Rule Wynn and Rule was a Canadian architectural firm that had offices in Calgary and Edmonton. The firm is noted for its prominent role in bringing modern architecture to Alberta.
Founded by John Ulric Rule (1904-1978) and Gordon K. Wynn (1910-1994) in Edmonton in 1938, they were joined a year later by Rule's brother, Peter Leitch Rule (1913-1964). The initial partnership came about as neither Rule nor Wynn could find work. All three partners were graduates of the school of architecture at the University of Alberta.
During World War II the Rule brother's father, also named Peter, took charge of the firm. Peter worked as a building inspector for Alberta Government Telephones and during his time with the firm designed several telephone exchange buildings across the province. Although not trained as an architect, in January 1941 he was given a special certificate by the Alberta Association of Architects.
In 1945 the firm opened a second office in Calgary which was headed by Peter Rule (son). This office closed in 1986.
Since 1938, the firm has undergone several name and partner changes including Wynn Forbes Lord Architects (Gordon Wynn, Gordon Forbes and George Lord), Wynn Forbes Lord Feldberg Schmidt Architects (Gordon Wynn, Gordon Forbes, George Lord, Heinz Feldberg and Sig Schmidt), Schmidt Feldberg Croll Henderson Architects (Sig Schmidt, Heinz Feldberg, Norm Croll, Craig Henderson and Eric Underwood), Henderson Inglis Architects (Craig Henderson, Stewart Inglis) and HIP Architects (Craig Henderson, Stewart Inglis, Allan Partridge and Randy Krebes). In 2008, Next Architecture Inc. became a shareholding partner of the firm through Allan Partridge. [1] In 2011, Next Architecture separated from the other partners to avoid an anticipated merger with Kasian. In 2012, on the cusp of its 75 year anniversary, Stewart Inglis and Randy Krebes merged HIP with Kasian Architecture, Planning and Interior Design. [2] In 2024, emeritus partners Craig Henderson and Stewart Inglis signed an attestation along with current partner Allan Partridge to confirm that Next Architecture is a natural successor of the firm Rule Wynn and Rule, established in 1938. As such, Next Architecture is one of the longest continuously operating architectural firms in western Canada. [1]
The records of both the Edmonton and Calgary firms are held at the Canadian Architectural Archives in Calgary.
| Name | City | Address | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foster McGarvey Funeral Home | Edmonton | 1938 | ||
| Varscona Theatre | Edmonton | 1940 | Demolished | |
| Westglen High School | Edmonton | 10950 127 Street | 1940 | |
| Beth Shalom Synagogue | Edmonton | 11916 Jasper Avenue | 1949 | |
| Denis Yorath House | Edmonton | 13110 B Buena Vista Road Northwest | 1949 | |
| Ellis Building | Edmonton | 10123 112 St NW | 1950 | |
| University of Alberta Rutherford Library | Edmonton | 1951 | ||
| Alberta Government Telephone Building | Edmonton | 9718 107 Street Northwest | 1953 | Superstructure demolished 2021, substructure adaptively re-used 2022. [3] |
| Eastglen Composite High School | Edmonton | 11430 68 Street | 1953 | |
| Alberta Motor Association Building | Edmonton | 11220 109 Street | 1956 | |
| Northwest Utilities Building (now Milner Building) | Edmonton | 10040 104 Street | 1957 | |
| Royal Alexandra Hospital | Edmonton | 1958 | ||
| A. S. Hall House | Edmonton | 1958 | ||
| F. W. Forster House | Edmonton | 10240 Kingsway | 1958 | |
| Edmonton Club | Edmonton | 1959 | ||
| Union Oil Company of California Building | Edmonton | 114 Avenue | 1959 | |
| William Shaw House | Edmonton | 62 St Georges Crescent | 1963 | Demolished |
| C. J. Varvis House | Edmonton | Laurier Drive | 1964 | |
| Name | City | Address | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Building | Calgary | 310 9th Avenue Southwest | 1951 | Demolished |
| Harold Carson House | Calgary | 3931 Edison Crescent Southwest | 1953 | Demolished |
| Pacific Building | Calgary | 320 9th Avenue Southwest | 1953 | Demolished |
| Spruce Cliff Apartments | Calgary | Hemlock Crescent Southwest | 1953 | Altered Beyond Recognition |
| Calgary Trend House | Calgary | 730 47th Avenue Southwest | 1953 | |
| Anglo-American Building | Calgary | 330 9th Avenue Southwest | 1954 | Demolished |
| Royalite Oil Building | Calgary | 615 2nd Street Southwest | 1955 | Demolished |
| Triad Oil Building | Calgary | 535 7th Avenue Southwest | 1956 | |
| Calgary Petroleum Club | Calgary | 319 5th Avenue Southwest | 1957 | |
| Petro-Fina Building | Calgary | 736 8th Avenue Southwest | 1959 | |
| Elveden Centre | Calgary | 717 7th Avenue Southwest | 1959 | |
| McMahon Stadium | Calgary | 1817 Crowchild Trail Northwest | 1960 | |
| Imperial Oil Building | Calgary | 500 6th Avenue Southwest | 1963 | Demolished |
| Holiday Inn | Calgary | 708 8th Avenue Southwest | 1964 |