1908 – Design for Assiniboine Mansions, Winnipeg

Scottish architect William Bruce arrived in Canada in 1906 and was in partnership with Daniel Smith in Winnipeg from April 1907 to about 1909. Interestingly afterwards Bruce prepared a visionary scheme for ‘Roblin City’ on the shore of Hudson’s Bay at the mouth of the Churchill River in northern Manitoba, but the project was never realized. This mansion complex in the manner of those popular in London was clearly a speculative project and was not constructed.

“In the erection of the proposed Assiniboine Mansions at Winnipeg, it is the intention of the promoters to use as far as possible building materials manufactured from the clay products of Winnipeg district, and Manitoba marble. The details of the design will be specially prepared for elaborate architectural terra cotta, moulded work around doors and windows, and the walls will be faced with terra cotta ashlar in courses. Terra cotta is manufactured hollow, but every block will be filled solid with Portland cement concrete before it is built in position, a method of construction adopted in substantial structures of clay products. The illustrations do not show all the attractive details in the form of Mouldings and ornament which the architect will include. The dominating color of the local terra cotta will be a bright red and by mixing the clays light and dark shades will be produced. The terra cotta in the base of the building will be glazed, and the ground floor story will be finished with an egg shell texture or dull glaze. The upper part will be in natural color, with smooth surface and a very slight white salt glaze. The roof will be covered with bright red pan tiles and finished with dark red ornamental cresting. The plan is based on the best models of American and European residential fiats. Each floor will be served by safety elevators in addition to the staircases. The suites will vary in size to meet the demands of high class residential districts. The proposed building is seven stories in height and the plans show thirty-two rooms on each floor. The basement will be devoted to administration purposes, with storage or box room for every tenant. A recreation room and library will be provided, in addition to a restaurant. All the tenants will have the use of the conservatory and observatory above the seventh floor, with an uninterrupted view on the four sides and overlooking the city and its suburbs. The suites will vary in size from seven or eight to four or five rooms, exclusive of the lavatory accommodation. Some of the large suites on the ground floor will probably have their own entrance doors direct from the gardens and drive.

The building will be set back from the streets about fifty feet or more to give adequate space for trees and flowers. and the river frontage will command beautiful views of the Assiniboine, with ample ground in front for gardens, terraces, walks, screened shelters and summer houses, between the building and the water’s edge, in addition to a large boat house and landing stage. Perhaps the most important feature from the tenants’ point of view is the accommodation, convenience, light and ventilation of all the rooms. Every tenant will have access from each suite to the large screened balconies on all sides of the building. These will be provided with storm sashes for winter use. Thorough ventilation and ample sunlight will be admitted to every room. The walls and floors will be fireproof and soundproof, specially designed to overcome the conveyance of sound from one suite to another.

The floors will be constructed of small steel beams to carry tubular fire clay casing, on which will be laid a special mixture of concrete. The concrete will be covered with hollow fire clay slabs, a coating of cement, and finished with wood block flooring, laid in a special mixture. As the hardwood floors will be laid in ornamental patterns, the surface will be suitable for polishing or waxing. and will only require a few’ rugs in place of carpets. The interior will be highly finished in every detail with high class trimming around doors and windows and cornice moulding in all rooms. Hardwood wainscoting will be placed on some of the walls. Attractive fire grates, with marble and tile hearths, marble fenders and hardwood polished mantels, will be provided. The kitchens will have a high dado of porcelain or tiles. The floors and walls of the bathrooms will be lined with tiles or marble, having all the angles rounded.

Ventilating radiators will be installed to supply fresh warm air, drawn direct from the outside, and special flues will be installed for the extraction of air from all the rooms, with regulated outlets near the floors and ceilings, all connected to one large ventilation shaft provided with a high pressure fan. The stairs will be constructed of strong metal framing with moulded treads of Manitoba marble. The entrance hall and landings will have marble floors, mixed with tile in the panels and marble and alabaster dados. It is intended to use heavy cast iron glazed pipes for the drains and all the sanitary piping. The plans provide for thorough sewer ventilation by means of strong lead pipes. Intercepting traps will be used to cut off all sewer air from the pipes and fittings in the building. The electric wiring will be protected by insulated tubes, with junction boxes, numerous distribution and fuse boxes, mounted on enamel slate and secured by lock fast doors. The principal distribution board will have a complete equipment of switches and double pole fuses and a set of mains will be carried to each floor to sub-distribution boards. The electric installation will comply with the strictest rules of the leading fire insurance companies. Each suite will have a complete telephone system. The building will cost in the neighborhood of $350,000. Three large river sites are under consideration, each of which has its own advantages. The foundation and base floor may be built this year. Smith & Bruce, Winnipeg, are the architects.”
Engineering and Contract Record, August 12 1908

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