Embassy of Canada
View the architectural study
Interpretive architectural study of the catalogued property.
501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Arthur Erickson’s stone chancery opens toward John Marshall Place Park. Planted terraces step down into a raised courtyard, while a glazed colonnade and the circular Rotunda of the Provinces frame its public edge.
| Fact | Value | Basis and sources |
|---|---|---|
| Constructed | 1989 | documented |
| Acquired by Canada | 1978 | documented Land acquisition from the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. Opening of the new building followed in 1989. |
| Neighborhood | Penn Quarter | documented |
| Architect | Arthur Erickson | documented |
| Rooms | 150–250 est. | estimated Low-confidence estimate of enclosed offices, meeting, public and service rooms across the six-level chancery. A mixed office layout is assumed, with approximately 100–180 office/meeting rooms and 50–70 reception, storage and support rooms. The estimate excludes open desks, circulation, and parking bays; a complete floor plan is unavailable. |
| Floor area | 288,500 sq ft | verified; DC commercial CAMA LIVING_GBA, building 1 section 1. Supersedes the narrower 190,000-sq-ft contemporary press description; the official 2023 cleaning contract separately describes approximately 100,000 sq ft of enclosed garage space. Current CAMA living gross building area replaces the narrower 190,000 sq ft figure reported in 1989. The 2023 official cleaning specification separately identifies a three-level garage of approximately 100,000 sq ft; the two published scopes should not be treated as interchangeable. |
| Site area | 63,200 sq ft | verified; Parcel total: 0491/0033. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. |
| 2026 Value | $130.3M | verified; Parcel total: 0491/0033. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. |
Scope and Evidence
The 1989 article reported 190,000 sq ft. The panel now uses DC CAMA living gross building area of 288,478 sq ft; these are differently scoped records. The official 2023 cleaning specification separately describes a three-level garage of approximately 100,000 sq ft.
The earlier landscape description rounded the site to one acre. The panel uses the current cadastral parcel record: 63,220 sq ft.
The model is an estimated-scale proportional study. Its adopted 50 × 78 metre envelope is inferred from the supplied views and approximate site area, not measured plans.
The Newseum/Johns Hopkins-facing west boundary is conservatively opaque: the earlier model’s outward window bands were unsupported and have been removed. The courtyard-facing glazing is a separate, documented elevation.
The outer frame, recessed rounded office wing, rotunda, fluted court colonnade, broad steps, entrance portico and pool placement follow visible fixed features. The simplified envelope, exact bay spacing and hidden service details remain proportional estimates; supplied-image capture dates are not established.
- achatscanada.canada.ca
- canada-in-usa.com
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
- www.arthurerickson.com
- www.cca.qc.ca
- www.tclf.org
- www.washingtonpost.com
Research Questions
Where Is Embassy of Canada?
501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC.
When Was Embassy of Canada Built?
Constructed: 1989. Record status: documented.
Who Designed Embassy of Canada?
Architect: Arthur Erickson. Record status: documented.
What Is the Floor Area of Embassy of Canada?
Floor area: 288,500 sq ft. Record status: verified. DC commercial CAMA LIVING_GBA, building 1 section 1. Supersedes the narrower 190,000-sq-ft contemporary press description; the official 2023 cleaning contract separately describes approximately 100,000 sq ft of enclosed garage space. Current CAMA living gross building area replaces the narrower 190,000 sq ft figure reported in 1989. The 2023 official cleaning specification separately identifies a three-level garage of approximately 100,000 sq ft; the two published scopes should not be treated as interchangeable. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the Site Area of Embassy of Canada?
Site area: 63,200 sq ft. Record status: verified. Parcel total: 0491/0033. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.
What Is the 2026 Value of Embassy of Canada?
2026 Value: $130.3M. Record status: verified. Parcel total: 0491/0033. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value. This is a tax assessment, not a verified sale price or market valuation. Verified in the record on 2026-10-24.