“The Revillon Building and the Boardwalk are two of the most cherished and recognizable buildings in Edmonton,” said Principal Heritage Planner David Johnston. “Although the two buildings have served many purposes over the decades, their architectural beauty remains largely unchanged. This heritage designation will help ensure both buildings are repaired and renovated in a respectful manner which honours their history.”
Both the Revillon Building and the Boardwalk will receive a grant of $500,000 each to help with the cost of renovations and repairs.
The Boardwalk
The Boardwalk (previously known as the Ross Brothers Ltd. warehouse) was built in three stages in 1910, 1928 and 1940, The Ross Brothers Ltd. warehouse served as a wholesale trading centre to the region. Sitting on a Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) spur line, the Boardwalk processed goods unloaded directly from railroad cars onto chutes and large electric freight elevators, to be weighed on industrial scales, then stored on upper floors constructed of solid wood. The building was a particular achievement for Fred and James Ross who started with a small hardware store which grew into a large operation centering on the Boardwalk building.
Although it was built for an industrial use, the building was designed for beauty and civic pride in the Second Renaissance Style with its facade of springing arches and parapet cornice. The building was constructed of local brick, fashioned by the J.B. LIttle Brickyards in Riverdale, with the arches and lintels lined with stone. The interior is built with stacked Douglas Fir beams designed to carry heavy warehouse loads.
After the Ross Brothers, the building was owned by a succession of other companies, including the J.W. Ashdown Hardware Company, which explains the letter “A” on the elevator penthouse visible along 103 Street, as well as the painted ghost sign on the east and south walls. In the 1970s, a consortium converted the building from industrial to commercial uses, built the distinctive wooden sidewalk, and rebranded the building as the Boardwalk.
The Revillon Building
The Revillon Building, completed in 1912, was built for one of the largest fur manufacturers in the world, the Revillon Frères Company. The solid Chicago Commercial Style structure is defined by its expression of an exposed concrete base and brick infill. The building served as a warehouse for Revillon Frères, which turned raw Canadian fur into luxury goods sold in global centres such as Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, New York and Tokyo.
