Paris Building, Winnipeg

Standing proudly at the corner of Portage Avenue and Garry Street, the Paris Building is one of Winnipeg’s most iconic early skyscrapers. Designed by local architects John Woodman and Raymond Marwood-Elton Carey, and constructed by Carter-Halls-Aldinger, the building was commissioned by Léon Honnorat of the Paris Canadian Investment Company and built in two phases: the first five stories in 1915, followed by an additional six in 1917. The expansion, overseen locally by Honnorat’s representative Marie Joseph Alain Magon de la Giclais, cleverly preserved the architectural flow, making the finished structure appear as a unified whole.

With its soaring columns, ornate cornice, and detailed Italian Renaissance embellishments, the Paris Building reflects the influence of the Chicago style while also signaling Winnipeg’s aspirations during a time of global uncertainty. Its transformation from a five-story commercial hub into an 11-story tower at the height of World War I stands as a bold architectural and civic statement.

Over the decades, the Paris Building has hosted a mix of tenants, including Dingwall’s Jewellers, Shea’s Custom Tailors, a modeling school, travel agencies, and the offices of the West Jewish News and the Western Canada Insurance Underwriters’ Association. Despite the changing occupants, the building has remained remarkably true to its original design.

Recognized for its architectural and historical significance, the Paris Building is a municipally-designated historic site. It has received Heritage Winnipeg Preservation Awards in both 1988 and 2004. Today, it remains a testament to Winnipeg’s early 20th-century urban vision, retaining much of its original charm-particularly in the main floor’s decorative elevator lobby, one of the few interior spaces given ornamental attention.