Edward and William S. Maxwell Architects Offices(7/1911)
1158 Beaver Hall Square [6 Beaver Hall Square], Montreal, QC, Canada
Commercial, Offices [addition: 2 floors]; brick and stone; composite

Client: Edward and W.S. Maxwell, Architects
Architect: E. & W.S. Maxwell

Description: At the turn of the century, Edward Maxwell located his architectural offices at 1760 Notre-Dame Street West. The move to new premises on Beaver Hall Square may have coincided with the return of his younger brother William from Paris and William’s new status as a full partner. Around 1905, they chose an existing three-storey stone building that had previously housed a store, just north of Dorchester Street at 6 Beaver Hall Square (now Philip’s Square). At that time it was considered a bold move to leave Notre-Dame Street, as Montreal’s economic and financial activity was still mostly conducted in the area known now as Old Montreal. On the ground floor, there was a reception room directly across from the main entrance, and a large draughting room to the rear. The rooms on the first floor may have housed the partners’ private offices, but the plans do not indicate that for sure. On each of the second and third floor, a room was devoted to an artist’s studio, with the windows overlooking the square. Modifications to the main façade on Beaver Hall Square increased the size of the north-facing windows on the second and third floor, to maximise the northern exposure in the artist’s studios. These windows were nestled within an oversized dormer, and the Mansard roof was modified accordingly. Artists C. Horne Russell (693), the Des Clayes sisters and Laura Munz all worked there at some point. Early on, an annex to the rear extended the ground floor west to Union Avenue. This one-storey addition was flat-roofed, with two skylights, providing more space and light to the overcrowded draughting room. A new elevation to Union Street was devised with show windows capped by a simplified pediment.. In 1911, as the firm reached the peak of its activity and fame, with up to 50 draughtsmen on the payroll, it badly needed additional space. A whole storey was added on top of the previous extension at the rear, bringing the Union Street elevation now to two floors high. Amelia M. Parent ran the office for many decades. According to Mary Maxwell Rabbani, daughter of William S. Maxwell, Mrs. Parent, the loyal and efficient administrative assistant, performed the most diverse tasks for many decades. A decrease in activity, already felt after World War One, intensified after Edward Maxwell’s death in 1923. In 1954, the firm Maxwell and Pitts ceased its operations. In the 1950s, Dorchester Street was widened and renamed Dorchester Boulevard. This commercial building was demolished and a tall office building now stands in its place, at the south west corner of the Square du Frère André and René-Lévesque Boulevard.

Holdings: Office building (addition: 1 floor); brick; wall bearing
4 Drawings: 4 ink on linen
3 Working drawings: floor plans, section
1 Detail drawing: skylight