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Gibson Block
Edmonton
Other Names:
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Flatiron Building
Gibson Block Building
Schubert-Wenzel Block
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Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Gibson Block is large wedge-shaped four-storey brick building constructed in 1913. It occupies four lots of a triangular block on Jasper Avenue at the eastern edge of Edmonton's pre-World War One commercial core.
Heritage Value
The Gibson Block is valued as a rare example of a commercial building in the flatiron style, so named for its distinctive triangular shape, and as structural evidence of Alberta's commercial boom in the early years of the twentieth century.
The flatiron design, which originated in New York in 1902, was popular in North American cities prior to World War One as a way of using oddly-shaped parcels of real estate. The Gibson Block also incorporated elements of the Chicago style (notably its characteristic vertical emphasis of pilasters and windows contrasting with a horizontal motif in continuous glass shop fronts and cornices) as a visual statement of confidence in the new city's ability to rival those of the East. The most prominent of the commercial buildings in Jasper East Block area (96th and 97th Streets), the Gibson Block has been an important landmark in downtown Edmonton.
Developed by William Gibson, the building has mirrored the changing fortunes of the city's commercial district. It originally housed retail space on the first floor, offices on the upper floors, and a Turkish Baths in the basement, though the upper floors were converted to apartments in 1914.
Source: Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch (File: Des. 108)
Character-Defining Elements
The heritage value of the Gibson Block lies in such character-defining elements as:
- form, scale and massing, in particular the triangular shape;
- Chicago style influences such as: brick pilasters, continuous glass shop front at street level; entablatures and cornices on the first and fourth stories;
- decorative elements such as the decorative square motif in brick and concrete, fourth storey brick semicircular arch (north facade), and cornice medallions;
- fenestration pattern of one over one window units with cast stone sills, as well as stairwell windows on the north facade and curved windows at the toe of the wedged shaped building;
- main entrance with semicircular wooden archway on the south facade, with keystone design, including the doors and globe lights;
- recessed storefront entrances and ceramic tiles on the south facade;
- restored amethyst prism glass transom on the toe and south facades.
Location
| Street Address: |
9604 Jasper Avenue NW |
| Community: |
Edmonton |
| Boundaries: |
Lots 7-A, 8-A, 9-B and a portion of 9-A, Block 2, Plan 226CL |
| Contributing Resources: |
Buildings: 1
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ATS Legal Description:
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Mer |
Rge |
Twp |
Sec |
LSD |
4
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24
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53
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4
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3 (ptn.)
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PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):
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Plan |
Block |
Lot |
Parcel |
226 CL
226 CL
226 CL
226 CL
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2
2
2
2
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9-B
9-A
8-A
7-A
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Latitude/Longitude:
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Latitude |
Longitude |
CDT |
Datum Type |
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53.543602 |
-113.482526 |
Secondary Source |
NAD 83 |
UTM Reference:
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Northing |
Easting |
Zone |
CDT |
Datum Type |
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Recognition
| Recognition Authority: |
Province of Alberta |
| Designation Status: |
Provincial Historic Resource |
| Date of Designation: |
1995/01/05 |
Historical Information
| Built: |
1913 to 1913 |
| Period of Significance: |
N/A |
| Theme(s): |
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life : Architecture and Design
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| Historic Function(s): |
Commerce / Commercial Services : Office or Office Building
Residence : Multiple Dwelling
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| Current Function(s): |
Residence : Group Residence
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| Architect: |
William Gibson
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| Builder: |
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| Context: |
HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE
The block between 96th and 97th Streets, known as the Jasper East Block, was substantially developed during the early twentieth century. The most prominent of the primarily commercial buildings to be erected in the area was the Gibson Block on Namao Avenue (97 Street). In 1913 William Gibson, a city realtor, purchased two parcels of land on this block from Samuel and Robert Williamson for a dollar. One parcel was valued at $9, 000 and the other at 11,000 dollars. The same year Gibson retained architect A. W. Cowley to design a four-storey office building with retail space on the main floor. The corner site called for a building plan which could utilize the pie-shaped lot. The resulting structure was triangular, known as a "flat iron" building. Flat iron buildings were fashionable to build throughout the major cities of North America during the pre-First World War period. The contract was awarded to a local contractor, J. Sheridan, for a tender amount of 40,000 dollars.
Main floor tenants in 1913 were the Ross Hardware Company, the Gibson Cafe; and Loptson Olafur and Sons, Jewelers. A Turkish bath parlour occupied the basement. Tenants in the offices on the upper floors included a doctor, a musician, a teacher, and an electrical contractor. Gibson had his office in Room 201.
A year after it was constructed, Gibson sold his building for three times its original cost. The new owners were the Schubert and Wenzel Real Estate Company. P.M. Schubert and Max Wenzel were German-born investment brokers who became involved in Edmonton real estate in 1908. It was during their ownership of the building that the offices were converted into apartments. By 1915 there were 51 suites on the three upper floors. Wenzel and Schubert remained owners of the building until 1934, when the City took over the building in lieu of back taxes. It continued as a rooming house with assorted businesses on the main and basement floors (the Turkish baths remained in the building until 1978). The building was purchased by Westlock Holding Limited in 1950. In 1977 Westlock Holdings hired an architect, Martin Tyler, to design a plan to convert the building into offices with a multi-level restaurant on the main floor and basement. The development did not occur.
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Additional Information
| Object Number: |
4665-0449 |
| Designation File: |
DES 0108 |
| Related Listing(s): |
4664-0042
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| Heritage Survey File: |
HS 4903
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| Website Link: |
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| Data Source: |
Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch, Old St. Stephen's College, 8820 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P8 (File: Des. 108) |
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