Builders’ Exchange – Colman Prosthetics

There’s some rather interesting architecture from the 1960s out there and this building is no exception. It’s completely circular and while not that over the top compared to some structures of the time, it’s still unconventional enough to be of note. Originally Calgary Builders’ Exchange, it’s now home to the firm Colman Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Dating back to 1962* and shown under construction in the original photo, we’ll fast forward sixty years to see what it looks like present day. It’s still round, it’s still kind of weird, and there’s no doubt the era of which it’s from. There was all kinds of experimenting going on in the field of building design at the time and it’s reflected in structures like this.

Then: We’re in the community of West Hillhurst, annexed by the city before 1910, but remaining mostly undeveloped well into the 1940s. At one time this was the very edge of the city, as hard that is to believe – now city limits are some eight clicks away in westerly direction.

Many of the homes here were originally for personal returning from World War Two but some have been replaced by newer builds. These old Victory Houses, as they’re called, are quite small by today’s standards and not everyone’s cup of tea. Now they cobble them together as large as code allows (hotel sized) and anything smaller will simply not do.

While West Hillhurst is mostly residential, there were a couple small strip malls put in during the 1950s/early 1960s period and this building sits across from one. It’s the first and only structure to occupy this lot and that’s confirmed by aerial photos going back almost a hundred years. It was just pasture land before, then an empty lot surrounded by dwellings, until built upon.

The Builders’ Exchange building is of substantial construction and literally must be bomb proof. It was the Cold War period, so who knows? The CBE was an advocacy group for the construction industry, so of course they made sure their HQ stood out.

A rectangular addition at the back dates from the late 1960s and not really seen from our front T&N angle.

The firm Calgary Builders’ Exchange dates back to the mid-1940s and after residing in this building for a couple years changed their name to Calgary Construction Association. That organization still exists to this day and remained an occupant here up until the early 1980s.

Afterwards a medical lab operated out the building, then a mapping services company and most recent the firm we see today. Colman Prosthetics and Orthotics supplies artificial limbs, joint braces and foot health products.

Now: No early photos of the building in a complete state have come to light (as of the publishing of this piece), but something tells us there’s been minimal change. If not for that addition in the back, that is. It’s a product of the times and that’s clear to anyone who even remotely follows architectural trends.

In a way, it’s as though time has stood still here. The house seen in back, in the old photo, still stands and is shown below. It’s seven years older than its round neighbour and typical of larger homes built in the community as it matured. It’s a bland shoebox with a hip-roof and near identical to BIGDoer HQ in form. This style was popular at the time and economical to build. There’s hundreds in our neighbourhood.

The ’60s were downright strange in terms of design and fashion. Be it clothing or structures, there’s always a distinctive yet glorious quirkiness to everything from back then. Here’s an architectural trend of the times, mainly seen on commercial and institutional buildings, that we’re fond of: Zigzag & Wave Roofs Calgary (Part 1) and Wave & Zigzag Roofs Calgary (Part 2). These originated years before, but certainly most popular that decade.

When possible we’ll park a little away from our subject and walk the final distance. It’s to keep in shape and help sap some of this seemingly endless energy. Along the way we take a quick look at Grand Trunk Cottage School a few blocks from the Builders’ Exchange.

Cottage School? They were supposed to be for provisional use until a more permanent structure could be be built. It’s from the 1910s but since this part of town had a small population until the 1950s, it remained in use longer than anticipated. It closed after more than forty five years as a “temporary” school.

The ideas was for these buildings to be converted to homes or apartments when no longer needed but here that never happened. Instead it housed various clubs and organizations over the years and present day stands empty. It’s historically noted and the city, who owns it, must have plans for others uses.

This visit happened just before Halloween 2022. Looking up from our parking spot and I swear “It” wasn’t there earlier. “Want a balloon…Timmy?” Ahhhh…and thanks for that sleepless night.

*Oddly, the city insists this building in the round dates from 1966, but there’s more than anecdotal evidence that it’s from four years earlier. Telephone records and aerial photos offer undeniable proof of that earlier date. It’s odd for municipal records to be wrong this way, in our experience, and have noted only one or two instances of this happening before. We use city archives for reference all the time and with few exceptions they’ve proven to be pretty reliable.

Know more (new tab): (Wacky) 1960s Architecture.

They’re saying…

”Best little bit of history in Western Canada…if you love our history this site is worth exploring!” Brian Holt.

More like this…
SAIT Heritage Hall (Built Early 1920s).
Grain Elevators at Carbon Alberta.
Calgary Then & Now: From Tom Campbell Hill.
Green Door Ranch Then and Now.

If you wish more information on what’s seen here, don’t hesitate to: contact us!

Date of Adventure: 1962 (original) and October, 2022.
Location(s): Calgary, Alberta.
Article references and thanks: Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society, University of Calgary Photo Archives and City of Calgary.

Calgary Builders’ Exchange sixty years apart.

Its’s a building in the round.

This house appears in back of the old photo.

The current tenant is Colman Prosthetics and Orthotics.

The ’60s had some interesting architecture.

Passing Grand Trunk Cottage School on the walk back to the car.

From our parking spot – I swear “It” wasn’t there earlier.