Early Skyscrapers in Winnipeg National Historic Site of Canada, Manitoba
Posted by: 
colincan
N 49° 53.836 W 097° 08.354
14U E 633635 N 5528868
Winnipeg adopted Chicago Style skyscrapers for its office buildings in the early 20th century. These high rise structures made a clear statement that it was the predominant urban settlement on the rapidly developing Canadian Prairies.
Waymark Code: WM8QGX
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date Posted: 05/03/2010
Views: 12
The skyscraper became the norm for commercial offices in North America's most progressive cities in the first couple of decades of the 20th century. Urban areas had become dense and the price of land escalated requiring a new construction paradigm in response. Of course technology had to allow for the multi-storeyed building format and the advent of the elevator and steel framing were two necessary innovations. Exterior walls no longer needed to be load bearing and could become quite decorative where desired. Winnipeg adopted the skyscraper in imitation of its American neighbour Chicago, where the fire of 1871 had pushed architects such as Louis Sullivan to design tall structures as that city rebuilt. Winnipeg’s early skyscrapers emerged up and down Main Street and include the Bank of Hamilton (Beaux-Arts, 1918, owned by the United Grain Growers Company), the Union Trust Building (Italianate, 1912) and the Confederation Building (Beaux-Arts, 1912, owned by the Confederation Life Association). Skyscrapers of note not included in the designation but worthy of mention are the Childs Building (Beaux-Arts, 1909, was on Portage Avenue, since demolished) and the Union Bank Building (1904, Darling and Pearson architects, still exists).
Credit: Leslie Maitland et al, “A Guide to Canadian Architectural Styles,” Broadview Press, 1992.
Classification: National Historic Site
Province or Territory: Manitoba
Location - City name/Town name: Winnipeg
Link to Parks Canada entry (must be on www.pc.gc.ca): [Web Link]
Link to HistoricPlaces.ca: [Web Link]
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