110 James Avenue - Ryan Brothers Building

Project: 110 James Avenue (Website)
Location: 110 James Avenue (Map)
Constructed: 1910

Background:

April 26, 1890, Winnipeg Tribune

The Ryan Brothers, (Michael, James, George and Thomas), came to Winnipeg in the 1870s. Thomas soon opened a successful hand-made boot and shoe shop at 492 Main Street. In 1890 he decided to concentrate solely on the wholesale side of the business and George took over the retail operations.

In 1908 George sold an interest in the firm to another long-time footwear retailer, W. T. Devlin, and the company became known as the Devlin Ryan Shoe Company.

The Ryan brothers were an entrepenurial bunch and operated a number of businesses in the early 1900s. In 1906 George formed the Ryan Brothers Limited, a dry goods distributor, on Bannatyne Avenue. One of their first lines was Diamond Cleanser.

Above: Newspaper ads from 1929 and 1938

In October 1910 George bought a parcel of land at 110 James Avenue and immediately began construction on this building. It was to house a new venture for the brothers:commercial refrigeration and store fixtures. 

Their offices and warehouse were located here, there was also a separate manufacturing facility at Alexander Avenue ant Brighton Street, (which burned down in the 1920s).

April 15, 1911. Manitoba Free Press

They leased out extra warehouse space to other companies, everything from paint storage to a bulk paper dealer.

George Ryan, (who sometiimes went by his middle name Russell), stayed under the radar, rarely appearing in newspaper articles. He did, though, hang in the same circles and sit on committees with the likes of James A. Richardson and G. H. Aikins.

George's wife Sibyl was regularly in the papers organizing lectures, teas and church events for Grace United. She was an accomplished singer and pianist who appeared in recitals and entertained at other events. They raised their five children at stately 79 Ruskin Row.

May 2, 1938, Winnipeg Tribune

In 1938 a tragedy occurred when John Korchynski, 44, jumped from the roof of the building to his death. 

A Polish immigrant, he arrived in Winnipeg in 1911 and worked for Ryan Brothers for nearly 20 years. He was said to have been depressed in the weeks leading up to his suicide. He left a widow and two children.

February 11, 1955, Winnipeg Free Press

Sybil died in Vancouver in 1945 while the couple were on vacation. The firm lasted until 1954 when George retired. He died the following year.

The most noticeable feature of the building is the Philco Radios, Refridgerators and Televisions sign on the west wall. This was added by Great West Electric on Princess Street who occupied the building in the 1960s.

March 28, 2011, Winnipeg Free Press

In the fall of 2010 StreetSide Developments announced that they were converting 110 James Avenue into a 19 unit condominium complex.

Related:
110 James Avenue District Condominiums
Downtown condos gaining steam Winnipeg Free Press (Mar 2011)
Big plan just got bigger Winnipeg Free Press (May 2010)
110 James Avenue Historic Buildings Committee

340 Waterfront Drive - Sky Waterfront Condominiums

Project: Sky Waterfront Condominiums (Website)
Location: 340 Waterfront Drive (Map)
Constructed: 2007 - 2009 (Phase I); 2011- 2012 (Phase II)
Architect: Verne Reimer
Developer: Sunstone Group
Cost: $30 million (est.)
Status: Phase II to open late 2012.

Background:

In 2005 Sunstone Group announced plans the 109 unit Sky Waterfront Condominiums. It was the third high-end condo development along the new Waterfront Drive.

Located just north of the former Winnipeg Hydro Steam Plant, the land was an industrial site for more than a century and required an extensive cleanup, which included the removal of 42,000 tonnes of contaminated soil, before work could begin.

November 11, 2006, Winnipeg Free Press

In 2006 Sky began pre-selling suites ranging from 809 sq. ft to a 1,990 sq. ft. penthouse. Construction began in 2007 and residents began moving in during the summer of 2009.

A unique feature of the building is the curved wall at the intersection of Pacific and Waterfront. Architect Verne Reimer told the Winnipeg Free Press (September 23, 2006) “We wanted to make an urban building, so we wanted the building to approach the property line, to define a hard building edge.”

The developer has announced that phase II, a smaller structure, will begin construction in summer 2011 and expect to have it completed in late 2012.

Related:
Sky Condominiums Website
Facebook Page
Waterfront Set for Leap Forward Winnipeg Free Press

271 Princess - Peace Tower Housing Complex

 

Project: Peace Tower Housing (website)
Location: 271 Princess Street at Logan (Map)
Cost: $12.7m
Architect: Raymond S C Wan
Developer: Chinatown Development Corporation
Size: Seven storeys, 48 units

Background

In February 2011 the tripartite Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative announced the funding of The Peace Tower, a 48 unit housing project for immigrant and refugee families at the corner of Princess and Logan. The project is led by Winnipeg's Chinatown Development Corporation.

Construction began in June 2011. It included the demolition of the building across the street at 271 - 273 Princess.

The Peace Tower was officially opened on June 21, 2013.

Related:
Peace Tower website
Grand Opening Province of Manitoba (Jun. 2014)
Housing Announcement Government of Manitoba (Feb. 2011)
Chinatown to get affordable housing Winnipeg Free Press (Feb. 2011)
A history of 271 - 273 Princess West End Dumplings

Updates:

April 2012


May 2012


June 2012


August 2012


September 2012

555 Main Street - Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall

Place: Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall (Website)
Address: 555 Main Street (Map)
Opened: March 27,1968
Cost: $8m
Architects: Green Blankstein Russell Associates; Moody Moore and Partners; and Smith Carter Searle Associates.
Acoustician: Russell Johnson.
Status: Renovations in Process

Background:

Site ca. 1964, Playhouse Theatre on right (source)

Canada's Centennial was a time to think big. Not just in terms of celebratory events like Expo '67 but also for bricks and mortar "legacy projects." Manitoba had two centennial celebrations in a short period, with the province's in 1970, which allowed planners to think even bigger.

In 1960 a plan was fromalized to construct an entire arts district on a five acre site across from the new Civic Centre as a way to “commemorate Canada’s centenary and initiate a broad scheme of urban renewal in Winnipeg’s Point Douglas Area” (source - accessed 2008.) In time it would include a concert hall, museum, planetarium, theatre centre and parkade.

Ca. 1950s showing future location of Civic Centre and Centennial Centre
Original photo source.

The scheme was not without controversy. The project wold cost tens of millions of dollars, take five years to construct and require the demolition of four square blocks. Boosters of the plan poiinted out that the rejuvination that it would spur along Main Street would more than make up the cost an inconvenience. 

In 1963 a Manitoba Centennial Corporation board, chaired by Maitland B. Steinkopf, was chosen to oversee the planning, construction and fundraising.

The 2300 seat Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall was the first building for the new district. It replaced the 800 seat hall in the Winnipeg Auditorium (now Manitoba Archives) building on Vaughan 

On March 27, 1968 Governor General Roland Michener cut the ribbon at an opening reception. The following night a gala opening concert featuring performances by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Theatre Centre and Royal Winnipeg Ballet took place. Dignitaries in attendance included Governor-General Roland Michener and Mrs. Michener, Lieutenant-Governor Richard S. Bowles and Mrs. Bowles, Premier Walter Weir, Secretary of State Judy La Marsh and Maitland B. Steinkopf, chairman of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation and 2,000 others. 

The Concert Hall was a hit. Christopher Dafoe of the Free Press called the building a "proper temple for the arts." (WFP March 29, 1968.) The Royal Winnipeg Ballet scrambled to change the venue for their last concert of the season to the Concert Hall.

source

Aside from The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Manitoba Opera, it has hosted thousands of performances including Pink Floyd (1970), The Bee Gees (1974,) Burton Cummings (who launched his solo career there in 1979), the Rusalka Ukrainian Dancers (2003) and The Tragically Hip (2009.)

Since that time the Manitoba Centennial Centre, which still manages the Concert Hall, Museum, Planetarium and Manitoba Theatre Centre, added the MTC Warehouse Theatre, Artspace and the Production Centre for Film to their portfolio of holdings.

On May 29, 2009 the Manitoba and Federal Governments announced a $5 million infrastructure project to renovate the Concert Hall. Components include the underground parkade refurbishment, "a new acoustic enhancement system and significant stage sound and lighting improvements" and a redevelopment of the Steinkopf Gardens.

Related:
Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall Homepage
Centennial Concert Hall Winnipeg Building Index

491 Portage Avenue - Mall Centre / U of W Anx

Updated 2011, 2015

Place: University of Winnipeg AnX / Former Mall Centre (Map)
Address: 487 Portage Avenue
Opened: 1964

Architects: Moody, Moore and Partners, John McIntosh
Developers: Oxford Leaseholds of Edmonton
Contractor: Poole Construction

Background:

Mall Centre site ca. 1960 (Source)

Built in 1963-64 the Mall Centre was a huge development for its day. The $4.5 m project included a seven storey office building, (with the capacity for three more floors that were never added), a main floor retail mall, a 300 car parkade, a new intercity bus depot with 16 bays and a refurbishment and expansion of the existing Mall Hotel.

From Winnipeg Free Press ad, Apr. 2, 1963 

Developers Oxford Leaseholds of Edmonton released the Moody and Moore drawings for the new project on April 2, 1963 and construction was underway in spring of 1963. The Mall Centre opened in stages between fall 1963 and summer 1964.

The retail mall's original tenants were Howard's Ladies' Shop; Music City; Ben Moss Jewellers; Mall Centre Florists; Paul Charach Photography; Bank of Nova Scotia; Hudson's Bay Company; International Associated Hairdressers Ltd., Max Mell Barber Shop (basement); Billiard Parlor, Rypp's Pharmacy, Seabord Finance Co.; Mall Centre News Stand and Gift Shop; Nations Record Distributors Ltd..

The office tower included Drake Personnel, the Empire Life Insurance Company; Ridkill, Stead, Graham and Hutchison - Chartered Accountants; and Winnipeg Supply and Fuel's Corporate Office.


One U of M architecture professor declared that it was Winnipeg's first attempt at "designing space for our climate."

Top: Bus Depot grand opening (Winnipeg Tribune)
Bottom: Bus Depot (Winnipeg Building Index)

The Bus Depot was the last section to go into operation on June 13, 1964, though it took a few more weeks before its restaurant, (originally the Dutch Treat Cafeteria, in latter years a Salisbury House) to open.

Hundreds of people turned up for the ribbon cutting. A Free Press reporter marveled at the amenities, spaciousness natural light compared to the old, circa 1930 bus depot on Graham Avenue:

"As an example, only 40 buses were in operation in Manitoba in 1931, apart from those in local transit service. Today there are nearly 200 non-transit buses operating in the province and they're full of people who find traveling by bus both comfortable and economical.... In total, the new Bus Depot is everything the traveler could want and more"
(Winnipeg Free Press, Oct 14 1964)

Top: Hotel expansion (Winnipeg Tribune)

Bottom: Hotel after completion

There was also an attached hotel. Originally, the existing Mall Hotel at Portage and Balmoral was renovated, expanded and connected to the mall. In 1984 it was demolished to make way for a Relax Plaza, (which became a Travelodge, now the Holiday Inn Downtown).

In June 1998 Rice Financial opened their headquarters in the office tower and eventually purchased the building. In 2007 the University of Winnipeg bought a 25% stake in the complex from Rice with an eye to eventual expansion. By 2009 the U of W owned the building.

In 2008 Greyhound announced that they would not renew their lease in the Mall Centre in favour of a new bus depot located at the airport. That left a 25,000 sq ft void and an impetus for the University to begin construction on the AnX (short for Annex) in August 2009.

The building reopened in February 2012. It includes classrooms, offices and a computer lab in the basement. The main floor is home to the U of W bookstore, a Starbucks and Garbonzo's restaurant. The Balmoral Street bus bays were converted into a Winnipeg Transit hub.

Related:
491 Portage Winnipeg Architecture Foundation

Mall Bus Depot U of M Winnipeg Building Index
The Anx University of Winnipeg
Bye Bye Bus Depot West End Dumplings

Construction Updates:
April 2010 Balmoral Street Transit Station
August 2011 Downtown's largest bookstore now open
February 2012 AnX opens

Higgins and Main - Centre for Youth Excellence

December 2011 UPDATE:
Ribbon Cutting on December 9, 2011 !
Sneak peek at YFC centre Winnipeg Free Press
A place to stay, a place to pray Winnipeg Free Press
Photos of interior below or here

Project: Youth for Christ Centre for Youth Excellence
Address: 333 King Street, at Higgins Avenue at Main Street (Map)
Status: Opened December 9, 2011
Cost: $12.6m
Architect: Raymond S.C. Wang

Background

October 28, 1944 - Winnipeg Free Press

September 22, 1945 - Winnipeg Evening Tribune

Youth for Christ was created in the U.S. by Reverend Billy Graham in the mid 1940s.

Touring youth rallies visited regualrly visited Winnipeg beginning in the autumn of 1944. The rallies, sometimes called 'Songspirations', consisted of a mixture of music and speakers. Without a 'home church' they held their events at various locations throughout the city, a regular spot in the early years was Grace Church (on the triangular strip of land across from the Walker Theatre).

A Winnipeg Chapter of Youth for Christ was incorporated in 1954 and the rallies became a regular feature on Winnipeg's social scene. By the 1960s their concerts and movie showings drew hundreds and were often held at the Winnipeg Auditorium (now the Manitoba Archives Building).

In 1968 Youth for Christ began semi-annual marches and fund raising walk-a-thons that drew 1,000 people or more. The organization also moved toward project-based activities such operating a camp for troubled youth and a program called Lifeline to counsel youth one-on-one.

November 8, 1987 - Winnipeg Free Press

In 1987 Youth for Christ centralized their programs and 26 staff under one roof, an old fire hall at 325 Talbot Avenue in Elmwood. The following year they opened a youth drop-in centre at the site.

There are now 23 Canadian Chapters of Youth for Christ. Winnipeg's is one of the largest programs in North America.

Expansion Plans

In June 2010 shovels went in the ground to build a new headquarters called the Centre for Youth Excellence on the site of the former Savoy Hotel, demolished in 2000.

The $12.6m project is a partnership between Youth for Christ, the City of Winnipeg / CentreVenture and the federal government. The facility will include an indoor skate park, gym, fitness center, rock-climbing wall, a performing arts centre and counseling area. It is expected to open in Spring 2011.

Related:
Centre for Youth Excellence brochure Youth for Christ
Construction starts on Youth for Christ centre CBC June 24, 2010

Photo updates:

October 30, 2010:

March 2011:


May 2011:

July 2011


September 2011:


November 2011


December 9, 2011 (Official Opening)







More photos here