1913 – Second Placed Entry 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 with second prize going to Woodman & Carey of Winnipeg for this design. The winning entry was never constructed. The description of the entry:

The style of the building is Greek Ionic, six stories in height, including basement. Economy in design being required by the conditions, it was therefore considered advisable to omit large open spaces which require height in proportion.

The council chamber is placed in the centre of the building with due regard to its importance, the main staircase leading directly to it, subsidiary staircases leading to the conference room and mayor’s quarters, whilst all three are united by a spacious ante hall lighted overhead, also by direct light over the council chamber. The city clerk is within easy access to the public, and at the same time adjoining the mayor’s quarters. The record room is on a mezzanine floor, convenient to the city clerk’s office, and with direct access from that office. The board of control is planned on the south side of the building, the secretary of the board being placed immediately above the city clerk’s office, adjoining the staircase. Committee rooms are conveniently located on the north side of the council chamber; a members’ entrance and staircase being provided for the council, while staircases for public use lead directly to the galleries of the council chamber. Ample lavatories are provided throughout the building, all ventilated by air shafts, the foul air being withdrawn by mechanical means and fresh air forced in through air ducts which are carried along the mam corridors, having inlets into all offices. The civil court and scavengers’ department have outside entrances which have been considered advisable, at the same time both departments are within direct access to the main building. The engineer’s department is placed in the west end of the building, with an easy access to the public.

The plan filing room, of fireproof construction, is immediately below the city engineer’s office, with a separate staircase leading directly therefrom. The drafting rooms of this department are placed on the top floor above the main office, all of which have a north light. Freight elevators are located centrally in the building adjoining the large vaults and communicating with the receiving rooms, which open directly at a convenient level, on to the roadway between the bridge.

The health department is arranged, as suggested, in the basement, which is three feet below the ground level, giving ample light to all departments. The animal room of the bacteriological department, planned at the west end of the front portion of the building adjoining the receiving room, is isolated, except to its immediate department. Provision for the heating plant has been made centrally adjoining King and Market streets, convenient for the delivery of fuel and disposal of ashes.

The building is to be of grey Kenora granite, or native stone. The decoration of the interior of the building will be of the simplest — color being employed in the Greek manner in many cases.

The spare room, which is distributed as seems advisable, in the entire building, amounts to 30,314 sq. ft., and is divided up as follows: Ground floor, 1,976; second floor, 1,456; third floor, 10,559; fourth floor, 15,880; basement, 443.

The cubic contents of the building are 4,785,852 — the cost being two million three hundred and ninety-two thousand, nine hundred and twenty-six dollars.

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