Kingston Powell Building

The Kingston Powell Building is an important representative of commercial buildings that sprang up along Edmonton's main thoroughfares, such as Namayo Avenue, in the early part of the century. Built in 1907, it is characteristic of the buildings that were erected in the busiest time of the pre-World War One boom in Edmonton. Namayo Avenue was a significant commercial location in Edmonton in that period and remained so until the 1920's and 30's when the commercial core moved west.

The site has significance for its association with Kingston Powell, farmer turned business property owner, who was listed as owner and architect for the property. Kingston Powell was a very early settler in the Edmonton area, present during the Riel Rebellion. Powell is representative of the group of early settlers who initially farmed, but later chose to invest in the construction of urban buildings.

The Kingston Powell Building is also notable for its architecture as an early Edwardian-era example of a building using prefabricated materials, such as the pressed metal siding with stone imprint still present on the building, to represent classically-inspired decorations that were popular at the time. It is representative of the economical, utilitarian structures most often found in early commercial areas, most of which are now demolished, and has value as one of a small number of surviving examples. It originally provided both commercial and living space, with stores at the ground level and residential accommodations above.