Public Safety Building, Government headquarters in Exchange District, Winnipeg, Canada
The Public Safety Building was a six-story Brutalist structure from the 1960s with a limestone facade located in downtown Winnipeg. The structure contained courtrooms, detention cells, communications centers, and administrative offices for various police department divisions across multiple floors.
The building opened in 1966 and served as the main headquarters for the Winnipeg Police Service for over 50 years. Its demolition in 2020 resulted from structural damage caused by the region's harsh winter conditions.
The building reflected 1960s Canadian institutional design through its fortress-like form that integrated with the historic warehouse landscape. Its imposing presence shaped the Exchange District streetscape and demonstrated how security institutions were spatially represented during that era.
Access was limited to business hours and official business since it was a government building with security requirements. Visitors needed to inquire beforehand as certain areas of the building were not open to the public.
The limestone cladding suffered from freeze-thaw cycles that caused stone to deteriorate and fragment. The building eventually required protective canopies and walkways installed above sidewalks to shield pedestrians from falling debris.
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