Architectural Considerations:

The Walker Power Building was presumably designed by architects J. E. Kinsey, Detroit, for Walker Sons Ltd and constructed in c.1911-1913 (Refer to Appendix C for Historical Images of property). The building is a significant landmark for the former Town of Walkerville, showcasing the early phase of the town’s development, and was built in at least two phases due to growing demands for industrial space.

The Walker Power Building demonstrates an early local example of the reinforced concrete construction (The new redevelopment project has incorporated insulation and cladded the concrete with limestone to retain similar historical forms and proportions.) Brick infill spandrel panels span within bays beneath the tripartite glazing system. The design may have been based off an industrial design by Albert Kahn, who built the first multi-storey reinforced concrete industrial building for the automobile industry in 1903 Kahn is known as the pioneer in concrete for the Packard Motor Car Company.1 industrial architecture and his design was revolutionary as the long-span construction using reinforced concrete beams and columns allowed for larger windows with more natural light, and fire resistance.1

The massing of the building is asymmetrical with three bays on the east end and six on the west end. It was built between rail lines and set back from diverging lines hence its asymmetrical form. The building has a recessed bay and tower on its south side, and another 1912 five storey tower on the southwest corner of the building with an additional unenclosed “sixth” storey. The building has an extensive use of windows through a tripartite glazing system that provides natural lighting. (Originally, the 1911 eastern portion of the building had six over six double hung sash windows in sets of three. The western portion of the building had a similar tripartite sash, but with each third composed of 16 to 20 fixed panes, with the exception of the center panels. The center panels consists of a center pivot six panel casement windows. The 2019 redevelopment includes a prefinished aluminum tripartite glazing system on the majority of upper floors, thus mimicking the appearance of the c.1911 glazing.)

A railroad turntable feature is located on the northwest end of the building footprint (Original built heritage and archaeological feature.)

The building is an example of early industrial architecture. The current owner, Walker Power Building Inc., bought the property which had been vacant for a number of years and envisioned the transformation of the building into a mix of office and commercial space. The resulting appearance of the rehabilitation project includes the limestone cladded over the concrete reinforced concrete structural frame, the retention of the original five storey tower at the southwest corner, a tripartite glazing system as well as brick infill spandrel panels within bays beneath the tripartite glazing system. Other new alterations to the original structure include the front entrance facing Riverside Drive East, the fifth storey roof addition, and the new/enlarged elevator tower on the south side of the building (Refer to Appendix D: Recent photos of property).

1 “Albert Kahn: Pioneer in concrete industrial architecture.” The Aberdeen Group. 1988.