Other Names:
|
Lorraine Block
|
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Lorraine Apartments is a four-storey, Classical Revival-style, reddish-brown brick and white terra cotta building of masonry construction. The 1912-13 building is notable for its four-story front verandah, its symmetrical appearance, and name panel with “THE LORRAINE” inscribed. The building occupies a mixed residential and commercial context in the inner-city Beltline community of Calgary.
Heritage Value
The Lorraine Apartments, built 1912-13, is one of the most exclusive apartment houses to be constructed in Calgary prior to the First World War, and is symbolically significant for representing the great economic, development and population boom that characterized Calgary from 1909-13. During this period, Calgary was one of the fastest growing cities in Canada due to its role as the primary distribution and railway centre between Winnipeg and Vancouver. The boom reached its apogee in 1912, of which the Lorraine Apartments is a result.
The Lorraine Apartments were developed by Dr. Omer Patrick (1869-1947), a business and civic leader who commissioned them in partnership with his brother-in law Dr. John Adams. Patrick, a native of Ilderton, Ontario had practiced in Port Huron, Michigan for two decades before arriving in Calgary in 1912. Like many other successful professionals, Patrick sought to take advantage of Calgary’s boom, investing in real estate. Later he became well-known as a pioneer in the development of Drumheller’s coal mines, and for his civic activities including founder and president the Zoological Society from 1928-44, leading the development of the dinosaur exhibits. His many other community activities included chairmanship of the Board of Trade, the Civic Government Association, and a city beautification board.
In August 1912, Patrick purchased six lots on 12th Avenue with the intention of building two apartment houses. Construction started in late 1912 on the west and first building – the Lorraine, named after Patrick’s son – with the economic slowdown in mid-1913 precluding construction of the second.
Completed in 1913, the Lorraine Apartments possess heritage value as an important example of Classical Revival style architecture in Calgary. The facades are sharply finished with local, Tregillus brick and contrasting terra cotta detailing comprising classical cornices, cartouches, tiles, and inscribed name panel. Contributing to its classical character, the building displays a symmetrical exterior, Tuscan columns and balustrades at the entrance, and terra cotta lunettes above the upper windows.
In charge or the design was James Teague, an American architect who arrived in Calgary from Seattle. While in Calgary 1911-14, Teague designed several important buildings in the city including its tallest building at the time, the ten-storey extant Lancaster Building (1912-18); as well as the ornate 1913 Bijou Theatre on Stephen Avenue (dem. c.1972). Connecting the Lorraine Apartments to his other Calgary works is his use of terra cotta, including inscribed name plates on each.
When completed, the building was advertised as “the finest” apartment house in Calgary and attracted doctors, dentists, lawyers, and retired military officers as residents. Notable occupants included Dr. Patrick himself (1913-19) as well as a sitting Calgary mayor, the fashionable R.C.Marshall (1920-21).
The Lorraine Apartments possesses historical and symbolic value as one of only a small number of extant buildings remaining to represent its area’s original character as one of Calgary’s premier residential zones. Prior to, and concurrent with Mount Royal becoming the most exclusive residential area of the city, 12th and 13 Avenues between approximately 2nd ST and 7thST SW was Calgary’s deluxe residential district. The situation of Senator Lougheed’s 1891 mansion on 13 AV, and development of Central (Memorial) Park in 1908 set the tone for the area. Dozens of other beautiful and substantial homes and apartment houses ringed Central (Memorial) Park and lined 12th and 13th AV, including the Pat Burns mansion (1903) as well as the Ranchmen’s Club (1912), on 6th ST. Adjacent to the Lorraine was one of Calgary’s most luxurious residences, the William Roper Hull mansion (1910) and immediately west of the Lorraine was the Arts and Crafts style house of Isaac Kerr (1910). Today, the Lorraine is one of a small number of properties to recall the area’s previous character.
Character-Defining Elements
Character-defining elements of the Lorraine Apartments include, but are not limited to:
- Placement on the site without front street setback;
- four-storey, rectangular and symmetrical form with flat roof;
- masonry construction with local, Tregillus, rough-textured reddish-brown brick cladding in common bond with first storey header rows recessed; recessed mortar joints; brickwork incorporating herringbone patterning, and forming a triangular pediment; rear reddish-brown brick cladding; precast concrete with faux glaze band course; and
- white terra cotta detailing comprised of bead and reel, dentils, and pearl patterned string courses (principal facades), window-sills and
-lintels; capitals, inlaid cartouches and tiles, lunette panels one of which is surmounted by an arch; name panel inscribed with “THE LORRAINE” lettering;
- symmetrical fenestration with single and multi-assembly windows (all replaced), including bay windows, and all with multi-pane upper sashes over a single light;
- four-storey front verandah, open at ground level and with balcony at fourth level; ground-level classical balustrades and Tuscan columns (replaced); squared columns on second and third stories; two fourth storey side balconies; and
- foyer with porcelain tile floor in white with Greek key motif border; dentiled crown molding.
Location