Photo via the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation.
On December 20, architect Allan Waisman passed away. He was 89.  Born in Winnipeg in 1928, Allan Harvie Waisman was the only child of immigrants Rubin and Bessie Waisman. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1950. In 1953, he founded an architectural practice with Jack Ross and they started by designing several small rural hospitals. Waisman Ross also designed Winnipeg’s New York Life building, a landmark modernist two-storey glass and steel office structure, which is currently being restored. The firm won two silver Massey medals, one for Allan’s family cottage in Husavik, an open glass and wood structure built entirely around a large fireplace. Allan applied his original sense of design to his family homes, all of which were unusual. In the 1960s the firm designed a unique office at 10 Donald St., and merged with another firm to become Waisman, Ross, Blankstein, Coop, Gillmore, Hanna, later changing their name to Number TEN Architects. They designed the Manitoba Theatre Centre (now a National Historic Site), and Allan was active on its board. As well, he was on the board of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
Waisman moved to Vancouver in 1971. He had already formed a business relationship with R.C. Baxter, a prominent developer. Allan designed one of their projects, a group of three office towers on Hastings. The new Waisman Architectural Group repu...