Key Number:	HS 5267
Site Name:	Canada Permanent Building
Other Names:
Site Type:	0418 - Mercantile/Commercial: Insurance or Trust Company Building

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			52	24	4

Address:	10126-10130 - 100 Street NW
Number:	26-30
Street:	100 NW
Avenue:	101 NW
Other:
Town:	Edmonton
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:	Classical Revival
Plan Shape:	Rectangular Short Facade
Storeys:	Storeys: 3
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:	Poured Concrete
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Flat
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Double Semi-Detached, Non-Related Wings: None Wall Design and Detail: Pier or Pilaster Wall Design and Detail: Quoins Wall Design and Detail: Plinth Wall Design and Detail: Entablature Wall Design and Detail: Plain Parapet Wall Design and Detail: Carving Wall Design and Detail: Inscription or Date Stone Plain Eaves Roof Trim - Verges: Not Applicable Roof Trim Material - Verges: None Dormer Type: None Chimney Location - Side to Side: Centre Chimney Location - Front to Rear: Rear Chimney Stack Material: Brick Chimney Stack Massing: Single Roof Trim - Special Features: Balustrade Roof Trim - Special Features: Finial Roof Trim - Special Features: Monumental Pediment Window - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Plain Lintel Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Material: Concrete Window - Sill Type: Plain Lug Sill Window - Sill Material: Concrete Window - Number of Sashes: Two, Double Hung Window - Opening Mechanism: Single or Double Hung Window - Special Types: None Main Entrance - Location: Off-Centre (Facade) Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Flat Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Curved Pediment Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Moulded Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening Material: Concrete Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Flat Transom, Single Light Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Side Lights Main Entrance - Number of Panels Per Leaf: 1 Main Stairs - Location and Design: None Main Stairs - Direction: None Main Porch - Type: None Main Porch - Special Features: None Main Porch - Material: None Main Porch - Height: None
Exterior:	Stone balustrade with Grecian urns resting on them engaged; pilasters; entablature; broken segmental pediment. Segmental pediment over front entrance; cornice. Decorative panels. Split arched pediment at cornice; four giant order pilasters; arched windows with multi-paned transoms; arched entry pediment with carved panel; stone shield and garlands; balustrade at roof line; '1910' incised at cornice level. The Canada Permanent Building is a three-storey rectangular, reinforced concrete-framed structure faced with red brick and stone. The three-bay front facade displays extensive classical detailing. A stone balustrade crowns the flat roof and has a central date stone decorated by a swag garland and topped by urns. Pilasters with ionic capitals give the first two storeys an imposing appearance, as does the heavy second-storey cornice, decorated with modillions and an open-topped segmentally-arched pediment. The Canada Permanent Building is the best example in Edmonton of the Edwardian Baroque style, and the finest of Roland Lines' commissions. All the classical design elements have been well-handled: the balustrade cornice, the open-topped segmentally arched pediment, the Ionic pilaster, entablature entrance, and the urns, cartouches, and swags, all of which are carved stone. The building was constructed of reinforced concrete and was the first such building in Edmonton. It also featured a steel staircase and other steel fittings, including the window casements.
Interior:	Interior featured tile flooring, plaster columns and pilasters, enriched cornices, and oak fittings. The entire ground floor was occupied by the Canada Permanent and the second floor was designated for the caretaker's rooms, lavatories and cloak rooms.
Environment:	Neighbourhood: Downtown Property Features: None In Central business district. Adjacent to McLeod building. Downtown core. Although a jewel of a building, the Canada Permanent is overshadowed by its larger neighbour, the McLeod Building. Despite dissimilar classical styles and materials in comparison to the McLeod, the Canada Permanent has always been an Edmonton favourite. Restoration of both buildings by the Provincial Government should enable them to take a more dominant role on 100 Street.
Condition:	Good
Alterations:	Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: None Site: Original Converted into Restaurant Replacement windows ground floor front; replacement entry door.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction Ended Construction Started	1910/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Mercantile/Commercial: Insurance or Trust Company Building Mercantile/Commercial: Insurance or Trust Company Building	1910/01/01 1968/03/10
Owner:	Owner Date:
The Methodist Church Alice C. Hutton Kenneth A. McLeod Canada Permanent Mtge. Corp. Perma Bldg. Ltd. Westbrook Estates Ltd. Canada Permanent Building	1899/03/15 1903/10/10 1905/11/23 1909/11/10 1964/05/05 1969/04/01 1978/12/01

Architect:	Roland Lines
Builder:	Pheasey & Batson
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Built for the Canada Permanent Mortgage Co. of Toronto to house its head office operations in Alberta. 1914 Tenants: Emery Newell, Ford, Bolton Mount Barristers; Roland Lines architect and Canada Permanent Mortgage Co. 1914 used by Canada Permanent in 1974 converted to a restaurant 1980: Purchased by Province Constructed in Edwardian Baroque Style 1910 Cornerstone. Present 1974 Owner: Oxford development Group. built for Canada permanent mortgage corporation. Estimated cost $50,000 to $65,000. ***** This building was constructed in 1910 as an office building for Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation. The architect was R.W. Lines. *** Roland Lines was the architect who designed this sophisticated little building. Comparison with the Union Bank building reveals the same masterful handling of classical elements. Here, however, Lines has found his inspiration in the Baroque period. The greater vertical emphasis, and the greater concentration on details indicate this change of style. The increased and even exaggerated use of decorative elements such as swags in the parapet date stone, the first floor spandrels, and the urns which look like topiary bushes perched on the balustered parapet, enliven the design and point to a Baroque source. The segmental arch pediments, the larger of which has an open top, and decorated ionic order pilasters complete the image. Built at a cost of $65,000 for the Canada Permanent Mortgage Company, this building was stylistically unique at the time of its construction, and remains a one-of-a-kind today. Originally in scale with its surroundings, the Canada Permanent Building is now dwarfed by its neighbours, yet still manages to hold its own. *** Ads of the day said it was 'one of the largest and strongest financial institutions in Canada or the United States'. True, there were others with larger assets or more creditors, but none could match the strength guaranteed to those willing to deposit their savings in 'the Permanent'. Built in 1910 at a cost of $70,000 by the illustrious Edmonton architect Roland Lines, the Canada Permanent Mortgage Company used its new building to carry the banking message: solidarity, security, and a sense of historical continuity harking back to the classical world. The architecture of the 'golden era' was studied for its meanings and excellent imagery. Symmetry was the basis of design -- what God could not perfect in man, the architects of each golden era would recreate in stone, as had been done by the ancient Greeks, the Romans and finally 20th century man. Imagery was the piece de resistance. It related the idea of the design to the viewer. Early banking institutions knew this. They built in stone, brick and concrete which gave the impression that your savings were secure and protected. In the Canada Permanent, Roland Lines built a symmetrical face composed of three parts out of brick and stone, both vertically and horizontally. Lines utilized the attached column, or pilaster, to create a visual image that was securely grounded on a base, sweeping upward through the pilaster, culminating in ionic capitals and an overhanging cornice. The third story stands proudly above the other two wearing a stone railing (balustrade) capped by symmetrical Grecian urns. The date of this local masterpiece of classical detailing is etched in stone, surrounded by a swag garland heralding the permanence of the structure. We can now step back and gaze upon the entire building -- a design of the classical school, expressed through the craftsmanship of the builders of the era. One clear image emerges -- strength of classical architecture. *** This structure was built for the Canada Permanent Mortgage Company of Toronto to house its office operations in Alberta. The building was designed by Roland Lines of Edmonton and was built in 1910. The Canada Permanent Mortgage Company dealt primarily with mortgages for farms, private residences, and small commercial ventures. The company maintained its office here from 1910 to 1961 and leased excess office space to various businesses for 50 years. In 1975 the building was converted to a restaurant, its present use. The Canada Permanent Building is owned by the Oxford Development Group Ltd., and shares part of the same lot with the McLeod Building. The Canada Permanent was included in the McLeod Building demolition permit application. Unlike the McLeod, the Permanent has a small existing FAR of only 3.0:1. The land occupied by the Permanent and the McLeod Building has a current asking price of $350 per square foot, thus the future of these two buildings remains uncertain. A high-rise addition constructed on the west and south sides of the McLeod Building could easily incorporate the facade of the Canada Permanent Building. Another alternative would be to recycle the Canada Permanent and Mcleod Buildings without constructing an addition and transfer the unused density to another site. Retained intact, the Canada Permanent Building is suitable for restaurant and office uses. *** This structure was built for the 'Canadian Permanent Mortgage Corporation' of Toronto, at that time considered to be the oldest and largest loan institution in Canada. Incorporated in 1855, the firm came to Alberta in 1901. The new three-storey brick and stone building housed the mortgage company's provincial headquarters in Alberta. The building was designed by Roland Lines of Edmonton and constructed in 1910 by Pheasy and Batson at a cost of $65,000. Mr. Colin Strathey was the first manager at this branch and he dealt primarily with mortgages for farms, private residences, and small commercial ventures. The company maintained its office here from 1910 to 1961. In 1974 the building underwent renovations for a restaurant and lounge, its present use. The building was constructed of reinforced concrete and was the first such building in Edmonton. It also featured a steel staircase and other steel fittings, including the window casements. Interiors featured tile flooring, plaster columns and pilasters, enriched cornices, and oak fittings. The entire ground floor was occupied by the Canada Permanent and the second floor was designated for the caretaker's rooms, lavatories and cloak rooms. In 1980, the Canada Permanent Building was purchased by the Provincial Government, and designation as a historic resource is pending. * * * CANADA PERMANENT BLDG (1910) City's First Fireproof Bank The Canada Permanent Building site has turned full circle from restaurant to the classically detailed headquarters of a prestigious loan company, to restaurant once again, housing the Japanese Village Restaurant since 1972. The lot was originally home to the Criterion Restaurant. The building was levelled in 1908, and in 1909 its owner Kenneth McLeod - who built the McLeod Building next door - sold the lot to Canada Permanent Loan Company for $24,000. In 1910 the firm erected a handsome three-storey structure for $65,000. This building, designed by local architect Roland Lines, was said to be the first fireproof bank in the city. Line's other projects included the Union Bank Building, the old Royal Alexandra Hospital (now the Glenrose) and Alex Taylor School. The building's design has earned accolades from Alberta Culture and the Edmonton Historical Board. Alberta Culture describes its design as the city's best example of the High Victorian Italianate style used before the turn of the century for commercial structures in major eastern Canadian urban centres. The city's historical board notes that despite the dissimilarity in both size and style to the neighbouring McLeod, the two buildings complement each other. The structure served as Canada Permanent's Alberta head office for 40 years and was then leased for office space before becoming a restaurant in 1972. About $750,000 was spent to renovate the building and bring in the Oriental decor. In the early 1970 the Oxford Development Group planned to demolish both the Canada Permanent and the McLeod Buildings for redevelopment. However, because of public concern the plans were never carried out. Both buildings were purchased by the province in 1980 for $4.8 million. Despite its age, the building is structurally sound. The only recent renovation was replacement of the roof in 1982. The building is made of reinforced concrete with red stretcher bond brick and sandstone. The three-bay front facade has extensive classical detailing. According to the historical board, its architecture is one of imagery. The symmetrical lines were meant to convey the banking message of solidity, security, and a sense of historical continuity harking back to the classical world. For example, the front attached columns or pilasters were meant to impart security visually by being securely grounded on a base and sweeping upward through the pilasters, culminating in Ionic capitals and an overhanging cornice. The third storey is capped with a stone balustrade with symmetrical Grecian urns. The year of its erection - 1910 - is carved in stone and surrounded by a gala of garlands.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Provincial Historic Resource Municipal Historic Resource	1995/03/01 2022/05/09

Register:	A32

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0458