Aurora

A competition winning entry for an inaugural home for the Aurora Women’s Club, a nascent women’s business and social hub, intending to repurpose an abandoned  former historic hotel.  The 1903 Criterion was constructed during one of Winnipeg’s early booms, with its saloon and billiard room soon became a favourite gathering place for members of nearby newspaper row – until prohibition shut them down.  The slim limestone façade is rich in detail, including a third floor balcony, and multi-coloured terracotta that was added in 1915.  Sadly, the building fell into disrepair, with pigeons its only occupants.  This reboot occupies the upper floors, with a public restaurant on the ground level providing catering to club spaces above including: second floor private dining and member’s lounge; third floor spa with steam room, exercise area, massage and juice bar; fourth floor library, meeting areas and boardroom along with an administrative resource centre; new glass rooftop conservatory and outdoor lounge with a skywalk bridging to a sister building and more offices across the rear lane.  A central crowning skylight and lightwell unites the floors.

XYZ Design International Inc.