This 3½-storey, 25-suite apartment block on Roslyn Road in Winnipeg was designed by local architect William Dangerfield Lount and built between 1951 and 1952 by his father Frank Reade Lount at a cost of about $110,000. It was the first building in Canada, and the second in North America, to be built using the lift-slab method. Its concrete foundation was poured in Fall 1951 and the upper floor slabs were poured and raised between December 1951 and early 1952. The building was ready for occupation by Spring 1952.
The building was damaged in a fire on 27 November 1975 but was restored. Vacated in June 2022, the building was demolished in April 2023 to be replaced by a larger, residential structure.
Saigon Apartments before the 1975 fire (no date)
Source: Winnipeg Building Index
Saigon Apartments (January 2023)
Source: George Penner
Saigon Apartments (April 2023)
Source: Alisa Kehler
Saigon Apartments under demolition (April 2023)
Source: Alisa KehlerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88100, W97.14475
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: William Dangerfield “Bill” Lount (1914-1997)
Memorable Manitobans: Frank Reade Lount (1890-1976)
“Lift-slab building method weird but advantageous,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 November 1951, page 6.
“Apartment’s second floor rises - really,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 December 1951, page 29.
“Work started on $550,000 suite block,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 May 1952, page 1.
“Four injured in fire,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 November 1975, page 1.
“Demolition approved for vacant Osborne Village building,” CTV News, 6 January 2023.
We thank Alisa Kehler for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by George Penner and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 29 April 2023
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