A restaurant, offices, and homes have saved the historic structure from demolition
Although slated for demolition, the James Avenue Pumping Station in Winnipeg was saved when 5468796 Architecture took on the challenge of reviving it. So, over a century since its construction, this old pumping station will continue to share its history. The facility dates from 1906, when it was needed to help control a spate of fires in the area. Its water was pumped from the Red River and then distributed to nearby hydrants. With the project for the facility’s redevelopment both preserving and enhancing its historical and architectural value, the original pumping equipment has been retained, but behind extensive glazing so it’s on display for both visitors and residents.
Called Pumphouse, this new mixed-use structure designed by 5468796 Architecture was created after the architects presented an unsolicited building and financial pro forma to save the structure from demolition. This came after almost 20 failed attempts to redevelop the historic structure. The result, which involved two separate interventions, features a dynamic combination of a restaurant, offices, and a new five-story residential building. The historic building also includes a restaurant-bar with an industrial feel created with stylish furniture around the old machinery.
A key aim of the project, therefore, was to emphasize the history of the place. Putting the old pumping equipment on display behind extensive glazing contributed to this, as did the circulation route that, before leading to the newly built spaces, passes through the structure’s most historic areas. These spaces are also clearly visible from the second floor offices. But these windows aren’t the only ones that connect with the floor below, with skylights in the roof flooding the space with natural light.
Every part of the building, therefore, speaks first and foremost of its industrial history, which has been retained through an innovative reinterpretation that’s in step with the times. Next to the historic building, the new residential structure reflects the same industrial language, but interpreted through a more contemporary lens. Stairwells and external corridors underscore the rhythm of its façades, as do the windows shared with the other building.
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Architect: 5468796 Architecture
Client: Alston Properties
Heritage rehabilitation area (office & hospitality): 18,000 sqft
Multi-family residential area: 37,500 sqft (incl. underground parking)
Completion: January 2024
Landscape Architect: Scatliff + Miller + Murray
Structural Engineer: Lavergne Draward & Associates
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: MCW Consultants
Civil Engineer: MCW Consultants
Photography by James Brittain, courtesy of 5468796 Architecture