1911 – Willis Building, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

In 1911 the eight-storey Willis Building opened at the corner of St Catherine and Drummond. It would double in size in 1927. In addition to offices and salesrooms, the expanded facilities included a concert hall, providing a showcase for Willis instruments and for the talent of visiting musicians. The end of the building still has a visible “Willis Pianos” sign.

“The new building which is to be erected on the southwest corner of St. Catherine and Drummond streets, Montreal, contains meritorious suggestions in the design and construction of modern store buildings that are of interest to both architects and contractors.

The structure is to be erected on the site of the premises now occupied by Mr. J.A. Harte’s drug store. It will be occupied exclusively by the owners for their own business, their present premises being both inadequate and unsuitable for their demands. The first, or street floor, will be used as a general reception floor and showroom, toward the rear of which a mezzanine floor will be provided for the sales department. At the rear of the store, and approached by a separate side entrance on Drummond street, will be situated the passenger elevator, communicating with the general and directors’ offices on the second floor; with the concert hall on the third floor ; with the parlor and show rooms on the fourth and fifth floors ; with a sales room on the sixth floor; with the repair and polishing rooms on the seventh floor, and with the janitor’s apartments and store rooms on the eighth floor.

The shipping and packing rooms, also storage, will be accommodated in the basement, and the heating apparatus, elevator and vacuum cleaning machinery- in the sub-basement. The stairs and freight elevator are in the rear of the building, communicating with each of the several floors mentioned above.

The building was designed by Messrs. Ross & MacFarlane, and will be erected under their supervision. The structure will rest upon concrete foundations carried down to the rock, and will be built of fireproof materials throughout, the framing consisting of fireproofed steel and the floors of reinforced concrete. The exterior will be carried out in gray limestone. On the principal showroom floor the maximum area of glass has been provided for display purposes. The interior finish of this floor will be decorated in harmony with the character of a piano business. Every effort has been made to express the character and purpose of the building in every detail of construction and decoration.”
Engineering and Contract Record, May 18 1910

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