Buildings
155 Smith Street
| Address: | 155 Smith Street |
|---|---|
| Use: | La Roca, Restaurant |
| Original Use: | Hertz Rent-a-car office & shop |
| Constructed: | 1968–69 |
| Other Work: | 1981, Addition and interior renovated for use by restaurant 1990, Extra windows and moving the entrance 2016, Addition and two level patio |
| Architects: | Charles Faurer |
| Firms: | Design and Project Services (1981) |
| Engineers: | Tony Eashmede & Associates (1981) |
| Contractors: | Roz-Mar Building Industries |
More Information
Several reincarnations have altered this building so thoroughly that one can only glimpse at its original design. Architect Charles Faurer made the original plans in 1968 for Hertz Rent-a-car, including offices, a car wash, maintenance garage and parking lot. Western Cassions sank the foundation supports.
In 1981 an addition was added to the South East corner of the building. This addition was 58x21 ft and two storey high. It was meant as extra space for a kitchen and office. The 1981 renovations also included covering the brick exterior in stucco panelling, reworking the windows, and added a canopy above the building's main entrance. Rearranging of the interior also left the building with a new main entrance at the South West corner of the building, facing the Smith Street and York Avenue intersection.
In 1990 the entrance was moved once more to be centred facing Smith Street. Another aspect of this renovation was the addition of a few more windows.
The current tenant of the building is La Roca, a Mexican restaurant and bar. Before this opening there was once again a large interior and exterior renovation. The renovation included an addition of 1,000 square feet of space on the building as well as two level patio that added an additional 2,500 square feet of space to the building
Design Characteristics
| Suburb: | Downtown |
|---|
- The original structure was 94 by 35 feet, one storey, and of masonry construction (brick over concrete block)
- A 1990 renovation of the buildings exterior moved the main entrance to the centre of the building facing Smith Street, it's current location
- two level patio at the rear of the building
Sources
- Winnipeg Free Press archives: Mar 24, 2016