Manitoba Legislative Building

Manitoba Legislative Building
Name	Manitoba Legislative Building
Caption	The Manitoba Legislative Building overlooking the Assiniboine River
Coordinates	49, 53, 02, N...
Building type	Legislative building
Architectural style	Neoclassical, Beaux-Arts
Cost	CAD $8 million (1919)
Location	450 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Client	Government of Manitoba
Owner	Crown in Right of Manitoba
Current tenants	Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Start date	1913
Completion date	1920
Inauguration date	July 15, 1920
Height	77 meters (Golden Boy)
Floor area	23,225 m² (250,000 sq ft)
Main contractor	Thomas Kelly
Architect	Frank Worthington Simon and Henry Boddington III

Contents

History
Architecture and design
Interior features
Grounds and surroundings
Legislative functions
Cultural significance

Manitoba Legislative Building is the meeting place of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the seat of the provincial government. Located at 450 Broadway in Winnipeg, the imposing structure was constructed between 1913 and 1920 during a period of significant growth for the Prairie province. Designed in a grand Neoclassical and Beaux-Arts style, the building is renowned for its elaborate architectural symbolism, its iconic Golden Boy statue, and its role as a central landmark in the capital region.

History

The decision to construct a new legislative building was made following the rapid expansion of Manitoba after its entry into Confederation and the completion of the transcontinental railway. The cornerstone was laid in 1913 by James Albert Manning Aikins, the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. Construction, led by contractor Thomas Kelly, was severely hampered by the outbreak of the First World War, causing material shortages and labor disputes. The building was finally opened on July 15, 1920, by Aikins's successor, Sir James Aikins|James Albert Manning Aikins. The total cost, approximately CAD $8 million, was a source of considerable controversy at the time, leading to the Manitoba Legislature Scandal and a royal commission investigation.

Architecture and design

The building was designed by architects Frank Worthington Simon, a pupil of Sir John James Burnet, and Henry Boddington III, incorporating principles of Beaux-Arts composition and Ancient Greek and Roman motifs. Its design is heavily infused with Hermetic, Masonic, and Egyptian mythological symbolism, intended by Simon to represent a "Temple of Democracy". The structure is built primarily of Tyndall stone, a fossil-rich limestone quarried near Garson. The most prominent exterior feature is the Golden Boy, a 5.25-meter gilded bronze statue of the god Hermes atop the dome, created by French sculptor Georges Gardet.

Interior features

The interior is organized around the majestic rotunda, which features a stunning terrazzo floor inlaid with a massive vesica piscis pattern and a bronze bison at its center. The Legislative Chamber, where the Assembly meets, is adorned with English oak paneling and features a stained-glass window depicting the Royal Arms. Other notable rooms include the Lieutenant Governor's suite, the Grand Staircase with its alabaster lamps, and the Pool of the Black Star, an underground brass-lined chamber. The building houses an extensive collection of portraits of former premiers and lieutenant governors.

Grounds and surroundings

The building occupies a 30-acre site on the north bank of the Assiniboine River, forming the heart of the Legislative District in downtown Winnipeg. The grounds are landscaped with formal gardens, memorials, and statues, including the Memorial to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and a statue of Louis Riel, the Métis leader. The area is part of the broader Assiniboine Park system and is flanked by other significant institutions such as the Manitoba Museum and the Hotel Fort Garry. The site offers panoramic views of the The Forks national historic site.

Legislative functions

As the seat of the provincial government, the building is the primary workplace for the Legislative Assembly, its 57 elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and the Executive Council (Cabinet). The Chamber is where provincial statutes are debated and passed, Throne Speeches are delivered by the Lieutenant Governor, and Question Period is held. The building also contains offices for the Premier, the Speaker, and Clerk, as well as committee rooms and legislative libraries.

Cultural significance