Buildings

St. James Collegiate, St. James-Assiniboia School Division.

Address:1900 Portage Avenue
Use:Educational
Original Use:Educational
Constructed:1950
Other Work:East annex, 1954; Gym, 1958; Vocational, 1963; Theatre, 1966; Gym, 2001
Architects:J. N. Semmens
Engineers:E. S. Kent

More Information

Within the large and vibrant campus of St. James Collegiate, there is a visual epicentre which is the original high school building with its striking modern north elevation gazing confidently onto Portage Avenue.

Design Characteristics

Suburb:Bruce Park, St. James- Assiniboia
  • It is two storys high in brown brick and restrained stone trim, with projecting entry towers near either end of the facade, windows containing clear glass and glass block that reveal each room, including the twelve academic classrooms, an auditorium with a stage, shops for woodworking and domestic science, a library and four big science labs in the original design
  • J. N. Semmens was retained a second time to design the east annex in 1954, which tucks behind and to the side of the first sections and marks the beginning of the gradual but steady growth of the campus
  • While later additions never attempted to continue the stylistic theme of the original building, neither did they overshadow or even compete with it, so the front remains the visual focus even while the collegiate unravels a good distance to the south and east, even so far as to contain another school with in - the George Waters Middle School on the east side facing Ferry Road