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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS,On A Clear Day, You’ll See As Far North As SelkirkBy RALPH BAGLEYHow would you like to stand near the corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street in Winnipeg, look to the north, and see the water tower at the town of Selkirk, some 20 miles away?Impossible?Today, yes. But, later this year, you will be able to do just that from the public observation level of the new Richardson Building which is nearing completion at No. 1 Lombard Place',At least, they claim that you can aetully see the SelkirkThe Richardson Building stands out in this aerial view,looking to the north up Main Street, with the Royal Bank Building on the lower left corner.water tower on a clear day. The day we had our tour of the city’s tallest building it was not clear enough, to see that far..But, we were impressed with the fine view of the city near the top of the 32-storey building, and we were pleased to hear that the 31st floor has been set aside as an observation area, from which visitors will be able to look out over the city in all directions.The Richardson Building is rapidly nearing completion and the first occupants will be mcving in late this summer or early in the fall. An official opening is planned about a month after, the first tenants move in.Once the budding is in use, visitors will be able to take advantage of this new view of the city. Initially, at least, there will be no charge, but officials are not yet certain whether or not it will be necessary to charge for admission to the observation level later.Actually, the visitors will be getting the top view in the building, for the 31st is the top floor of the building for general use. The levels above are taken up with the building's cheating and air conditioning equipment.Top office space in the towering structure will be occupied by the Richardson family of firms, Honrs 25 to 30 will house James Richardson and Sons Ltd., Richardson Securites of Canada,'Pioneer Grain Co. Ltd., Richardson Terminals Ltd., Armstrong and Taylor Ltd. and Richardson Realty Ltd,Other major tenants of the building will be; Air Canada, five floors: Federal Grain Ltd., two floors. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, two floors; and Price Waterhouse and Co., one floor. Other occupants will be announced later, some occupying entire floors, others with smaller space.The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will have facilities on the main floor as well as in the basement concourse, which will be connected to the new Winnipeg Inn, now under construction to the east of the Richardson Building;The Richardson Building and the Winnipeg Inn are the first two projects in the overall $40,000,000 Lombard Place development. Completion date for the 18-storey hotel is scheduled for the summer of 1970.Other structures planned on the PA-acre site include a 400-car parking garage to the east of the hotel, to be started shortly; a new building for the Bank of Canada, to be started this year; and a second office tower, to be constructed in the future.But, it is the Richardson Building itself which has attracted the major interest in Winnipeg construction circles. Winnipeggers have watched with interest as the building grew to its full height, 407 feet above street level.The whole program started back in July, 1967, when the caissons were commenced. Excavation for the big building started on Oct. 19 of that year, A little more than a year later, on Nov. 4, 1968, the topping-off ceremony was held and the final concrete was poured on the top level.Since that date, the exterior of the building has changed little, but there has been a regular bee-hive of activity inside as workers continue toward the proposed opening this summer.The building is perfectly square, measuring 137 feet on .each of its four- sides. It is free of columns from its central core to the outer walls and this, coupled with the square design, .provides maximum flexibility for partioning of offices.Each floor provides about 16,500 square feet of office space. Each floor also features windows from near-floor to the ceiling.Four low-rise elevators will serve up to the 17th floor of building at a speed of 500 feet per minue. Six high-rise elevators will serve from the 17th floor to the top of the building at a speed of 500 feet per minute. Six high-riseAnd, if you feel like walking to the top, we were Informed that there are 75J5 steps up the staircase. No, we didn’t count 'em — we took a workman’s word for tt.TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1969 Progress•— 27The View From Observation LevelLarge windows reaching almost from floor to ceiling give a clear view in all directions from the observation level of the new Richardson Building, Tim is the view looking west along Portage Avenue that visitors will be able to see when the building opens.
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Tue, Apr 29, 1969
Page 95
Full Page
Clipped by
Jay F.
CA 25 Jul 2020
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