The first part of this building at the southwest corner of Harrow Street and Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg, designed by the local architectural firm of Moody and Moore, was constructed between 1957 and 1958 to accommodate engineers and administrative staff of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board.
In 1961, when the Board amalgamated with the Manitoba Power Commission to form Manitoba Hydro, more floor space was needed so a new wing, completed in early 1963 by the Trident Construction Company, extended the building westward along Taylor. The Commission's former office at 1075 Portage Avenue was vacated.
Finally, between 1966 and 1967, an additional two floors were added to the south wing of the building, and a single floor on the west wing, to bring it to its present four-storey configuration. In early 1963, the main entrance to the building was moved from the original location on the east side at 650 Harrow to the north side at 820 Taylor.
The building began to be vacated when a new corporate headquarters building opened at 360 Portage Avenue in 2009. It continued to house a small number of Manitoba Hydro staff but had been put up for sale and was mostly empty at the time of a 2020 site visit. In December 2023, it was announced publicly that the building had been sold to the Kinosao Sipi Business Development Corporation, the economic development arm of Norway House Cree Nation.
The former Manitoba Hydro Building (November 2020)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
The former Manitoba Hydro Building (November 2020)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
The former Manitoba Hydro Building (November 2020)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Aerial view of the former Manitoba Hydro Building (July 2023)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
The former Manitoba Hydro Building (December 2023)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.85663, W97.15545
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Moody and Moore / MMP Architects
Manitoba Business: Claydon Brothers Construction Company / Claydon Construction Limited
Manitoba Business: Manitoba Power Commission / Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board / Winnipeg Hydro / Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Business: Winnipeg Electric Railway Company / Winnipeg Electric Company
Fort Rouge Through the Years, Souvenir Booklet, 1974 by Fort Rouge Centennial Sports Committee, 1974, page 33.
Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg Architecture Foundation.
“First Nation buys former Hydro HQ on Taylor Avenue,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 December 2023.
We thank Maria Zbigniewicz and George Penner for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 26 December 2023
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