43 Issue 4 Winter Edition 2017 UPWORD JAMES AVENUE PUMPING STATION The James Avenue Pumping Station comes by its heritage site status honestly. It was built in 1907 following Winnipeg City Council’s plans for a high-pressure water system in response to a devastating downtown fire in 1904. The 15,000-sq.-ft. facility was designed by city engineer H. N. Ruttan to pull water from the Red River and distribute it through eight miles of lines to over 70 hydrants in the downtown area. In total, it provided 300 pounds of pressure for prolonged use in firefighting situations. At time of construction, six of the station’s pumps were powered by gas derived from coal. Over a half-century later, however, the engines were upgraded to natural gas and electricity. The James Avenue Pumping Station continued operations for decades more before closing in 1986. Restoring a Landmark of a 12,000-sq.-ft. atrium built three metres over the station’s main floor and supported by its existing steel girders. The atrium will serve as the new home for local advertising agency Think Shift and feature large glass walls and new skylights in the station’s original roof. In his early 2017 interview with Winnipeg Free Press, Think Shift CEO David Baker said his team is looking forward to the new headquarters, noting, “It’s just going to be stunning … the glass walls will wrap around where the pumps are and [the original pump house] is such a spectacular building. You can see why Heritage Winnipeg wanted to protect it.” Upon completion of phase 1 in winter 2017, the next step of Alston Properties’ plans is to develop two new, six-storey wood-framed buildings on the east and west side of the revitalized station. The east structure (phase 2) will house 28 rental apartment units in its upper five floors and 1,500 sq. ft. of commercial space on the ground floor. The new building on the west will be the third and final phase of the James Avenue Pumping Station Redevelopment. It will entail the construction of another six-storey building which will offer even more rental and retail space as well as underground parking for approximately 47 vehicles. What’s more, says architect Sasa Radulovic with 5468796 Architecture, the firm behind the design, the new developments will bring renewed visual appeal to the East Exchange, with designs calling for unique architecture, cantilevers and a variety of rental accommodations, including penthouse units with roof decks. “Our project is a combination of a number of different rehabilitation and urban strategies that creates a series of public spaces around the existing heritage building. Once completed, the pumping station will be a ‘gem’ preserved within a whole development, turning an eyesore into an amenity for the residents along Waterfront.” At time of print, phase 2 is awaiting proper permits and phase 3 is set to launch in 2018. And while challenged by the process and red tape typical in a heritage project of this nature, Alston says the effort is worth it:“Before all this work, the station was kind of an eyesore. Soon, though, it’s going to unlock the full potential of the area and add more housing and a lot of commercial space to the downtown area.” “Once this is all done, I think it will complete the link of Waterfront Drive,” he adds. a new development opportunity in the heart of the exchange district www.centreventure.com Market Lands