38 BUILD MANITOBA winnipegconstruction.ca The next obstacle was determining how to restore the buildings’ distinct interiors while adhering to current fire codes. This meant installing sprinklers and related equipment in a way that would not detract from the properties’ original look. Complying with current fire codes also meant potentially closing the Fortune Building’s iconic central open staircase. Given that this would dramatically alter the look and feel of the interior, the team consulted with outside experts RJ Bartlett Engineering to find another way. “We really wanted to keep that centre heritage staircase, but it wasn’t going to meet code in its original design,” explains Ryan Pollard who, among his various roles, shares the duty of Site Supervisor with his business partner, Jeremy Ritsema. “Fortunately, we came up with a way of complying with those codes using the two other stairs, which allowed us to keep as much of that original design as possible.” PICTURE PERFECT Structural elements notwithstanding, one of the team’s largest challenges was recreating the Fortune Block’s original design. This meant poring over old photos and construction drawings, as well as taking cues from surviving infrastructure. In the end, Jilmark Construction was successful in replicating the exterior cornice and reconstructing the Fortune Building’s original columns. “I think people will be hard pressed to figure out which of the original columns are ours and which were there before, which is something we’re all proud of,” says Regehr-Wiens. Care was also taken to either restore or preserve many of the features “unearthed” throughout the restoration. These included faded signs from former tenants, the raw trunk of a pine tree which once served as a structural column, and artifacts such as old newspapers, bottles and other long-forgotten items. Crews also came across a harmonica from the 1880s which they gifted to the Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club. “This whole experience has been rewarding for everyone involved,” says Regehr-Wiens. “It’s been like working on a piece of art, and we’re very excited to see how the city and future tenants react to our final creation.” THE COST OF PRESERVATION Breathing new life in two of Winnipeg’s oldest properties may be rewarding, but it doesn’t come cheap. While the final tally is undisclosed, the project has well exceeded its initial $5 million estimate. Nevertheless, Pollard adds, the outcome is worth the investment: “We always want to save our heritage buildings, but in many cases it simply isn’t financially possible. Fortunately, we were able to do this project without worrying too much about making a financial return, which is what allowed us to do what we did.” Indeed, says Cruz Cázares, the opportunity to return the Fortune Block to its former glory has been of benefit not only to the team, but to the city as a whole: “The Fortune Building is a jewel in the city, so we’re thankful to work with a client that really understood its significance and was willing to go to great lengths to restore it to its original state.” Plans are to open the Fortune Building and Macdonald Block’s 20,000 sq. ft. of space for tenants, and, hopefully, position the buildings as a catalyst for future restorations. Adds Ryan Pollard, “This area of downtown is poised for a little bit of a renaissance over the next few years, and hopefully this project will mark the beginning of that renewal.” Photos by Douglas Little Photography