The Alberta Legislature Building: A Living Monument.

• Author: Footz, Valerie

Alberta's Legislature Building has undergone many renovations since its construction more than 100 years ago. From technological improvements to structural repairs to an ever-changing colour palette, the building has truly become a living monument. In this article, the authors trace the history of major and minor renovations and pay special attention to projects that coincided with significant visits or anniversaries.

Even before it was completed, the Alberta Legislature Building was undergoing alterations. The project, while grand and magnificent, a striking beacon for the burgeoning young province, was affected by changing architectural directions initially and emerging needs over time. Started by one architect, Allan M. Jeffers, and completed by another, Richard P. Blakey, the Building incorporated different visions. Jeffers left the project in 1912, to become a Hollywood set designer, leaving Blakey to complete the interior and the south wing, where the Chamber is located. (1) The challenges of the construction are documented in numerous articles and studies, but the history of the Building renovations over the course of time, the subject of this article, is fragmented and incomplete. (2) The objective of this piece is to provide a brief history of such renovations and the impact they had on this impressive building and the individuals who inhabit it.

When the Assembly convened for its first sitting in the new Building in November of 1911, it was not long before issues arose. "Legislators' lives imperiled by walls", read one headline, as Members continued their first sitting in the new Legislative Chamber. (3) By January 1912, the Legislature Building was still settling. The plaster on the pillars in the Chamber began to crack. A bill was being debated when a "sharp crack" was heard, followed by a cascade of plaster that showered the floor near the Premier's seat. Premier Arthur Sifton did not budge; rather he glared across the floor as he looked to see if it was part of an orchestrated attack by opposition Members. The Speaker instinctively reached for his gavel to call order if required, but nothing came of it. About a week later, during a debate on the budget, a Member for Calgary asked the Premier what provisions had been made for the reduction of the province's debt. To the delight of the Members present, Premier Sifton retorted that these things would not last forever and that if any evidence of that was needed, all they needed to do was look around and see the plaster falling off the walls! (4)

While being presented as a "marked contrast to the barn-like, ill-ventilated, incommodious room in which the law-makers of the province have been want to labor in the past" (5), by the 1920s, the Chamber was still a cavernous space not conducive to debates. In 1924, Members reeled off multiple complaints leading to the eye-catching headline of "Members risk their lives in house chamber." During committee discussions of the Department of Public Works' budget estimates, Dr. John S. Stewart, the Member for Lethbridge, complained about the ventilation in the Chamber. While Minister of Public Works, Alexander Ross, agreed that the ventilation was poor, he expressed concern that any renovations would be too costly. Leader of the Official Opposition, John R. Boyle, then complained about the acoustics, especially when the galleries were empty. A Calgary Herald writer cheekily suggested that filling the galleries with building staff might be a solution to the problem: "The staffs, marshalled by some soldierly-like person would march in and out on various words of command, while expert acousticians, armed with acousticords, would test the acoustics and report at a later date on the desirability of plugging the galleries with civil servants, in all seats not occupied by the public. It would be interesting but rather hard on the civil servants, perhaps." (6) The criticism continued with Members remarking on the glare of the lighting in the Chamber and the cold draughts. Valid concerns, but life-threatening?

Indeed, the acoustics in the Chamber was a longstanding problem. From the beginning, Members had difficulty hearing each other. To resolve the issue, at first, cotton was draped along the...