Home / Accueil

Lougheed Block

604 - 1 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2004/07/26

West facade of Lougheed Block (August 2004); Lorne Simpson, Simpson Roberts Architecture, 2004
West elevation and south exit stairs
North facade of Lougheed Block (August 2004); Lorne Simpson, Simpson Roberts Architecture, 2004
North elevation
No Image

Other Name(s)

Lougheed Block
Lougheed Building

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1911/01/01 to 1912/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/08/30

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Lougheed Block is a pre-World War One, L-shaped, mixed-use commercial building immediately adjacent to the former Sherman Grand Theatre thus creating a rectangular block. It is a six-storey steel and concrete Chicago Style building clad with brick and sandstone. It occupies portions of nine lots in downtown Calgary and is located on the northerly edge of the historic commercial centre of the city. The designation applies only to the L-shaped building.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Lougheed Block lies in its representation of Calgary’s tremendous commercial growth prior to World War One. The block served as a major centre of commercial activity for most of the twentieth century. It is a good example of the Chicago Style of commercial architecture, which embodied the sense of optimism in Calgary's economy. One of the few remaining examples of this style of architecture in Calgary, it is a familiar downtown landmark.

Heritage value also resides with its direct association with the original owner, Senator James A. Lougheed, a prominent lawyer, landowner, and member of Calgary’s business elite who was later knighted. The building has had such influential tenants as the United Farmers of Alberta (U.F.A.), United Grain Growers (U.G.G.), and Calgary Petroleum Products. There was also residential space on the top floors, commercial retail space at street level, as well as access through the building to the Sherman Grand Theatre.

(Source: City of Calgary Heritage Inventory, File: 01-162)

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements of the Lougheed Block such as:
- L-shaped form and massing
- brick and sandstone cladding
- prominent corner location

Key elements of the exterior such as:
- Chicago Style with the elevation divided into three distinct zones
- ground level large display windows; recessed store entrances; pilaster patterns defining ground floor storefront bays
- theatre entrance on the west elevation and theatre exit on the north elevation
- intermediate floors with grid-like fenestration pattern consisting of paired windows with sills and lintels; giant order brick pilasters with inserted windows on top two floors
- external steel exit stairs
- attic section

Key elements of the interior such as:
- theatre entrance foyer and exit corridor spaces
- remnants of ceiling and wall ornamental plaster and marble for the theatre foyer
- marble walls, tile flooring, and wood doors with clerestory glazing in the second floor office halls and elevator lobby
- central staircase with original ornamental metal railings

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Alberta

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (AB)

Recognition Statute

Historical Resources Act

Recognition Type

Municipal Historic Resource

Recognition Date

2004/07/26

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

1912/01/01 to 1973/01/01

Theme - Category and Type

Developing Economies
Trade and Commerce

Function - Category and Type

Current

Historic

Commerce / Commercial Services
Shop or Wholesale Establishment
Commerce / Commercial Services
Office or Office Building
Residence
Multiple Dwelling

Architect / Designer

D. S. McIlroy

Builder

James MacNeill and David Trainer

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

City of Calgary, Planning Development and Assessment, PO Box 2100, Station M, #8117, Calgary, AB, T2P 2M5 (File: 01-162)

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

4664-0126

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

SEARCH THE CANADIAN REGISTER

Advanced SearchAdvanced Search
Find Nearby PlacesFIND NEARBY PLACES PrintPRINT
Nearby Places