A new book on architecture in New Brunswick is a treat for history buffs, especially those who live in parts of Canada where buildings are considered "old" if they date from the early 20th century. Building New Brunswick: An Architectural History (Goose Lane) is the first of its kind in Canada, said author John Leroux. It is a survey of the province's building styles stretching from aboriginal birchbark techniques to modern steel-and-glass structures.

Leroux is a native of New Brunswick and has worked as an architect for more than a decade. He has been employed at several Governor-General’s Award-winning firms in Toronto, as well as firms in Atlanta and his hometown — Fredericton. He has a Master’s Degree in Canadian Art History from Concordia University and has published two books on New Brunswick architecture, A Fredericton Alphabet (2001) and Building Capital: A Guide to Fredericton’s Historic Landmarks (2004). John has taught at the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design (NBCCD) in Fredericton. He was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Foundation Award in 2004.

The book contains a rich array of photos and sketches documenting the large homes and splendid public buildings that are part of the Maritime province's built history. Leroux, a Fredericton architect, said New Brunswick was the perfect province to write about because it's small enough that every place of interest is within an easy drive, and it's old — European settlement stretches back over 400 years.

He describes the province as the "cradle of architecture" in Canada. "People come here from Saskatchewan and their jaws drop because they say, 'Our oldest buildings are from the '40s,'" he says, noting New Brunswick has many 18th-century and early 19th-century buildings still in daily use.

Some of the most beautiful buildings in the province were built during times of prosperity, when Loyalists shaped their new futures and while sailing ships from Saint John still plied the world's oceans. "When we were economically vibrant, when times were tough, what people cared about, what values people had - it's all told in the architecture, through the chronicle of our buildings," Leroux said.

Leroux takes a close look at modern architecture in the province, finding much to admire and quite a bit to condemn. New Brunswick has a large inventory of homes from the 18th and 19th centuries that are still in good shape and remain family residences — proof that wood and stone are indeed durable building materials. "You can only touch so much plastic before you feel a little bit dehumanized," he said of today's home construction. "With the older homes you get a sense of wood, stone and glass. They were well built. Lots of homes today are built quickly, for profit. They're built cheaply."

The book also records the loss of buildings in the province. With a number of heritage buildings threatened and in need of restoration, Leroux said he hopes the book will spark pride in the province's rich, architectural history and a desire to protect it. "Hopefully one of the things this book will do is make people realize the value of what we have, and that there are great things under our noses," he said.

In conjunction with the publication of the book, photos, sketches, plans and a large model of the former Fredericton exhibition building are on display at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton and will tour throughout the province.