2024 – James Avenue Pumphouse, Winnipeg, Canada

Architect: 5468796 Architects

james-pumphouse

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How to respect a previous building of 1906 and its rather unusual purpose and heritage is tricky. Here, the architects had to incorporate three massive Crossley engines built in Manchester and used at Winnipeg as a pumping house. The interior of the building was largely intact; one engine had been spirited away in the past. Flanking multipurpose buildings were added on columns to leave the original façade visible, and a floating floor inserted over the mechanical workings. The heritage portion is now offices and a restaurant with a glazed floor and walls overlooking the engines. Nicely done. Winner 2024 Governor General’s Medal in Architecture.

Published July 10, 2024 | Last Updated September 11, 2025