Pumphouse Commercial and Residential Building by 5468796 Architecture

Revitalizing Heritage Through Adaptive Reuse in Winnipeg

The Pumphouse Commercial and Residential Building, designed by 5468796 Architecture, is an innovative mixed-use redevelopment that breathes new life into Winnipeg’s James Avenue Pumping Station. Originally built in 1906 to enhance the city’s water supply, the station was decommissioned in 1986 and faced numerous failed revitalization attempts. Now, through a strategic blend of adaptive reuse and modern infill, this project preserves the industrial heritage while introducing sustainable, multi-family housing and vibrant commercial spaces.

A Bold Approach to Historic Preservation

Located within the Exchange District National Historic Site, this redevelopment embraces the Pumping Station as a "found object", maintaining the original brick structure while integrating it into a new urban fabric. The project consists of:

• A revitalized Pumping Station, repurposed as an office and restaurant.
• Two residential buildings, flanking the historic site, providing much-needed attainable housing.

By leveraging the existing gantry crane structure, the architects suspended a floating office floor above the pump hall machinery. This not only showcases the building’s industrial history but also maximizes space efficiency while maintaining visual and physical connections to its past.

Sustainable Design Meets Urban Density

To make the project viable, a zoning amendment allowed for a five-story residential building on a narrow 40-foot lot, reintroducing the original industrial streetscape. These multi-family residential blocks incorporate 100-year-old Nail Laminated Timber (NLT), a sustainable construction method historically used in the district’s warehouses.

Key sustainability strategies include:

• Steel stud walls and stiffening bars, which reduce glazing thickness and cut embodied carbon emissions by half.
• Floor-to-ceiling glazing and new skylights, maximizing natural light and reducing reliance on artificial lighting.
• Open-air egress pathways, transforming traditional corridors into outdoor social spaces that enhance ventilation and community interaction.

Enhancing Connectivity & Community Engagement

Rather than isolating the heritage structure, the project weaves new and old together through a network of pedestrian-friendly spaces. The residential buildings are slightly offset, creating laneways and plazas that respect the original footprint while enhancing public accessibility.

Urban design elements include:

• Public plazas & amphitheaters, fostering community interaction.
• Bridges connecting residential units, reinforcing social connectivity.
• Skip-stop apartment layouts, reducing wasted corridor space while improving natural ventilation and daylighting.

A Model for Future Urban Revitalization

The Pumphouse project is not just a preservation effort—it’s a forward-thinking model for how cities can balance heritage conservation, sustainability, and urban density. As Winnipeg undergoes significant transformation, this development demonstrates how historical structures can be reimagined as catalysts for modern living, setting a precedent for adaptive reuse in urban settings.

All Photographs are works of James Brittain