exact dates, but the western portion was definitely not there is 1965).

One potentially redeeming characteristic of the addition is the generous set back from the street that provides space for a large bus shelter on one of bus Transitway.

The included address is approximate.  The associated Transitway stop is Metcalfe.