The Structures

Learn about some of Edmonton's iconic and historic buildings!

Buildings come in different sizes and shapes, and can be made from a variety of materials. Buildings are where we live, work and play. People have been erecting structures in the Edmonton area for thousands of years, starting with the indigenous people who have long called this area home. The earliest building remaining in Edmonton is the Peter Erasmus House, built in the 1860s and now located at Fort Edmonton Park.

Over the past 150 years residential, commercial and industrial structures have been erected, added to, torn down and rebuilt. As time passed methods and styles went in and out of fashion, and the primary function of some neighbourhoods changed, while new neighbourhoods were developed. The result is a many-layered built landscape composed of hundreds of thousands of buildings representing multiple architectural styles. This website provides the opportunity to explore the city's built heritage by profiling the history and architecture of well-known and lesser-known buildings in Edmonton.

Showing 1 - 12 of 147 Structures
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97 Street Safeway

Built: 1929Commercial

In 1929, a new cash-and-carry grocery chain from the western United States arrived in Edmonton, bringing with it this Spanish Revival storefront.

Exterior view of Agency Building in Edmonton, circa 1972.

Agency Building

Built: 1912CommercialDemolished

This long, narrow building owed its shape to the high cost of land during Edmonton's first real estate boom.

Alberta Hotel, c. 1907

Alberta Hotel

Built: 1903ResidentialDemolished

The Alberta Hotel provided the last word in luxury in the early years of the twentieth century.

Exterior view of the Alberta Legislature, showcasing its architectural features, taken in 2013.

Alberta Legislature Building

Built: 1913Governmental

Among the most iconic buildings in Edmonton is the Legislature, which overlooks the river valley and is the seat of power for the provincial government.

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Argyll Substation (500)

Built: 1957Industrial and Manufacturing

This electrical substation was built at a time of expansion in the city's residential and industrial areas, and expansion with city-owned utilities.

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Arlington Apartments

Built: 1909ResidentialDemolished

Edmonton's first luxury apartment building.

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Armstrong Block

Built: 1912Commercial

The Armstrong Block is the only remaining heritage building specifically constructed for mixed use in Edmonton's downtown.

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Ash Residence

Built: 1912Residential

The Ash Residence is a 1912 Foursquare home with Craftsman influences.

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Athabasca, Assiniboia and Pembina Halls

NaNNaNEducational

These three Collegiate Gothic buildings are an important fixture on the University of Alberta campus.

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Balfour Manor

Built: 1912Residential

This early Moderne building was originally a fire hall before an extensive renovation in the 1930s.

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Bard Residence

Built: 1912Residential

This grand home was built by Indian Agent, entrepreneur and real estate speculator Delmar Bard and lived in by his family for three generations - over 80 years.

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Becker Residence

Built: 1913Residential

The unusual combination ofclinker brick and Foursquare design makes this home unique in Edmonton.