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A prototypical flatiron building — the only one of its kind in the city — the Gibson Block remains a landmark in the Boyle Street neighbourhood well over a century after its construction. Like many of Edmonton's surviving stock of early 20th century buildings, the Gibson Block was a byproduct of the city's commercial boom prior to the First World War. Commissioned by developer William Gibson, architect Arthur W. Cowley used the irregularities of the site to its fullest potential, producing a triangle-shaped structure with consistent fenestration, a uniform glass-fronted ground level, and prominent cornices above the first and fourth floors.
Fabricated out of concrete and brick in 1913, the building's unique floor plates housed retail space on the main level, offices on the upper floors, and Turkish Baths in the basement. The function of the building, largely aligning with changing economic conditions and societal attitudes, would substantially evolve over time. The offices were later converted into apartments while the baths were closed in 1978.
In the years that followed, the Gibson Block unfortunately suffered the same neglectful treatment that pre-war buildings across the country did at the time. But a complete restoration in 1994 by the Edmonton City Centre Church Corporation returned the building to its former glory.
A 1958 file photo shows the building looking a little worse for wear. Sooty shopfront awnings and crooked street lights line the sidewalk. Look just south and there's visible evidence of the now-defunct trolley bus network that replaced Edmonton's tram system, represented by overhead lines that form a web suspended metres above Jasper Avenue.
Today, both the condition of the building and the surrounding public realm have greatly improved. The new stone pavers and seating that make up The Armature have shifted the focus away from automobiles and towards the pedestrian experience. In the background, the city's downtown core has expanded up and around the Hotel Macdonald with the arrival of major commercial office towers in the 1970s and 1980s.
Toronto's Gooderham Building, Vancouver's Hotel Europe and Edmonton's Gibson Block are arguably Canada's premier examples of the once-popular flatiron style of architecture. Intrinsically serving as a gateway that heralds something of notable stature, the Gibson Block directs views towards the downtown core, as if to welcome residents and visitors alike to the heart of the city.
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