Places

Buildings

Best Western Hotel

Address:330 York Avenue
Use:Hotel
Original Use:Hotel
Other Work:1960, 1969, Addition
1990, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002 Interior renovations
Architects:Waisman Ross & Associates
Firms:Waisman Ross & Associates
Contractors:,a href="https://www.winnipegarchitecture.ca/akman-construction/">A. Akman & Son Co. Ltd.

More Information

Designed by architects Waisman and Ross, 330 York Avenue was built between 1959 and 1960. Similar to other hotels of this era, including the Gordon Downtowner and the Quest Inn, the building features west-facing exterior balconies, a patio restaurant, swimming pool and ample parking. The building was originally advertised as a motor inn offering ample accommodations for those traveling by car with 96 rooms. During this time the hotel was known as the Chater House Hotel.

In 2002 the hotel was sold to Best Western, a chain hotel company. This prompted a $2.5 million renovation to both the interior and exterior of the building. The $1.5 million exterior renovation included an expansion to the restaurant and cocktail room, windows were added to the main level of the building, and the main entrance was moved from York avenue to Hargrave Street. The interior renovation was meant to update the decor and redesign it to match the look of the chain.

Design Characteristics

  • 1959 building: 4 storeys, 72 rooms
  • 1960 building: 1 storey, 24 rooms (96 units total)
  • Plan area: 8,154 sq. ft. (757.51 sq. m)
  • Gross floor area: 55,570 sq. ft. (5,162.45 sq. m)
  • The five storey motel is constructed using a protected steel frame and infill masonry walls faced with brick
  • The restaurant portion of the building is faced in smooth, machine-dressed Tyndall stone.
  • The building has since gone through a few renovations, being a Best Western, which have altered the exterior paint job. Currently the building is a red and charcoal colour.

Sources

  • "Charterhouse Motor Hotel," Greater Winnipeg Industrial Topics, 20, 4 (April 1960), p. 3.
  • "First Hotel in Twenty Years," Western Construction and Building, 10, 10 (October 1958), pp. 5-6.
  • Mary Ann FitzGerald, "Tax-loaded business cries it's had enough," Winnipeg Free Press, September 1, 1992, p. C26.
  • Greater Winnipeg Industry Topics, 18, 9 (November 1958), pp. 10-11.
  • "Luxury Motel Opens," Western Construction and Building, 12, 5 (May 1960), p. 34.
  • "Motels-Hotels-Apartments-Restaurants," Greater WInnipeg Industrial Topics, 22, 2 (March 1962), no pp.
  • "Our Hotel Accomodation is Growing By 200 Rooms a Year," Greater Winnipeg Industrial Topics, 25, 1 (February 1965), p. 4.
  • "Syndicate to Build $1 Million Hotel in Downtown Winnipeg," Winnipeg Tribune, October 15, 1958, p. 25.
  • "Winnipeg's Charter House - Part of World Wide Organization," Manitoba Business Journal, 2, 5 (April/May 1966), p. 111.