Facelift on the Archibald Block

BY: KARIN MELBERG SCHWIER FACELIFT ON THE ARCHIBALD BLOCK

Historic Row Housing Gets an Upgrade

Photo Credit: Lillian Lane

What once was old is new again at the corner of 11th Street and Eastlake Ave. in Saskatoon’s historic Nutana neighbourhood. The distinctive terrace or row housing most likely built in 1910 across from the city’s first high school, Nutana Collegiate, is breathing a sigh after getting a good rejuvenating makeover. The prime directive was to maintain the historic integrity during the upgrade, and one of the biggest challenges was replacing 64 windows without disrupting the facade or appearance the iconic Archibald Block.

History Lesson

According to a 1910 newspaper, the Block was built by Burton A. Archibald, listed as ‘Real Estate and Business Broker.’ In March, the newspaper carried an item about 'plans for the building on 11th Street to be completed by July. It’s constructed of buff brick, with a parapet roof, three decorative gablepeaks on the front facade and one on the east facade. There are seven two-storey units.' City Archives heritage files describe the Archibald Block as row housing or terrace housing. It’s a rare example of this style; only five or six exist in Saskatoon today.

The units were advertised for rent beginning that month so the project was completed on schedule. The March 23, 1910 issue gives a value to “Mr. B. A. Archibald’s terrace on 11th Street” as $13,000. In the 1911–1912 Hendersons Directory, Burton A. Archibald and Jacob Layton Archibald both lived in apartments in the Block. Jacob was Burton’s father and sat on City Council in 1908. Tenants varied over the years, but prominent Saskatonian Aden Bowman once lived here and over the years the roster included university professors, a sheet metal worker and an office manager for a paper company.

It’s been said that the Block was home to teachers at Nutana Collegiate which is just across the street, and local legend has it that it was home to nurses and served as army barracks during the Second World War. But, says City Archivist Jeff O’Brien, “there’s nothing in the files to indicate that.” Neither is there any evidence to support the other rumour that it was an artists’ residence during the ‘60s and known as a place with wild multi-unit block parties.

Photo Credit: Amy Thorp

Espresso window frame trim is in keeping with the era of the Block, and pops against the bright new interiors. A Mammoth Task in Record Time

When Heather Dimmick of Ka-Tet Holdings bought the Block in December 2020, she was already well acquainted with Nutana. Also the owner of the Arrand Block on the 500 block of 11th Street East, she recently completed a large scale renovation at that heritage property. Renovations on the exterior of the Archibald Block started right away.

“Heather’s vision was to give this property the same much needed love and attention,” says Lisa Craig, co-owner with Rene Corriveau of York Windows and Doors. “She wanted to keep the character and beauty of the 1900s but update with modern touches. Clean, bright and inviting was what she had in mind.”

Heather had previously worked with Rene on some exterior decks so she invited them to have a look at her newest acquisition.

“The condition of the building was a little rough,” says Lisa, adding that was an understatement. “The flooring, cupboards, windows, doors and the wall vents all looked pretty original.” Heather was able to spot the potential and so did Lisa and Rene. They agreed to take on the task.

At the Archibald, original units were two bedroom, two den spaces. A wall was removed between the dens. A doorway was covered off to create a large master with an added closet. Kitchens were gutted and redone. Where hardwood flooring was still in good shape, it was refinished and where it was beyond salvage, LVPlank flooring went down. In the bathrooms, acrylic tub surrounds from an old upgrade were removed. Clawfoot tubs were refinished and brick walls were exposed.

Young girls participate in a physical education class on the lawn of Nutana Collegiate sometime between 1917 and 1919. The Archibald Block terrace housing appears at the upper left across 11th Street.

Black plumbing fixtures were installed. All plumbing and electrical was replaced.

In March, the interiors were tackled, transforming them into bright, airy urban chic. By mid-May 2021, the project’s biggest challenge of all remained: the glazing. That’s where Lisa and Rene came in.

Photo Credit: Local History Room - Saskatoon Public Library - LH 1487

Many Windows to the Soul

If it’s true that the eyes are the windows to the soul, the eyes of the Archibald Block needed some help if the true heart of the historic Block was to regain the vibrancy of its heyday. Replacing 110-year-old windows—64 of them—in such a way to get all the energy efficiencies of new without making them look ‘new’ and without damaging original surfaces posed some headscratchers. Only two suites had newer windows put in perhaps 15 years ago. They were not installed well and didn’t suit the age or style of the building. Lisa and Rene are

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A happy discovery during renovations was a hidden bathroom window covered for years by a tub surround.

local suppliers of fiberglass Duxton Windows & Doors. The company is often the choice for heritage property improvements. York often retrofits older homes and they have a thoughtful checklist to help determine the best choice of product. There are particular considerations for a historical project like the Block.

“When replacing windows in a historic building you want to make sure they fit properly,” explains Lisa. “Measuring correctly is really important, and so is wall depth. You don’t want to damage the old sills or ledges.” Mindful that owner Heather wanted to maintain as much of the authentic historical presence of the building as possible, Lisa, Rene and the team approached with project with meticulous care. “You don’t want to damage any of the interior finish or the exterior brick. You need to make sure everything remains in its original condition if it’s not being replaced.”

Although there aren’t really any ‘tricks’ to replacing windows in an historic property like the Block, Rene notes that proceeding slowly with a plan is critical.

“You’ve got to do it properly and visualize how the building was assembled,” he explains. “We spend a lot of time figuring out how to make it work. We never rush.” A laser level, he says, is a best friend. “Everything must be sealed and insulated properly.” Slow and steady is the way to go since fragile materials can easily crumble or break loose. “You need to let the other contractors know if anything needs some attention.”

During the interior bathroom renovation when tub surrounds were removed, an original window behind each was revealed. Those 27x53-inch windows had fared well since they had been boarded up for years.

“We were so pleased with the discovery because they added natural light and really brightened up the bathrooms,” says Lisa.

The window frames selected for the Block project were “high performance, very strong energy-efficient fiberglass. We like to work with fiberglass because it’s superior to PVC,” says Lisa. Custom-made proprietary fiberglass is their choice because of durability and flexibility of design. “These frames can hold large pieces of glass, and are available in any colour, inside and out. Often white doesn’t work in these settings but brown or black works perfectly.”

Up-to-code glazing is a significant improvement. Cardinal Glass manufactured the sealed units. Low-E 272 with Argon fill was used for high heat retention in winter and rejection of heat and UV rays in summer. Warm edge spacers separate the panes of glass and seal off the air cavity between them. Rene says he saved many of the old sliding sashes that have grills with original glass. Internal grills in the new windows offer the same historical look.

“The frames are new but the grills and the single-hung style, much more common back in the day, make them fit with the era of the building and the brick exterior,” says Lisa. “Inside, Heather’s choice of the espresso frames absolutely pop against the white walls and trim on the interior,” she adds. “That gives the Block an updated and beautiful look on the exterior without losing any of that 1910era nostalgia and charm.”