Electric Railway Chambers, Winnipeg

The Electric Railway Chambers, completed in 1913, stands as one of Winnipeg’s finest and oldest office towers. Located at the prominent corner of Notre Dame Avenue and Albert Street, in the heart of the historic Exchange District, this eleven-story structure was built for the Winnipeg Electric Railway Company-once responsible for both the city’s electric streetcars and its first hydroelectric utility.

Designed in the Renaissance Revival style with strong elements of the Sullivanesque Chicago School, the building reflects early 20th-century aspirations toward modernity and urban sophistication. Its terra-cotta façade is richly detailed and famously incorporated some 6,000 electric lights, making it an eye-catching spectacle by night-a clever nod to the company's own role in electrifying the city.

The Chambers was designed by Chicago architect Charles Frost, with local oversight by Pratt and Ross, and was constructed between 1912 and 1913 using steel provided by Dominion Bridge and built by Carter-Halls-Aldinger.

Beyond its architectural elegance, the Chambers holds poignant historical value. In 1917, the company published an Honour Roll listing employees who had enlisted in World War I. Twenty-eight were known at the time to have died from wounds, though later research has revealed over 60 fatalities among the enlisted employees.

Today, the Electric Railway Chambers remains a landmark of Manitoba’s architectural heritage. It is recognized for its exceptional level of preservation-both in its ornate exterior and the main-floor interiors. As part of the Exchange District National Historic Site of Canada, it continues to symbolize Winnipeg’s pivotal role in Canada’s early 20th-century economic development.