Hull Heritage
William Hull was an English noble born entrepreneur who came to western Canada in 1873. He was a successful Alberta rancher and meat packer before funding the construction of many prominent buildings in western Canada around the turn of the 19th century. Plans for the building were rendered by architect Edward Collis Hopkins, Alberta’s first Provincial Architect, who was involved in the design of many renowned Edmonton historic landmarks.
Hopkins is highly regarded as one of Canada’s greatest architects, responsible for the design of the Vancouver Opera House, Regina’s City Hall, and many of the historic buildings in Edmonton including the A. Macdonald Building, Knox Presbyterian Church, Jasper Block, Great West Saddle Co. Building, Horne & Pitfield Building, Prince of Wales Armouries, and the Boardwalk Building.
Architectural Details
The building displays Edwardian Classicism, which at the time was a popular style for mixed-use commercial/residential buildings in England and its colonies. Hull Block is defined by red brick with cast stone features on the two corner facades with white lime brick on the rear facades, which gives unique styling and appeal to the building that distinguishes it from other structures.
Edwardian design is often characterized with tripartite façade arrangements and tall glazed storefronts for commercial uses, which can be seen on the Hull Block. The building is the most prominent landmark in the community and one of the most beautiful structures in the City.
Character defining elements of the architecture include:
Red clay brick façade construction
Cast stone trims & accents
Cornice shelves, Dentils, & Parapets
Decorative balls capping the parapet pilasters
“Hull Block” engraving pediments on two sides
Pediments above entrance doors
Prominent corner location
Tall main level wood storefronts
Recessed entrances
Large display windows
Bulkhead panels that allow natural light into basement units
Second & third level wood double-hung windows with keystones along the two street fronts
Upper cornice that extends the full width of the two street fronts
Lower cornices along storefronts
Peaked pediment over main level entrance doors
11-meter flagpole
The Hull Block - A Brief History of Architecture in Edmonton, Alberta
Produced by HypeTV, this documentary is supported in part by the Province of Alberta Archives, The Glenbow Museum, The Royal Alberta Provincial Museum, and The City of Edmonton.
Narrated by Carson Cole and Layne Mitchell.
Select music produced live off the floor at Mac Alley Studios in the Hull Block by Cam Basler, Carson Cole and Chad Carmichael and Ian MacArthur.
