Strathcona Public Building
Encyclopedia
The Strathcona Public Building or South Edmonton Post Office is an historic building in the Old Strathcona
heritage district of Edmonton
.
The building was constructed between 1911 and 1913, during a massive building boom in the Edmonton area, and at the same time that the city of Strathcona, Alberta
(also called South Edmonton) was being merged into the city of Edmonton. It was designed by David Ewart
, the Chief Architect of the Canadian Department of Public Works in an Edwardian
Classical
Free
style. The building originally served as a post office
and general federal government office building
. In 1985 the building became a Provincial Historic Resource of Alberta.
the building has been divided into a number of restaruants and bars. The top floor is The Billiard Club, a pool hall
. Since the early 1990s the middle floor has been home to Chianti Cafe, which serves Italian food, and is part of a chain based in Calgary and established in 1984. The basement floor hosts Squires Pub, a lounge
/nightclub
.
The building is very similar to the former post office in Regina
, which was designed by the same architect.
Old Strathcona
Old Strathcona is an historic district located in south-central Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Once the commercial core of the separate city of Strathcona, the area is now Edmonton's main arts and entertainment district, and in 2007 was named Alberta's second "Provincial Historic Area"...
heritage district of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
.
The building was constructed between 1911 and 1913, during a massive building boom in the Edmonton area, and at the same time that the city of Strathcona, Alberta
Strathcona, Alberta
Strathcona was a city in Alberta, Canada, located on the south of the North Saskatchewan River opposite of the City of Edmonton. It amalgamated with Edmonton on February 1, 1912....
(also called South Edmonton) was being merged into the city of Edmonton. It was designed by David Ewart
David Ewart
David Ewart was a Canadian architect who served as Chief Dominion Architect from 1896 to 1914.As chief government architect he was responsible for many of the federal buildings constructed in this period...
, the Chief Architect of the Canadian Department of Public Works in an Edwardian
Edwardian architecture
Edwardian architecture is the style popular when King Edward VII of the United Kingdom was in power; he reigned from 1901 to 1910, but the architecture style is generally considered to be indicative of the years 1901 to 1914....
Classical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
Free
Free plan
The free plan, as it relates to architecture refers to an open plan with non load-bearing partitions dividing interior space. In this structural system, the building structure is separate of interior partitions...
style. The building originally served as a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and general federal government office building
Federal Building
A federal building refers to government building built to host the regional offices of various government departments and agencies in countries with a federal system, especially when the central government is referred to as the "federal government".- Canada :...
. In 1985 the building became a Provincial Historic Resource of Alberta.
the building has been divided into a number of restaruants and bars. The top floor is The Billiard Club, a pool hall
Pool hall
A billiard/billiards, pool or snooker hall is a place where people get together for playing cue sports such as pool, snooker or carom billiards...
. Since the early 1990s the middle floor has been home to Chianti Cafe, which serves Italian food, and is part of a chain based in Calgary and established in 1984. The basement floor hosts Squires Pub, a lounge
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
/nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
.
The building is very similar to the former post office in Regina
Prince Edward Building (Regina)
The Prince Edward Building is the current official name of the historic post office building in Regina, Saskatchewan, located at the corner of Scarth Street and 11th Avenue. The site had been occupied by Knox Presbyterian Church until it was demolished.The post office was designed in the...
, which was designed by the same architect.