Manitoba Hydro Building, Winnipeg
The Manitoba Hydro Building, also known as Manitoba Hydro Place (MHP), stands as a symbol of innovation and sustainability in downtown Winnipeg. Located on Portage Avenue, this 21-story office tower serves as the headquarters of Manitoba Hydro, the province’s electric and natural gas utility. Officially opened in 2009, it consolidates 1,650 employees from 15 different suburban offices into one state-of-the-art, 695,000-square-foot high-rise.
At 115 meters tall, it ranks as Winnipeg’s 4th tallest building and is one of the most energy-efficient office towers in North America. CBC once hailed it as one of "the most energy-efficient office towers in the world," while the Toronto Star described it as “the most important building in Canada.”
Designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects of Toronto, the building features a distinctive capital “A” shape when viewed from above. Two 18-story twin wings frame three 6-storey south-facing atria, or “winter gardens.” The three-story podium at street level includes retail spaces, an interior pedestrian street, and a partially below-grade parking level. Above this base rests the office wings and a three-story mechanical penthouse.
MHP is notable for its cutting-edge green technologies. It boasts a 377-foot solar chimney, a geothermal HVAC system with 280 deep-bore tubes reaching into an underground aquifer, and a double exterior wall with smart, computer-controlled vents. These systems provide 100% fresh air around the clock and allow the building to operate at 70% less energy than conventional office towers.
In recognition of its achievements, Manitoba Hydro Place received LEED Platinum certification in May 2012 and was honored with the Best Tall Building Americas award. It is also seamlessly connected to the Winnipeg Walkway system - a network of 14 skyways and 7 tunnels linking 38 buildings for over 2 kilometers of climate-controlled walking space.
The Manitoba Hydro Building is not only a cornerstone of modern architecture in Winnipeg but also a global model for sustainable design.
At 115 meters tall, it ranks as Winnipeg’s 4th tallest building and is one of the most energy-efficient office towers in North America. CBC once hailed it as one of "the most energy-efficient office towers in the world," while the Toronto Star described it as “the most important building in Canada.”
Designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects of Toronto, the building features a distinctive capital “A” shape when viewed from above. Two 18-story twin wings frame three 6-storey south-facing atria, or “winter gardens.” The three-story podium at street level includes retail spaces, an interior pedestrian street, and a partially below-grade parking level. Above this base rests the office wings and a three-story mechanical penthouse.
MHP is notable for its cutting-edge green technologies. It boasts a 377-foot solar chimney, a geothermal HVAC system with 280 deep-bore tubes reaching into an underground aquifer, and a double exterior wall with smart, computer-controlled vents. These systems provide 100% fresh air around the clock and allow the building to operate at 70% less energy than conventional office towers.
In recognition of its achievements, Manitoba Hydro Place received LEED Platinum certification in May 2012 and was honored with the Best Tall Building Americas award. It is also seamlessly connected to the Winnipeg Walkway system - a network of 14 skyways and 7 tunnels linking 38 buildings for over 2 kilometers of climate-controlled walking space.
The Manitoba Hydro Building is not only a cornerstone of modern architecture in Winnipeg but also a global model for sustainable design.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Winnipeg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Manitoba Hydro Building on Map
Sight Name: Manitoba Hydro Building
Sight Location: Winnipeg, Canada (See walking tours in Winnipeg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Winnipeg, Canada (See walking tours in Winnipeg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Winnipeg, Canada
Create Your Own Walk in Winnipeg
Creating your own self-guided walk in Winnipeg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Winnipeg Introduction Walking Tour
Winnipeg (or simply "The Peg", as the locals colloquially shorten it) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Manitoba. The latter is often lovingly referred to as "Friendly Manitoba" for the region's people's friendly vibe. As for the city's name "Winnipeg", it came from the nearby Lake Winnipeg, whose own name, in turn, is derived from the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Saint Boniface Walking Tour
"In the heart of Winnipeg, where the river flows and the spirit of voyageurs still dances in the air, the soul of French-Canadian culture beats in Saint Boniface."
Before the European settlers arrived, the area on the east bank of the Red River was inhabited by the indigenous First Nations people. In 1818, a French-Canadian clergyman named Joseph-Norbert Provencher, one of the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Before the European settlers arrived, the area on the east bank of the Red River was inhabited by the indigenous First Nations people. In 1818, a French-Canadian clergyman named Joseph-Norbert Provencher, one of the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles