Making the old new

David Neill freshens up historic buildings

by Rennay Craats

Employees of Encorp get along like family.

Maybe that’s because four of the company’s seven core employees share a last name.

President David Neill, MBA’99, calls on the talents of daughter Sandra, BA’94, as vice-president, research and communications, as well as son Brian, who is vice-president, development, and brother Alec (vice-president).

When Encorp relocated to Calgary from Ontario in 1990, its first renovation projects were Lake Bonavista Promenade and Heritage Hill Centre.

But for the past six years, the president’s love of historic buildings has turned Encorp’s developing vision to the city’s core.

David Neill appreciated the long-term potential of Stephen Avenue and has since watched it evolve into a thriving restaurant and retail district. This fits well with the company’s mandate.

“ We strive to create, enhance, and sustain ‘timeless places’ to form a vibrant component of Calgary’s growing culture,” says Sandra Neill.

This entails the renovation and adaptive reuse of buildings as well as restoration of historic ones.

Most often, the interiors of the buildings are gutted, rebuilt, and retrofitted with new electrical and mechanical services, but the structure remains.

“ Where possible, we’ve left the building elements exposed and tried to retain the historic components in the buildings,” says David Neill.

They expose sandstone and brick walls and restore facades to honour the historic beauty and integrity of the buildings.

Encorp owns three buildings downtown they have worked on – the Alberta Hotel block, the Alberta and Hull blocks, and the Clarence Block.

McNally Robinson Booksellers is now housed in the Clarence block, and the Alberta Hotel renovation is complete, which includes The Cellar wine store and Murrietta’s Westcoast Bar and Grill.

Encorp is also promoting the arts with the Art Central project along the LRT tracks on Centre Street.

“ This is going to be devoted entirely to visual arts, with about forty spaces for art galleries, studios, and auxiliary uses,” says David Neill.

Also in development is a 20,000-square-foot retail space with completion expected in 2005.

For Sandra, her father is a definite perk of her job.

“ He has a clear vision, determination, and optimism,” she says.

This passion is evident in David Neill’s attention to detail and his pride in all his projects—past, present, and future.