1955 – Dayton Building, Portage Avenue, Winnipeg

Built after its predecessor store burned down in the enormous Time Building fire of June 1954, this building was hailed as Winnipeg’s first all‐glass‐faced Structure at the time of its construction. An elegant exercise in International Modernism, ornament was provided by the structural elements themselves and by the lettering, with the structure clearly expressed, the glass curtain walls revealing the interior support columns.

Dayton’s Outfitters which had been operating in the city since 1935 was not associated with Dayton’s Department Stores of the U.S. Midwest.

According to local historian Christian Cassidy “In the early hours of June 8, 1954, the Time Building, located across Hargrave Street, caught fire. Winds of up to 115 kph spread burning debris throughout the downtown setting many buildings ablaze. Three buildings, including the Dismorr, were destroyed and two more were severely damaged. Dozens of others were impacted, including Eaton’s which lost hundreds of windows.”

Dayton’s closed on July 31, 1983, and the building has since been used for several nightclubs and sports bars.