Fonds RG-16 - City of Edmonton. City Architect and Building Inspector's Department fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

City of Edmonton. City Architect and Building Inspector's Department fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record
  • Graphic material - photograph
  • Architectural drawing
  • Technical drawing
  • Cartographic material

Parallel title

Town of Edmonton Building and Fire Inspector; Property and Building Management Department

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title based on name of creator.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA EDM RG-16

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1871-1977, predominant 1945-1970 (Creation)
    Creator
    City Architect and Building Inspector's Department

Physical description area

Physical description

5.05 m textual records and other material

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

Parallel titles of publisher's series

Other title information of publisher's series

Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1909-1970)

Administrative history

The Department for the Inspection of Buildings was established in 1909 by Bylaw 207. Prior to this the City employed a Building and Fire Inspector and a Plumbing Inspector, but they did not operate independently, and were likely part of the Engineer’s Department.

The Department for the Inspection of Buildings was responsible for the enforcement of building codes; providing building permits; the survey and inspection of buildings, scaffolding, and building sites; recording complaints made to the office; and the protection of buildings against fires and accident.

When it was established in 1909 the Department for the Inspection of Buildings was led the Inspector of Buildings. This position led the department until 1926, when building inspector Norman A. McIvor died while in office and was replaced by John Martland. Martland had been employed as the architect with the Engineer’s Department. In accepting the new position he was expected to continue his previous duties as well as fulfill those of the building inspector. It was at this time that the department became the Architect’s and Building Inspector’s Department, and the head became the City Architect and Building Inspector.

As of 1931, this department was responsible for providing plumbing permits, gas permits, moving permits, curb pump permits, and sign permits in addition to building permits. The department was also responsible for janitorial work at City buildings, and operation of the elevator at Civic Block.

By the 1950s the department’s responsibilities had grown. In 1952 the mandate of the Architect’s and Building Inspector’s Department was to provide architectural services for City buildings, approve building plans and issue permits, issue overhead sign permits, conduct inspections on construction to ensure City building code was being followed, conduct exams for trades certificates (but not for electricians), make recommendations concerning construction bylaws, the maintenance of civic buildings (except utilities and engineering departments) and provide mail service to City offices.

In 1957 the department took over responsibility for construction of all new City buildings. The department also worked with the Architectural Panel (established in 1950) to approve the construction of certain buildings.

By 1959 the internal structure had been simplified to only four sections: Accounting; Building Maintenance (which included a mail and security section); the Assistant City Architect; and an Inspection Division for building plans, construction, plumbing and heating.

By 1965, the department was headed by the City Architect and divided into three divisions: Architectural Design, Building Inspection, and Building Maintenance. The Architectural Design Division provided architectural services and advice to civic departments on construction projects. The Building Inspection Division inspected and controlled the construction of buildings and structures erected within city limits. The Building Maintenance Division provided and maintained working facilities for City staff in various City-owned buildings. This division also supervised janitorial staff, maintenance and carried out building alterations.

The Architect’s and Building Inspector’s Department was dissolved in 1970. The successors to the Architect’s and Building Inspector’s Department were the Planning Department (Building Inspection Branch) and the Property and Building Management Department (Architecture Branch, Maintenance, and Edmonton Community Housing Organization).

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of reports, minutes, correspondence, blueprints, and other records relating to the business of the Architect and Building Inspector's Department and its predecessors.

An order has been imposed on the material. The arrangement includes 7 series which are as follows:

  • Series 1: Administrative Records
  • Series 2: Civic Buildings
  • Series 3: Inspection Services
  • Series 4: Other Photos
  • Series 5: Architectural Panel
  • Series 6: Permanent Revisions Committee for the City of Edmonton Building Code
  • Series 7: Board of Examiners and Appeals From the City of Edmonton Building Code

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

This material was transferred to the City of Edmonton Archives by the Corporate Records Centre by various departments between 1964 and 1996.

Arrangement

The photographs were assigned item numbers with the prefix EA-97 and ET-1.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    These records contain information that is protected in alignment with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Copyright may apply.
    Reproduction restrictions may apply.

    Finding aids

    Associated materials

    Accruals

    Further accruals are expected.

    General note

    Accession numbers: A64-156, A69-38, A70-10, A70-18, A72-18, A72-58, A73-36, A73-57, A75-121, A76-159, A78-22, A81-59, A81-68, A82-77, A83-86, A92-101, A92-110, A96-185

    Physical description

    This fonds also contains 1687 photographs, 106 35 mm slides, 491 architectural drawings, 15 technical drawings, and 4 maps.

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Control area

    Description record identifier

    Institution identifier

    City of Edmonton Archives

    Rules or conventions

    Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
    Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms

    Status

    Final

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Language of description

      Script of description

        Sources

        Accession area