13°c Overcast
11°c Cloudy with clear breaks
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Famed architect urges city to preserve his building
Étienne Gaboury designed this police station. (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
A renowned architect says it's sad city officials want to demolish a former St. Boniface police station instead of finding a way to preserve the modernist structure.
The City of Winnipeg has listed the former police station at 227 Provencher Blvd., at the southwest corner of Dumoulin and Langevin streets in St. Boniface, for sale for $470,000. Online documents show the purchaser must demolish it and submit plans for a multi-family residential development.
The former District 5 station closed after city council approved a plan to reduce the number of districts across Winnipeg.
Étienne Gaboury designed the building in 1963 and said the structure is a significant piece of architecture that became the prototype for his future projects designed to reflect the Winnipeg region.
He later designed the Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge, the Royal Canadian Mint and the St. Boniface Cathedral, and was inducted into the Order of Canada for his work.
The 82-year-old architect said Winnipeg is at the forefront of a collection of modern architecture in Canada, and the city seems unconcerned with its conservation. He said Winnipeg has already demolished its former city hall, an urban park he designed, and now plans to flatten its old airport terminal, one of the last modernist structures of its kind in the country.
Winnipeg should try to recycle its old buildings rather than tear them down for financial reasons, Gaboury said.
"They seem to be lackadaisical. They don't seem to be concerned about our historical heritage, which is extremely rich here," he said. "I think it's sort of sad and unfortunate the city doesn't have a greater vision."
City of Winnipeg spokeswoman Michelle Bailey said in an email statement the building was declared surplus in 2007, and the city subsequently put out an expression of interest for the sale, lease or redevelopment of the property. No submissions were received by the February 2010 closing date, the statement said, and last year, city administration recommended it be put up for sale to the general public.
The provincial court currently occupies a small space in the building, and the province is looking for a new space.
Serena Keshavjee, an associate professor of history at the University of Winnipeg, said Gaboury is Manitoba's most famous architect and the police station is a very good example of a certain style of brutalist architecture. The style was meant to connect to the working class, she said.
"In my opinion, this should be designated and saved. We'd be hard-pressed to find an equivalent example in Canada," she said.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 26, 2012 A2
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 30 articles for today)
Several held in gun sighting
8:41 AMWinnipeg police have taken several people into custody after reports of a gun being seen in the North End this ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Doctor charged with sexually assaulting teen at HSC
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- Police searching for suspect who woke sleeping teen
- City's first urban reserve born
- Evidence ignored in dangerous driving acquital, appeal court told
- Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
- MTS becomes takeover target
- Crash victims were good friends, free spirits
- Overnight stabbings probed
- Premier defends PST hike at NDP convention
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Police identify slaying victims
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- City's first urban reserve born
- The end of the credit card?
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Better PTSD treatment for RCMP urged
- Armed forces buys buses from Motor Coach
- Unjust justice: Still no aboriginal court in Manitoba
- Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
- SCU pulls Bill 18 petition
- MTS becomes takeover target
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- City's first urban reserve born
- Accused fraudster fights extradition to U.S.
- Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Fishing for fashion
- City's first urban reserve born
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- North End proud
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.