The West Building is part of the Cannon Yard Complex.
The building was erected in 1812 and housed a forge with 32 hearths. Construction work took place during the Patriotic War, when the country's industry was focused on the struggle against Napoleon’s armies. The building was badly damaged by the fire of 1815.
In 1836, the building housed a carriage house, cellars with an ice house, drying rooms and warehouses belonging to the Junker Military School. At that time, the second storey was added to the building and a wooden gallery was added. By the end of the 20th century, the building had become severely dilapidated; restoration work was carried out, and as a result the building regained its original appearance.
The one‑storey, elongated building had a single‑pitched roof with 16 chimneys. Each chimney served two hearths. The elongated building is divided into four sections, each separated by a firewall (a blank fire wall) projecting above the roof. Along the main façade, each section has six segmental‑arched windows, separated into two groups by a gateway with a three‑centred arch. The windows have wrought‑iron grilles composed of wavy bars secured with staples. The gates are wooden, double‑leafed, with a wicket door, and are fitted with forged pintles (heel hinges) and knockers. The rafters and struts are exposed, and the insulated ceiling is fixed to them.
The building was restored in 1995–1999 to a design by the Design Studio of the Union of Architects of the Republic of Tatarstan (PTM SA RT) under the direction of F.M. Zabirova; the architect was R.M. Zabirov. The engineering part of the project was carried out by the Tatinvestgrazhdanproekt company under the direction of I.S. Abdrakhmanov and engineer A.I. Iskhakov.
The West Building of the Cannon Yard now houses a Crafts Centre, a jewellery salon and workshop, and a forge with a pottery and a sewing workshop, all operating under the Chamber of Crafts of the Republic of Tatarstan.