City Hall on New Year’s Eve – 71 Main St W
Tag Archives: #architecture
Heritage Spotlight: Landed Banking and Loan Company Building
At the corner of Main and James sits a bite of The Big Apple. The Landed Banking and Loan Company Building, designed by Charles Mills, is a direct descendent of New York City’s Knickerbocker Trust and Safe Deposit Bank building.
Finished in 1908, The Landed Banking and Loan Company building is the oldest remaining bank building in Hamilton. Although it’s inspired by another building, the old bank has it’s own unique features. Between the floors a wall panel makes the pilasters less prominent, but it’s presence is just as commanding. The exterior is composed of Indiana limestone and also consists of large-scale entablature, and a balustrade.
Located at Fifth Ave and 34th street in New York City, the Knickerbocker Trust and Safe Deposit Bank building was designed in the Beaux-Art tradition by the firm of McKim, Mead and White. Completed in 1903, the three-storey Classic Revival bank consisted of a Vermont marble exterior, colossal Doric columns, pilasters, and traditional Corinthian orders. The transition between the facades demonstrated responsiveness to context, while the entablature and balustrade added a masterful touch.
From left to right: The Knickerbocker Trust Company in 1904; the 1921 addition; and how it looks today
When first commissioned, the Knickerbocker Trust and Safe Deposit Bank building was meant to be 13 stories. However, the solution to super-impose an additional 9-storey element didn’t come to fruition until 1921 when ten stories were added. The building was redesigned in 1958 and is now unrecognizable.
In 1986 the Landed Banking and Loan Company Building was granted heritage status. There have been minor repairs to the building, including the removal of a night safe deposit box on the west elevation. With the Canadian flag flying high, the building is one of the city’s most treasured pieces of built heritage.
Hamilton 1, New York 0
Filed under Architecture, Heritage, History
Architectural Spotlight: Lynden Library
Photo Courtesy: Hamilton Public Library
Lynden Library
McCallum Sather Architects Inc
110 Lynden Road
Completed: January 2013
Nestled in the quaint hamlet of Lynden is the recently finished Hamilton Public Library, Lynden Branch. Set back from the road, the single-storey, 4,000 square foot library employs two distinct contexts of both rural and urban building design.
The exterior of the building consists primarily of a brown brick veneer, a look that integrates well with the library’s surroundings. Punched individual windows and large corner windows give a noticeable touch to the building’s exterior.
Above the covered entrance of the library are shaded and ventilated upper clerestory windows that provide the atrium with ample natural lighting.
Inside the library, exposed glulam beams compliment the upper clerestory windows, giving the space a warm, rustic feel.
The children’s corner has punched windows at varying levels with colourful tints that add liveliness to the area.
Next to the children’s corner is a casual seating area where parents can watch their children or read in comfort.
The large open floor of the library allows for more social interaction, as well as better visibility for staff and patrons.
The library also has a Teen Room equipped with computers, a smaller room for meetings, and a sufficient stock of books.
The library has a long list of sustainability features including an energy savings of over 35% than required by the Ontario Building Code. To reduce the light power output, occupancy sensors control the lighting. Many components of the building’s structure, including the brick veneer, contain recycled materials.
Filed under Architecture
PHOTO OF THE DAY – October 26th
National Steel Car gatehouse – 602 Kenilworth N, Hamilton
October 26, 2013 · 5:07 pm
PHOTO OF THE DAY – October 23th
A dovecote at Dundurn Castle – 610 York Blvd, Hamilton
October 23, 2013 · 8:02 pm
Architectural Spotlight: Construction House
Construction House
John J. Harkness
York Boulevard
Built: May 1984
Built in 1984, the Construction House was a joint venture project aimed to create a space to house the local construction association offices.
The single-storey, 7 500 square foot office building was designed by architect John J. Harkness. The exterior of the building consists of an orange brick with a wavy enclave of windows along the southwestern side, creating an eye-catching wall that faces York Boulevard.
A three sided semi-circular copper-roofed canopy covers the entrance located on Ray Street. The parapet is also clad with now oxidized copper, adding another striking visual touch to the building’s exterior.
The building’s interior was originally used for offices, a plan room, industry library, and meeting rooms.
When opened, the Construction House was (and remains) home to the Hamilton Construction Association, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Hamilton, the Electrical Construction Association of Hamilton, and the Hamilton and District Sheet Metal Contractors Inc. These participating associations represented a total membership of over 500 companies.
The members created the Construction House out of confidence in the long-term growth of the Hamilton area and to bring together the major organizations of the industry.
Filed under Architecture
PHOTO OF THE DAY – September 6th
Landed Banking and Loan Company Building – 47 James St. S, Hamilton
September 6, 2013 · 5:00 pm
PHOTO OF THE DAY – August 13th
Workers Arts & Heritage Centre – 51 Stuart St, Hamilton
August 13, 2013 · 7:08 pm
PHOTO OF THE DAY – June 18th
Medical Arts Building – 179 James St S, Hamilton
June 18, 2013 · 10:25 pm
Rebuild Hamilton 