In the course of our daily reporting, we often uncover unusual projects, places, or connections that don't make the final cut. Instead of keeping it to ourselves, we're pleased to share our Architrivia.

When Calgary was incorporated in 1893, its municipal boundaries were enlarged to include what became the Connaught-Beltline neighbourhood, which any follower of urban development will tell you, is currently experiencing a tremendous amount of growth. Businessman and founder of one of the world's largest meatpacking empires, Pat Burns, along with several esteemed politicians like James Lougheed, would reside in palatial homes within this suburban section of the city. The housing boom that brought wealth to Calgary before the First World War also spawned the construction of numerous fashionable apartment blocks in the district, providing modern homes for the city's fledging professional and business class.

Lorraine Block, image retrieved from Google Street View

Mayor Robert C. Marshall and Dr. Omer Patrick — prominent businessman, federal election campaign manager for R.B. Bennett, and one of the architects behind the establishment of the Calgary Zoo — lived in one of the district's most opulent apartment blocks. The site was purchased by Patrick and his brother-in-law John Adams in 1912 from Senator James Lougheed, and work on the property was swift. Dubbed the Lorraine Block, the four-storey, walk-up complex contained approximately 30 suites available for rent from $55 to $65 per month. The duo originally had plans to construct an additional apartment on the adjacent lot, but with the war ignited, the lucrative housing boom would come to an unceremonious end.

Architect James C. Teague designed the building, which blends elements of Beaux Arts architecture — including a central portico and pedimented parapet — with a local brick known for its distinct texture and colour. The interior of the building had been finished in Circassian walnut, until a debilitating fire gutted the structure in 1998. The exterior remained intact, and the interior was reconstructed as an office block.