Studio Bell, National Music Centre: Part 3

A continuation of my photo set from Studio Bell in Calgary, Alberta.

Former Fire Station #2 in Medicine Hat, Alberta

Earlier this year the former Fire Station #2 located on Dunmore Road in Medicine Hat, Alberta was up for sale. With a new fire station opened on Trans Canada Way, the future of this distinct structure seemed uncertain. Flash forward to this past week and renovations to transform the former fire hall into a unique commercial space have begun.

The local couple who purchased the fire station sent me a message last week asking if I'd like to come and explore the building. As it turned it out they were just beginning to remove some of the drop ceilings so the space otherwise looked pretty much unchanged from when the firefighters had vacated it. While it's certainly not the most conventional renovation, the two expressed how they plan to maintain some of the unique characteristics of the fire hall. This should definitely be an interesting transformation to keep an eye on, not unlike some of the other unique spaces (like the Beveridge Block or Earl Kitchener) that I've documented in Medicine Hat.

Inside the hose tower of the former fire station.

Kinsol Trestle on Vancouver Island

Completed in 1920, the Kinsol Trestle is a former railway bridge on Vancouver Island that was restored and converted for use by pedestrians and cyclists in 2011. The bridge spans the Koksilah River and forms part of the Trans Canada Trail network. As one of the largest wooden trestle bridges in the world, crossing the Kinsol Trestle is a memorable experience, heightened by the incredible views of the surrounding Cowichan Valley.  

Archival image of a train crossing the former railway trestle.