Heritage Winnipeg’s Annual Preservation Awards have been important to the heritage community since 1985. The awards recognize the people, communities, and projects that take our built heritage to another level. These awards are given to those involved in projects that sensitively reuse and adapt a building to benefit the community. These projects often consist of heritage buildings being adaptively reused as residential spaces. No matter their similarities, each project carries a sense of individuality in its design, intention, and history. These projects expand across neighbourhoods and original building styles. As we lead up to the 2025 Annual Preservation Awards, we’re taking a look at two contrasting buildings with the same purpose, both recipients of a 2024 Heritage Winnipeg Conservation Award.

The sign outside of the Paulin Street Lofts.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

Many former warehouses in the Exchange District, a National Historic Site, are seeing new life for residential living. This is the case for the Paulin-Chambers building, now known as the Paulin Street Lofts. This 1904 building was transformed into over 100 residential suites.

Philips Square at 240 Taché Avenue.
Source: Philips Square (via Doors Open Winnipeg 2024).

Meanwhile, in St. Boniface, a 120-year-old church and adjacent hall narrowly avoided demolition. Philips Square, formerly St. Philips Anglican Church and Hall, consists of six private rental apartments bordered by communal garden space.

Let’s take a closer look at these award-winning examples of adaptive reuse.

This Cookie (Factory) Shall Not Crumble: Paulin Street Lofts

The Paulin Street Lofts building at 101 Paulin Street.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

The Paulin-Chambers block sits on the periphery of the West Exchange District, a large and unassuming Richardsonian-Romanesque-style warehouse. When approaching the block from Ross Avenue, it looks as though the building has hardly been altered, with the original Paulin-Chambers Co. ghost sign still visible. However, around the corner on Paulin Street, a modern addition tells a different story.

The ghost sign from the former Paulin-Chambers biscuit factory on the Paulin Street Lofts at 101 Paulin Street.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

The original structure of the Paulin-Chambers building was constructed in 1882 as an industrial bakery for the confectionary firm of Paulin-Chambers. The following century saw many alterations and additions to the building. The original 30-storey building was moved to a stone foundation in 1899 and a 4-storey brick and stone warehouse took its place, receiving a fifth floor addition in 1904. The 1882 building was demolished and replaced with a warehouse that matched its counterpart in 1910, and a sixth floor was added to both buildings in 1920. Other alterations and additions were made sporadically throughout the years.

The Paulin Street Lofts at 101 Paulin Street with its modern addition.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

The Paulin-Chambers Co. operated these factories until closing in 1991. In the following decades, the buildings were used as storage for the City of Winnipeg. In 2019, CentreVenture, an arms-length development corporation of the city, led to the involvement of brothers Rick and Mark Hofer.

The Paulin Street Lofts’ location offers a unique experience for its tenants. Only blocks away from the vibrant hustle and bustle of Old Market Square, they’re offered a somewhat tranquil corner of the Exchange District, surrounded by other residential buildings.

The 107-unit building demonstrates resourcefulness and creativity, with the metal tower in the centre of the block repurposed as storage for the building’s heating systems and the diverse amenities offered to tenants.

Former storage tower at the centre of the Paulin Street Lofts that now holds heating equipment.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

The dedication and care given to the adaptive reuse of this building led to the owners receiving a Heritage Winnipeg Award in 2024. Our staff sat down with part-owner Rick Hofer to chat about the project almost a year later.

An Interview with Rick Hofer

Rick Hofer receiving a Conservation Award in 2024.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

Rick Hofer has been a framer for construction his entire career, building condos and apartments across British Columbia and Manitoba. His journey with heritage buildings began 15 years ago with an old warehouse on Princess Street. 

Rick’s brother and Paulin Street Lofts co-owner Mark Hofer owned 232 Princess, a 1906 warehouse, and they converted the building into residential units with retail on the main floor. 

Once The Edge was nearly completed, the Hofers were approached by the city to see if they would be interested in taking on the historic Avenue and Hample buildings at 265 Portage. Reluctant at first, the Hofers felt inspired by their experience with The Edge and chose to take it on. The result was The Avenue, two revitalized 1905 heritage buildings connected by a modern addition. 

The Boyce building at 316 Ross Ave., next door to the Paulin Street Lofts.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

The next project Rick Hofer would take on was the former Boyce Carriage Company warehouse at 316 Ross Avenue, another 1905 building. This time, he worked with Alston Properties. Hofer and Alston had begun working on the James Avenue Pumphouse together. After taking on this new project, they decided that Alston would focus their attention on the Pumphouse while Hofer took the lead on The Boyce. Eventually, Mark Hofer joined the team, with his eyes set on a neighbouring building.

“Eventually, my brother Mark came on, and at the same time, he’s kinda got this vision in his head of how he wanted to find out if the Paulin building was for sale.”

The brothers put out a price, but the owners of 101 Paulin Street did not bite. It wasn’t until a few years later that the ball started rolling.

“We eventually came to a deal, and we made a deposit, and we now own the building. We got an architect involved, and here we are. “

The sign outside of the Paulin Street Lofts.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

While Rick and Mark Hofer are no strangers to converting heritage buildings, no project comes without surprises.

“With every renovation, there is a bunch of stuff that ends up biting you in the butt, and you just deal with it. “

The Paulin-Chambers building presented issues with basement infrastructure, a leaking foundation, and other challenges. These may have been due in part to the building’s numerous additions and alterations over the years.

Furthermore, paperwork and litigation add another layer of red tape to heritage projects.

“It’s always a long process. I think the worst part about these buildings is getting the right permits… [with old buildings] the codes are different. A lot of the time these old warehouses might be six- or seven-storeys, which [is] above high-rise, so now how do you convert a high-rise? And it’s all wood, and when you have a high-rise, there’s not supposed to be any wood, especially in the structure, and this is all wood structure. There’s always some kind of a hybrid that has to be discussed, and it’s always a struggle between the city and the architects to come up with the right mix and get everybody on board, but once that’s done then it’s just ‘hey, here’s the drawings and let’s go do it.’’

The common space at the Paulin Street Lofts.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

Despite these challenges, Rick Hofer continues to bring his knowledge from each experience to the next, finding satisfaction in the results.

“In the end, your vision comes to life. The most rewarding thing is when you give people a tour, they’re always very impressed. We try to do more as you learn from every building. Over at The Edge, the very first one, we made sure we had a gym. And then, all of a sudden, outdoor patios are important, and common areas are also important so that people can sit and enjoy visitors.”

This sentiment is clear in the Paulin Street Lofts, with amenities on every corner. The gym and laundry facility on the main level feature the original factory machinery. A designated fenced-in yard allows residents a space to let their dogs off-leash. On the top floor, a common space is complete with a kitchen, rec room, movie theatre, and rooftop patio, creating a community hub with a breathtaking view.

The doorway to the off-leash dog area at the Paulin Street Lofts.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

The comfortable seats inside the home theatre located in the common space at the Paulin Street Lofts.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

 “As you build, you realize you take from each build what you think is the most attractive and what is the most rewarding and needed in a building. Hopefully, the present one is always better than the last.”

The Hofers also own the adjacent lot and have big plans for it.

“We’re putting up another five storeys: one storey of parking underground and one storey above, so we have maybe a total of 120 stalls, which will be enough parking for this building and (the new one), and another 125 units. The original plan was to have a bridge from this building to that one, so we bought the street, we own the street now, and we’ll take the bridge from here on the second floor, across.”

The view from the roof of the Paulin Street Lofts.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

Hofer is passionate about these projects, not only because of what they can do for built heritage but also because of what they can do for the downtown community.

“The most important part of these old buildings downtown is adapting and getting people inside. Getting people downtown…

“If we don’t have a government, like our city, to start pushing for incentives for downtown living to convert these buildings, they’re gonna die. They’re gonna start deteriorating into nothing. Once a brick building starts deteriorating, there’s no hope for it. It’s dead. And it’ll cost you millions and millions of dollars to copy what this would look like…

“Everybody wants a vibrant downtown, and if you don’t adapt these buildings to a living standard, instead of empty warehouses that eventually just…die because nobody takes care of them.”

Antique factory machinery is repurposed as decor in the Paulin Street Lofts Gym.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg.

Divine Reinvention: Philips Square

Philips Square at 24o Taché Ave.
Source: Philips Square (via Doors Open Winnipeg 2024).

The former St. Philips Church at 240 Tache Avenue was built in 1904, designed by Toronto architects Darling & Pearson and Winnipeg Architect Walter Percy Over. The Late Gothic Revival Style church received an addition in 1928, designed by Parkinson and Halley Architects, as well as a memorial hall in 1959, designed by Pratt Lindgren and Associates.

The church served a vibrant congregation for over 100 years and was a vital part of the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, a dwindling congregation led to the church’s closing at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sanctuary at 240 Taché Ave. before its conversion.
Source: Philips Square

Despite its unique design and prominent position, not to mention noteworthy architects, the historic church had not received heritage designation. This put the church and its hall in a dangerous position, an easy target for demolition. As chance would have it, the right people happened to come across St. Philips Church at the right time.

An Interview with Stephen Borys

Stephen and Hazel Borys, owners of 240 Taché Ave., receiving a Preservation Award in 2024.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

Heritage Winnipeg staff had the opportunity to interview Stephen Borys, one of the owners, landlords, and residents of 240 Taché. Stephen Borys is also the Director and CEO of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Quamajuq, with a PhD in Art and Architectural History. His wife and 240 Taché co-owner, Hazel Borys, recently became the Director of Planning, Property and Development for the City of Winnipeg.  She has a background in engineering and, needless to say, the two are no strangers to the importance of our built heritage.

“…over the course of my work as a curator, as a museum professional, and as an art historian, I have worked and studied many projects involving the architectural fabric of certain styles, certain cities, and places. It always has a special niche with my work, professionally and personally.”

240 Taché Avenue during renovations.
Source: Philips Square

It may have been fate that led the Borys to St. Philips Church. 

“One day, we were driving by, and we saw a ‘for sale’ sign, literally by chance. Because it was a commercial listing, we wouldn’t have normally found it, and I was immediately drawn to a good example of the late Gothic Revival Style in the church building.  The hall is a nice piece of modernist architecture, and it’s on a beautiful site with gardens and mature trees. The overall plan and site really interested us. Of course, once we got inside, we immediately thought about the potential.”

The church building is filled with gorgeous stained-glass windows, prominent buttresses, and oak features, but its location is just as significant.

“All along, one of our goals was to save an important piece of architecture, but also an important building within the history of St. Boniface and Norwood Flats and that area. It was never our intention to just look for a church to convert into residences, but this one seemed to just present itself, and there were the right things lined up to make it happen.”

The sanctuary of 240 Taché during the conversion process. Source: Philips Square

It’s somewhat miraculous that the Borys’ stepped in when they did, as multiple parties had expressed interest in purchasing the building with the intent to demolish and develop on the site. This wouldn’t have been difficult, given that the building had no heritage designation. 

Once the property was purchased, Stephen Borys began his deep dive into the building’s history. He set out to find information beyond what had been reported by the city, and his search was extremely successful.

“The biggest thing I found out, which was not listed anywhere on the City of Winnipeg site for this building, is they had the architects for the church listed as ‘Unknown. ’ But, of course, I discovered it was a very important church designed by the Toronto architectural firm, Darling and Pearson. That excited us and got us even more engaged with the project.”

Darling and Pearson are responsible for many prominent buildings across the country. Notable credits in Winnipeg include the former Bank of Commerce (the Millennium Centre) at 389 Main Street, the former Union Bank Tower (Paterson GlobalFoods) at 500-504 Main Street, and the Grain Exchange Building at 167 Lombard Street. St. Philips Anglican Church is a rare example of a religious building from Darling and Pearson in Winnipeg, making Borys’ discovery monumental.

The Millennium Centre at 389 Main Street was designed by Darling and Pearson, the same architectural team behind 240 Taché Ave.
Source: Heritage Winnipeg

Besides zoning and permits, adaptive reuse projects such as this one tend to present unique challenges. When the Borys purchased the buildings from the Diocese of Rupertsland, they promised to keep the façades and layout intact. 

“We’ve restored and renovated buildings over our last 20 years, but largely a residence to a residence, never a church and a church hall to a residence, so understanding what would be best, whether they should be condos or apartments, the size of the space while trying to protect the fabric and design of the original buildings. It was a challenge, but at each turn, something really positive was presented and made it, I think, an even better project in the end.”

Architectural rendering of unit 2 at 240 Taché Ave.
Source: 240tache.ca

The church and hall were converted into six private rental apartments, each with a unique layout. The owners took into careful consideration the history of the building, consulting a historic preservationist architect and using St. Boniface-made furniture for local authenticity.

A key component of the Philips Square design is the green space: the communal vegetable and flower gardens that surround the property. 

As a gardener himself, Stephen Borys spends a large amount of time in these communal spaces, where he receives compliments and testimonies from passersby. Many community members stop to express their appreciation and gratitude for the Borys’ work and share memories associated with the space.

“Let’s face it, this was a church. It was an Anglican church, and so what I’m finding is that regardless of people’s backgrounds, their beliefs, their faiths, their cultural makeup, they still see it as an important architectural building that was part of that community for over a century. That tells me [that] regardless of a building’s purpose, whether its government, public, religious, school, bank, they play a role in the fabric of these communities.”

The gardens outside of Philips Square.
Source: 240tache.ca

Unfortunately, the closing of St. Philips church during the COVID-19 pandemic is a common phenomenon affecting historic places of worship across the country. Dwindling congregations and shifting populations have put many historic buildings at risk of demolition.

“We have to figure out what we’re gonna do with these important historic structures. How can you do adaptive reuse for other purposes, and that they can still contribute rather than be leveled and everything sent to the landfill site?”

As residents of Philips Square, the Borys’ witness firsthand the potential that historic churches have when it comes to adaptive reuse. Their suite was once the church’s sanctuary, the largest of the six. Throughout the process, they learned how to handle challenges such as incorporating heating and cooling, ensuring security for the tenants, and more. 

“In the end, I was quite impressed with the structures themselves, how well they were built and have survived. It’s amazing that a 100-year-old building still has probably 100 years left. Sometimes, we live in this kind of society where things can be easily discarded, or we feel a building has a life of 30-40 years, and we don’t usually build any more century buildings. But in fact, the way the church was built, the stone, the brick, the glass, the timbers, it is an incredibly secure piece of architecture from an engineering point of view.”

Original wood detailing in the sanctuary at Philips Square. Source: Philips Square

For Stephen Borys, this project was not just about this one building but about the neighbourhood and community. It has the potential to change the future of Winnipeg’s built heritage.

“I feel every time we do it (adaptive reuse) as we’ve done with Phillip’s Square, it’s one more example of what you can do, and I’m telling you how many developers have come by or called and said, ‘Hey, can you show us how it worked? What were the ins and outs? What was your budget like?’ I like to speak about this because I’m hoping that what we did will save another historic church, another bank building, and another historic residence.”

As the interview came to a close, Borys expressed his gratitude for the Annual Preservation Awards and the work of Heritage Winnipeg, and he shared his message for the heritage community.

“We were so pleased to get an award, mainly because it raises the profile of important projects that will help us…I never really knew what adaptive reuse was, but I feel that everyday citizens should understand the benefits of saving something and considering a new use for it. That’s the message I want to get out. It’s a rewarding process, and it can be a financially intelligent investment if you do it well and right.” 

View of Philips Square from the sidewalk.
Source: 240tache.ca

Conclusion: Decades of Devotion

Forty years ago, Heritage Winnipeg started the Annual Preservation Awards to celebrate built heritage projects. Forty years later, they continue to be a pivotal part of our organization. Through these awards, we demonstrate the diverse ways that the community can contribute to the preservation, conservation, and rehabilitation of our beautiful built heritage. We showcase the incredible results of hard work, dedication, and passion for historic buildings. We express our gratitude to individuals like the Hofers and the Borys for seeing the potential that these buildings hold.

Thanks to every past and future winner and the nominees of the Annual Preservation Awards. Our built heritage is vibrant and innovative and benefits the community in so many ways!