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The Lancaster Building on historic Stephen Avenue at 2 Street SW has received renewed attention thanks to the arrival of Quebec City-based fashion retailer La Maison Simons. The nine-storey building sets aside 96,000 square feet of internal space for the five-level store, the second outpost in the province and the 14th location in Canada.
Simons is just the latest occupant in the century-old building, which has become a long-standing staple at the intersection. Scottish-born owner and developer J.S. Mackie hired Victoria architect James Teague to design one of the first major steel-frame skyscrapers in Calgary. He devised an Edwardian Commercial style building treated with brick pilasters, a prominent cornice, and a terra cotta base. Construction would begin in 1913, but the onset of the First World War delayed progress, leaving only the steel shell complete. By 1918, the building was open, and by 1939, it accommodated over 150 firms and 1,000 employees.
Also known as the Mackie Block, the building's official designation was inspired by the House of Lancaster, one of the primary participants in the bloody English civil conflicts throughout the 15th century that developed into the War of the Roses.
Architect Harold Hanen was appointed to renovate and add a penthouse floor to the Lancaster Building in 1978. His sensitive work won him the adoration of his colleagues, winning a Heritage Canada Award in 1980. The addition of Simons brought some minor cosmetic enhancements to the building's aesthetic. Some windows have been lined with softly lit, green-coloured drapery to reflect the branding of the company.
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