1913 – Winning Design for City Hall, Winnipeg

In early 1913, a committee of Winnipeg’s City Planning Commission recommended that a new civic centre be built, and a contest for a design for a new city hall was announced. Thirty-nine designs were submitted in competition and on 10 March 1913, Winnipeg city council announced that the winning design was by the firm of Clemesha & Portnall of Regina. Second prize went to the firm Woodman & Carey of Winnipeg, and three third prizes were awarded. Illustrations published in the Building News, April 11 1913.

The selected design was described as “Greek Ionic”, to be built of grey Kenora granite and the estimated cost was $2,392,926. By the time of the competition complete, Canada was in recession, and with the completion of the Panama Canal shortly after, Winnipeg’s growth faltered and the plan was shelved.

“The accompanying plans, section, elevations, and view show the chosen design by Messrs. F. Chapman Clemesha, Licentiate R. I. B. A. and Portnall, architects, of Regina, for the new Сitу Hall. Winnipeg. Mr. Leonard Stokes, F. R. I. B. A., was the assessor in this recent competition, which was confined to British Canadian Architects, and thirty-nine designs were submitted. The site is an island one facing William-avenue on the south-east with Market-street on the northern flank. The apsidal portico towards the east fronts Main-street. which is the most important thoroughfare. The archways leading info the central open court, which makes so distinctive a feature in this capable scheme; face the ends of two cross-roads, known hitherto as King Street. which is thus bisected by the new building. To the right band of this cortile, in the middle of the building are located on the ground floor, the city treasurer and the light and power departments, the central public space being top-lit, with colonnades round, and aisles beyond, which add greatly to the internal effect, as will be seen by the section, To the left. the same treatment is repeated for the tax department, Four well-lighted staircases are provided, one situated at each external corner of the building, and leading up to the council chamber, which is placed at the Main-street end of the premises. and the semicircular entrance-hall. Close by. on this main-floor plan, іе the banquet and conference hall to the south, and private offices and committee -rooms on the north. A members’ smoking room and toilet conveniences look into the eastern open court.
At the other end of the block are located the greater and lesser courts, with magistrates’, witnesses’, and other rooms. In the middle of the north flank the board-room is situate, with pay-offices adjoining. The city clerk’s general office is on the southern side, with private and other rooms, a continuous corridor running round the whole building; and this is exceedingly well lighted.The typical plan, of which there are five stages, is here illustrated.

These have their main spaces fronting all four elevations, and are intentionally left undivided, so that the allocation of the areas thus provided may be determined when the exigencies of the various official departments are actually ascertained. This appears to be a wise provision, and the architects have so spaced their fenestration as to permit quite readily of almost any division of space which necessity may demand. There are public lavatories in the basement at the Main-street entrance end. The principal side and end positions are devoted to the departments of sanitary inspectors, museum of hygiene, disinfection, food and dairy division, and medical health. The heating chamber is in the middle, under the open courtyard which forms a thoroughfare through the new building. ‘The cost contemplated is £600,000. The first premium was £1,000.” The Building News, April 11 1913.