Exchange District in Winnipeg, Manitoba — Canada’s Prairie Region (North America)
The Great-West Life Building / L’édifice de la Great-West
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2022
1. The Great-West Life Building /
L’édifice de la Great-West Marker
L’édifice de la Great-West Marker
Constructed between 1909 and 1911 this building was designed by one of Manitoba's foremost architects, J. D. Atchison, who had trained and practised in Chicago. Built as the Great-West Life Assurance Company's first permanent headquarters, its construction materials were principally of Canadian origin. The Neo-Classical facade is of Kootenay marble from British Columbia, a quality material rarely used for Prairie office buildings. Originally raised as a four-storey structure with provisions for an additional ten floors, only four stories were added in 1922-23.
Incorporated in 1891, Great-West Life was for many years the only Winnipeg-based life insurance company, and was symbolic of Manitoba's growing importance in Canadian affairs. As one of the nation's leading life insurance firms, the Company moved to larger new quarters in 1959.
Cet édifice fut bâti entre 1909 et 1911, d'après les plans de l'un des grands architectes du Manitoba, J. D. Atchison, qui avait reçu sa formation et travaillé à Chicago. Ce premier siège social de la Great-West,
this page online
Constituée en corporation en 1891, la Great-West fut, pendant bien des années, la seule compagnie d'assurance-vie dont le siège était à Winnipeg, symbolisant ainsi la place toujours plus importante que prenait le Manitoba au sein de l'économie canadienne. La Great-West, devenue l'une de principales compagnies d'assurance-vie du pays, s'installa dans des locaux plus spacieux en 1959.
Erected 1986 by Manitoba Heritage Council / Conseil Manitobain du patrimoine.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 49° 53.784′ N, 97° 8.265′ W. Marker is in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is in the Exchange District. Marker is on Lombard Avenue just west of Rorie Street, on the right when traveling west.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2022
2. The Great-West Life Building /
L’édifice de la Great-West Marker
L’édifice de la Great-West Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Northern Light Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); Union Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Bank of Hamilton (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Robert Atkinson Davis (about 90 meters away); Early Skyscrapers in Winnipeg / Les gratte-ciel de Winnipeg (about 150 meters away); Rowand Block / Canada Life Building (about 180 meters away); Imperial Bank of Canada (about 210 meters away); Recalling Brown's Creek / Revisiter le ruisseau Brown's (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winnipeg.
Regarding The Great-West Life Building / L’édifice de la Great-West. Canadian Register of Historic Places, (2008/05/16). Also a Provincial Heritage Site.
From the Canadian Register Statement of Significance:
Key elements that define the building's impressive Neo-Classical architecture and progressive construction technology include:
• the nearly square massing under a flat roof, with projecting end bays on two highly stylized facades and the balance much plainer;
• the main (south) facade sheathed in white Kootenay marble and featuring arusticated base, a two-storey middle with a paired and fluted Corinthian colonnade, and a top segment (the 1922-23 addition) continuing the motifs presented below in a less elaborate manner in smooth ashlar marble;Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 20223. The Great-West Life Building
(front/south entrance)
• the east facade largely repeating its southern sibling, with shallow pilasters in place of the colonnade;
• the profusion of openings on all sides, set in cast-metal decorative surrounds on the first four floors of the south and east facades, including large segmental-arched windows with voussoirs on the main floor, the middle's rectangular openings, the simpler, smaller openings in the top, etc.
Also see . . .
1. Great West Life Building / Chamber of Commerce Building.
Constructed by local builder C. W. Sharp between 1909 and 1911.(Submitted on February 4, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Great-West Life Building.
Also known as the Chamber of Commerce Building, it is an eight-storey steel, concrete and brick structure erected in two stages between 1909 and 1923. Centred in Winnipeg's and Western Canada's historic financial and grain marketing headquarters, it is an exemplary Neo-Classical office tower combining the traditional ornamentation of a Renaissance Revival palace of commerce with the advanced steel frame and fireproof construction(Submitted on February 4, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)techniques of its era.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 20224. The Great-West Life Building
(southwest elevation)(marker is located on far left)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2022
5. The Great-West Life Building
(southeast elevation)
(southeast elevation)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 4, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
