BRAULT, Joseph Charles Gustave (1886-1954) succeeded Charles D. Sutherland as Chief Architect of the federal Dept. of Public Works in 1947 and held the post until 1952. In this position he was responsible for the design and construction of all federal buildings erected during the period of rapid growth following WWII. His work included planning for new structures and major additions to post offices (also referred to as Dominion Public Buildings), Customs & Immigration facilities at new border crossings, military hospitals, and other types of architectural projects funded by the federal government.
Born in Montreal on 15 March 1886, he attended Mont St. Louis College (in 1901-06) and articled with the firm of Edward & W.S. Maxwell (in 1907-08), with Ross & MacFarlane (in 1910-11), and spent his summer holidays training in the offices of Marchand & Haskell and Kenneth Rea. He attended courses in architecture at Cornell University in 1911-12 and returned to Montreal to work as a draftsman for Ross & MacFarlane and for Barott, Blackader & Webster. In late 1913 he moved to Ottawa and joined the Dept. of Public Works as a staff architect. During the next thirty-five years he rose through the ranks until receiving the appointment of Chief Architect of the department in 1947. Brault retired in 1952 and died in Montreal on 7 May 1954 (obit. Ottawa Citizen, 10 May 1954, 6; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects; R.I.B.A., Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, 2001, i, 244)
J.C. Gustave BRAULT (Residential works)
DESIGN FOR A PRIVATE HOUSE, in the Italian and Mediterranean style, 1928. Brault prepared a contemporary house plan for a single family detached residence which was marketed through a syndicated newspaper service in many Ontario towns. This example appeared in the Owen Sound Daily Sun Times, 5 May 1928, 16, illus. & detailed descrip.
J.C. Gustav BRAULT (Post Offices for the Dept. of Public Works)
HALIFAX, N.S., North End Post Office, 1947
SAULT STE. MARIE, ONT., Dominion Public Building, 1948
VAL D’OR, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1949
DONNACONA, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1949
MONT JOLI, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1949
CHAPLEAU, ONT., Dominion Public Building, 1949
DELHI, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1949
GERALDTON, ONT., Dominion Public Building, 1949
PINE FALLS, MAN., Dominion Public Building, 1949
LITTLE CURRENT, ONT., Dominion Public Building, 1949
HANEY, B.C., Dominion Public Building, 1949
LANGLEY, B.C., Dominion Public Building, 1949
NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C., Dominion Public Building, 1949
OCEAN FALLS, B.C., Dominion Public Building, 1949
MONTMAGNY, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1949-50
MASSON, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1949-50
MONTREAL, QUE., Postal Station B., 1949-50
ST. HENRI DE LEVIS, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1949-50
FLIN FLON, MAN., Dominion Public Building, 1949-50
ROSETOWN, SASK., Dominion Public Building, 1949-50
ST. WALBURG, SASK., Dominion Public Building, 1949-50
VICTORIA, B.C., Dominion Public Building, 1949-50
SHERBROOKE, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1950
ST. STEPHEN, N.B., Dominion Public Building, 1950
BAIE COMEAU, QUE., Dominion Public Building, 1950
TECUMSEH, ONT., Dominion Public Building, 1950
LEDUC, ALTA., Dominion Public Building, 1950
McLEOD, ALTA., Dominion Public Building, 1950
ABBOTSFORD, B.C., Dominion Public Building, 1950
LADNER, B.C., Dominion Public Building, 1950
WHITE ROCK, B.C., Dominion Public Building, 1950
J.C. Gustave BRAULT (Other buildings for the Dept. of Public Works)
EDMUNSTON, N.B., Customs & Immigration Building, 1947
PHILLLIPSBURG, QUE., Customs & Immigration Building, 1947
SAINT JOHN WEST, N.B., Customs & Immigration Building, 1948
ARMSTRONG, QUE., Customs & Immigration Building, 1948
LACOLLE, QUE., Customs & Immigration Building, 1948
EDMONTON, ALTA., Forward Mail Building, 1948
COUTTS, ALTA., Customs & Immigration Building and Bus Terminal, 1950