Heritage architect Lorne Simpson wins Calgary Award

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Thread updated June 2008 - see post below about Calgary Awards
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Architect's historical passion stems from grandpa's stories
David Parker, Calgary Herald
Published: Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Most architects I talk to want to be at the forefront of contemporary design, working on projects that allow them to create structures using the latest materials to build signature buildings they will be remembered for.

Not Lorne Simpson. The partner of Simpson Roberts Architecture Interior Design Inc. is quite happy conserving treasures designed initially by other architects that have made him the authority on local heritage buildings.

He says his interest in history and conservation probably spans back to listening to stories of his great-grandfather who homesteaded at the head of Saskatchewan's Long Lake. Living on a major flight path for migratory birds, he worked to preserve the habitats, which became an International Wildlife Conservation Area. On Saturday nights, he would cut neighbours' hair in his treasured barber's chair, where local history was a happening.

Simpson began his career with the former Graham McCourt Architecture, where he met his partner Chris Roberts. Together they worked on Medicine Hat City Hall, which won a Governor General's Award, but when the downturn came in the early 1980s, Simpson took it as an opportunity to study at York University in England and earned a master's in conservation from the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies.

On his return to Calgary, he and Roberts launched their own company, and while Roberts generally sticks to more contemporary design, Simpson works exclusively on historic projects.

He's been involved with the conservation of most of the heritage buildings in this city. It's a long list that includes a number of Stephen Avenue properties, such as the Leeson Lineham Block, facades of the Telus Convention Centre, and the Palace Theatre; the Pilkington Block in the Warehouse District, Heritage Hall at SAIT Polytechnic; and the Centre Street Bridge.

He was responsible for the cultural landscape at Reader Rock Garden Historic Site, which saw the rehabilitation of Reader's gardens -- with the help of consultants Len Novak and Donna Balzer --and the reconstruction of the demolished house from its original plans. It is now used as a restaurant and classroom.

Both the Lougheed House and Lougheed Block have benefited from his expertise in their restoration work and he has been working for almost six years in helping with the deferred maintenance program at the former YWCA building along 12th Avenue. Much of his work is not noticeable to the public, but the rebuilding of the portico from historic photos will surely grab a lot of attention.

So will Central Memorial Park -- the city's first and a major cultural landscape -- that is to get new lighting and a couple of buildings. One will house a cafe and the other will be used for the park's staff, public washrooms, and as storage space for event functions.

Another conservation landscape job is at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, where the Colonel Walker House is being worked on.

Among the several interesting projects Simpson is enjoying today is the historic conservation of the former Carl Safran School on 8th Street S.W., where the Calgary Board of Education plans to build its new offices. Working with principal designer Gibbs Gage Architects, Simpson says he is working on the envelope and will be able to save two classrooms, the principal's office and the assembly room on the top floor.

He's also worked a lot in the mountains and is currently

re-working the log structure that was home to photographer Byron Harmon as a private residence for Peter and Nan Poole.

The Victoria Park School proved to be an interesting venture that is now a classy home to Venture Communications, but Simpson says moving the 1919 wooden bungalow school to a new location directly to the south of the sandstone structure will be worth watching. And if you miss it, the monster move is being filmed by the U.K.'s Discovery Channel.

A lot of his time today is being spent at the old Dominion Bridge site along 24th Avenue S.E., where Torode Commercial is planning its huge mixed-use development. Simpson is responsible for conserving three historic structures that were built between 1926 and 1928. One will be converted to retail, one used as a deli-style grocery store, and the larger building has been gutted to the bare bones and upgraded to code ready for a new office tenant, Headplay Canada...


David Parker appears Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He can be reached at 830-4622 or e-mail info@davidparker.ca

[newsposter]

Lorne Simpson won the 2007 Calgary Award for Heritage, awarded on June 10. Lorne was nominated by the Calgary Heritage Initiative. President Janet Woolgar and Website Director Chris Edwards attended the event. (news release below)


CALGARY – The City of Calgary is presenting sixteen awards to
recipients of The City’s official citizen recognition
program, the Calgary Awards. Calgarians and local
organizations are being honoured by The City of Calgary for
their outstanding achievements and significant contributions
for improving the quality of life in Calgary. Mayor
Bronconnier and Members of City Council will recognize
recipients of the 2007 Calgary Awards on June 10 at a
ceremony in the Calgary Municipal Building.

The City has presented the Calgary Awards since 1994 to
honour members of the community who have made significant
contributions to improving the quality of life for other
Calgarians. The Calgary Awards recognize deserving
individuals, schools, corporations, community groups and
organizations.

The 2007 Calgary Awards recipients are:

The Community Achievement Awards:
Citizen of the Year – Michael Tims
Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement – Roger Jackson
Arts – Robert Eklund
Community Advocate – Jack McMullen
Community Advocate Organization – Federation of Calgary
Business Revitalization Zones Society (CBiZ)
Commerce – Wayne Chiu, Trico Homes Inc.
Education – Scott Bietz
Heritage – Lorne Simpson
Youth – Jane Wu

The Environmental Achievement Awards:
Corporate – Calgary Alternative Transportation Co-op (CATCO)

Educational Institution – University of Calgary, Child
Development Centre
Individual Achievement – Cathy Ryan
Not-For-Profit – Clean Calgary Association, Waste Wise
Community Outreach Program

Signature Award – Dr. Garnette Sutherland

The Award for Accessibility – Calgary Health Region, Alberta
Children’s Hospital

The City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize – Diane Guichon
for Birch Split Bark

The 2007 Calgary Awards presentation can be seen live on
Channel 10 Tuesday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. and will be re
-broadcast:
Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. and,
Sunday, June 15 at 12 p.m.

For more information on the awards, the recipients, or to
cover the awards ceremony, please contact:


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