The new Government of Canada Building constructed in downtown Whitehorse signals a new era in the Yukon, one of consolidation and stable growth. Its classic form, exceptionally high standard of workmanship and materials, and striking, spacious, glass-topped lobby express both permanence and openness, two qualities that Yukoners hope will characterize future developments in their Territory. The building, situated on Main Street in downtown Whitehorse, is one of the most significant buildings to be erected in the city so far. Its 121,000 square feet of space on four floors house many of the Federal Government Departments whose services are most vital to life in the Yukon, including Health, Employment and Immigration, and Revenue Canada. The building also includes Retail space at street level that extends the Main Street retail core westward from the Yukon River. Opened on schedule in the Summer of 1992, the Federal Building has been designed to express the current aspirations of the people of the Yukon who have always been proud and independent and now are eager to take their rightful place as a permanent vibrant force in the Canadian economy. What today's Yukoners are saying is that they no longer look upon their Territory as a place primarily for making quick money and then moving on elsewhere to spend it. The Yukon they see is a place to settle in for the long haul, a place to make a stable life in and a place to evolve with--and they want others to see it that way too. The design of the Government of Canada Building expresses eloquently these strongly felt aspirations of the current Yukon population. It is clearly classic in form, clean and elegant in line, solid and straight-forward without a lot of "fuss" in the details. At the same time, it is a lively structure containing interesting variations in texture, colour, and surface angles. The building is clad in fine, polished, pre-cast panels of Rose-coloured granite, which has been blended with concrete to form a beautiful aggregate.