Formerly located at the northeast corner of Portage Avenue and Vaughan Street in Winnipeg, a two-storey brick and terracotta, Terracotta Revival-style building, measuring 80 feet by 130 feet, was designed by local architects Edward Parkinson and James H. Halley. It was built in 1928 by the construction firm of W. A. Irish and Company at a cost of about $150,000 for the Sterling Securities Corporation Limited. It was managed by the real estate and building management firm of Aronovitch and Leipsic.
Subcontractors included Midland Terra Cotta Company of Chicago, Illinois (terracotta panels) and James Murray Reid (excavation).
In its original configuration, the building contained seven retail spaces on the main floor—five along Portage Avenue and two along Vaughan Street—while the upper floor contained office spaces. Initial tenants included the Sterling Securities Corporation Limited, Brathwaite Drug Stores Limited, and its most prominent occupant, the Crescent Furniture Company. Known originally as the Sterling Building, it was renamed the Scientific Building in 1949.
The building was demolished in September 1985 to make way for the new Portage Place shopping mall. A few of the building’s glazed terracotta panels were saved and were put up on display on Main Street and at The Forks.
Sterling Building under construction (July 1928)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 7 July 1928, page 6.
Sterling Building (May 1929)
Source: Manitoba Free Press, 29 May 1929, page 36.
Sterling Building terra cotta panels at The Forks (October 2021)
Source: George Penner
Sterling Building terra cotta panels and plaque on Main Street (2009)
Source: City of WinnipegSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89179, W97.14956
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Edward Parkinson (1878-1953)
Manitoba Business: Saul and Irish Construction Company / W. A. Irish and Company
Manitoba Business: Aronovitch and Leipsic
Memorable Manitobans: James Murray Reid (1882-1933)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Sterling Building Terra Cotta Panels and Plaque (457 Main Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Sterling Building Terra Cotta Panels (The Forks, Winnipeg)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1875/1928, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Clearing site,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 3 April 1928, page 1.
“Award contract for Portage Avenue block,” Manitoba Free Press, 28 April 1928, page 21.
“Large number of fine dwellings in week's permits,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 January 1938, page 29.
“Week's permits show many new dwellings,” Manitoba Free Press, 4 March 1938, page 20.
“New building for Portage Ave.,” Winnipeg Tribune, 7 July 1928, page 6.
“We believe in Winnipeg,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 May 1929, page 36.
Winnipeg fire insurance map, #101 Febuary 1963, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Temple facade to get new life,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 July 1985, page 6.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
We thank George Penner for providing additional infomation used here.
This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 7 Febuary 2026
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
