A group, comprised of American architects and documentary filmmakers, is looking to rebuild the Banff National Park Pavilion, a structure designed by one of the most famous architects of the 20th century.
In the early 1900’s, the town of Banff was a destination for North America's elite. The federal government wanted to showcase the country's first National Park and, in 1911, hired world renowned architect Frank Lloyd wright to design a building.
The Banff National Park Pavilion, one of only two Canadian buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, was constructed at a cost of $20,000. The building, which no longer stands, was designed for picnics and featured three fireplaces, a galley kitchen and retiring rooms.
Early in his career, architect Doug Gillmor studied Wright’s work, and developed an attachment to the building which was demolished in 1939.
“The building was beautifully built, but it was compromised by the foundation system,” says Gillmor. “The foundations did not go below frost level.”
Gillmor says the ground beneath the structure would shift every Spring and Fall. Officials determined the location of the building was unsafe and a decision was made to dismantle the structure.
Gillmor is part of a group, based out of Florida, which wants to fund a project to resurrect the building in the Banff townsite with plans to gift it to the town.
“It took about three years to build the original, I think they could do it more quickly now,” said Gillmor.
Randall McKay, Banff's planning and development manager, is working on a recreational facilities master plan for the town. McKay says even with an offer to cover the price of building a new Banff National Park Pavilion, the town could face several costs and there are many unanswered questions.
“Could you build it on another site, yes certainly,” says McKay. “Could it be raised up and the grades changed, yes, but there are bigger questions. Long term operating costs, the nature of the use of the facility itself, who would use it and for what purpose.”
The town has yet to receive a proposal on the Banff Pavilion project but members of the Banff town council say they are considering erecting an information plaque at the former site of the Banff National Park Pavilion.
With files from CTV's Kevin Fleming
