Isadore "Issie" Coop (1926–2003) was a Canadian architect and a Fellow of the

Royal Architectural Institute of Canada The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is a not-for-profit, national organization that has represented architects and architecture for over 100 years, in existence since 1907. The RAIC is the leading voice for excellence in the built ...

, with a reputation for highly functional, cost-effective architecture. A student of the famed American-German architect

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ( ; ; born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies; March 27, 1886August 17, 1969) was a German-American architect. He was commonly referred to as Mies, his surname. Along with Alvar Aalto, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius and Frank Lloyd ...

, Coop brought the Miesian style to Winnipeg, and changed the face of Winnipeg architecture, according to one writer."Architect changed the face of Winnipeg", Kevin Rollason, Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday, December 4, 2003. Isadore (Issie) Coop

Formative years

Coop was born in Winnipeg in 1926. His father died when Coop was 12 years old. As a result, his family lived in poverty for many years, behind a corner grocery store run by his mother in the north end of Winnipeg. Coop delivered bread on a bicycle to help make ends meet.Interview with Coop's widow, Cynthia Coop, February, 2017. Coop received a non-secular Jewish education at the I. L. Peretz Folk School in Winnipeg. This, and the poverty of his childhood, influenced his values for his entire life. Coop was always caring for the needs of the disadvantaged in our society. Coop also attended Isaac Newton School in Winnipeg, excelling in science and mathematics. It was also at Isaac Newton that Coop discovered his love of art and drawing. The combination of science and art would naturally draw him to architecture.

Early years of study

In 1947, Coop was awarded the Manitoba Association of Architects Scholarship and the Isbister Scholarship in Architecture. In 1948, Coop obtained his Bachelor of Architecture from the

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a Canadian public research university in the province of Manitoba. From 1951-53, Coop attended the

Illinois Institute of Technology Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Tracing its history to 1890, the present name was adopted upon the merger of the Armour Institute and Lewis Institute in 1940. The university has prog ...

(IIT), studying with the famed architectural Modernist

. He graduated with a Masters of Science in Architecture. The Miesian aphorisms "less is more" and "God is in the details" would influence Coop's work his entire career.

Blankstein, Coop

Coop returned to Winnipeg and continued his work at GBR for several years, where he was involved with such projects as the new Winnipeg General Post Office on Graham Avenue and the Manitoba Power Commission Building on Portage Avenue. However, in 1956 he struck out to create his own architectural partnership with his colleague at GBR and schoolmate at IIT, Morley Blankstein. The firm Blankstein Coop was born. In 1957, Blankstein Coop came second in an Alcan competition for a Toronto office building. In 1958, the firm competed against 90 other architects in a national competition for the new Winnipeg City Hall, for which they received an honourable mention. In 1959, Blankstein and Coop were joined by architects Alan Hanna and R. Douglas Gillmor to form Blankstein, Coop, Gillmor and Hanna. In 1962, the expanded firm won a national competition for the Mendel Art Gallery and Conservatory in Saskatoon (constructed in 1965),The Mendel Art Gallery project was led by partner-in-charge Al Hanna and design architect Doug Gillmor. a major creative cultural centre for that city. It also won an award for the Canadian Housing Design Council for a multi-housing development at the corner of Grant and Centennial.

Architectural Group

In 1964, the firm joined Allan Waisman and Jack Ross of Waisman Ross Architects, to form Waisman Ross – Blankstein, Coop, Gillmor and Hanna. In 1969, when the long firm name proved too unwieldy, it was changed to the more whimsical Number Ten Architectural Group (or "Number Ten", after the firm's Winnipeg address at 10 Donald Street). At Number Ten, Coop led many architecturally significant projects, including the University of Manitoba Student Union Building (also known as University Centre), with Number Ten architect Carl Nelson, Jr. In 1970, he was partner-in-charge of Number Ten's collaboration with architect

Gustavo Da Roza Gustavo Uriel da Roza II, (born 24 February 1933) is a Canadian architect best known for his work on the Winnipeg Art Gallery. In 1988, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. ...

on the

Winnipeg Art Gallery The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) is an art museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Its permanent collection includes over 24,000 works from Canadian, Indigenous Canadian, and international artists. The museum also holds the world's largest collect ...

. In 1977, Coop would again successfully collaborate with Da Roza on their submission to the National Gallery Competition, for which their entry was awarded second place, after John C. Parkin’s. Other significant Winnipeg projects on which Coop led design and production include a consortium for the

Winnipeg Convention Centre The RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg (formerly the Winnipeg Convention Centre) is a major meeting and convention centre located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It has five levels including indoor parking for 729 vehicles, and three levels ...

(1972-1974), the Royal Trust Tower, and the Rupertsland Square Complex. He also led the firm's work on the Canadian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, seven major buildings at the University of Manitoba, two high-rise Sheraton Hotels for Winnipeg and Hamilton, five multiple housing-commercial projects for Lakeview Development of Winnipeg, and two shopping centre projects for Fairweather Properties of Winnipeg.

Portage Place

In 1984, Coop was appointed as CEO of the North Portage Development Corporation, a corporation created and funded by three levels government (municipal, provincial and federal) in a controversial attempt to redevelop and revitalize the north side of Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg. To accept this appointment, Coop retired from Number Ten. The resulting structure,

Portage Place Portage Place is a mixed-use shopping centre located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Covering , it is located on the north side of Portage Avenue, between Vaughan and Carlton Streets and opened in September 1987. History In the early 1 ...

, was constructed in 1987. It has significantly altered the vitality of Winnipeg's downtown core. The enclosed mall, covering three city blocks, with large, naturally lighted indoor atriums and a sky walk system linking Portage Place to the Bay, One Canada Centre, and the Carlton Building, has altered Winnipeg's cityscape.

Service to the Profession and Community

As a member of the Manitoba Association of Architects, Ontario Association of Architects, Saskatchewan Association of Architects, and Chartered Architect in the Republic of Zambia, and a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Coop was deeply involved in the profession. During his early years Coop worked as a part-time lecturer and design and thesis critic at the School of Architecture at the University of Manitoba. In 1961, he was appointed a member of the Building Commission of the City of Winnipeg, a volunteer position which he held from 1961 to 1969, where he also served as its Vice-Chairman. He also served as a volunteer member of the Part 3 Committee for the Manitoba Building Code. Such service reflected his interest in improving the quality and functionality of architecture, as did his volunteer service on three committees for the National Building Code - the Standing Committee for Use and Occupancy (Member), the High-Rise Subcommittee (Chairman), and the Associate Committee (Member). It further reflected Coop's appreciation of the important role played by legislation in establishing standards to protect the public and ensure its safety. Coop was elected president of the Manitoba Association of Architects (MAA) in 1963, and served as Chairman or Member of many MAA committees (Committee on Metropolitan Planning and Codes, Fees Committee, Professional Usage Committee). Coop was elected to the College of Fellows for the

(RAIC) in 1964 – the youngest fellow ever appointed by the RAIC. He subsequently served on the board of directors of the RAIC Foundation, the RAIC Committee on Education, and the RAIC Legal Documents Committee. In February 1994, Coop was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the MAA. Coop served on the boards of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and was involved with the YMHA and the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews. Coop also provided pro bono architectural services for the replanning of four departments at the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, and to various charities, such as the St. Amant Centre for children with disabilities, run by the Grey Nuns of Winnipeg.

Major Architectural Works

Coop's major architectural works include: * Manitoba Power Commission Building, 1955 * Winnipeg General Post Office, 1958 * Isbister Building, University of Manitoba, 1961 * Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba (formerly the Pharmacy Building), 1962 * Joyce Fromson Swimming Pool Building, University of Manitoba, 1964-65 * Mendel Art Gallery and Conservatory, Saskatoon, 1965 *

Kildonan Park Kildonan Park is a park in the West Kildonan area of northern Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Established in 1909 as a park, it features the Peguis Pavilion, Rainbow Stage, the Witch's Hut, an Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool, duck pond, and s ...

Peguis Pavilion, Winnipeg, 1965 * Fletcher Argue Building, University of Manitoba, 1967 * Canadian Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan, 1967 * University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 * The Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1971 * St. Amant Centre, 1972 * Frank Kennedy Centre, University of Manitoba, 1972 *

, 1974 * Rupertsland Square Complex, 1977 * Royal Trust Tower, Winnipeg, 1981 * Duckworth Center, University of Winnipeg, 1983 * Manitoba Provincial Law Courts, 1985 Other smaller scale works of note: * Man With An Axe Clothing Store (Clifford's Ladies Wear), 412 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, 1958 * Row Housing at 745-757 Centennial Street, Winnipeg, 1959 * Private Residence, 829 Lanark Street, Winnipeg, 1958. * Private Residence, 811 Lanark Street, Winnipeg, 1959. * Private Residence, 512 South Drive, Winnipeg, 1967.

Gallery

File:Manitoba Power Commission Building, 1955.jpg, Manitoba Power Commission Building, 1955 File:Winnipeg General Post Office, 1958.jpg, Winnipeg General Post Office, 1958 File:Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba (formerly the Pharmacy Building), 1962.jpg, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba (formerly the Pharmacy Building), 1962 File:Fletcher Argue Building, 1967.jpg, Fletcher Argue Building, University of Manitoba, 1967 File:Canadian Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan, 1967.jpg, Canadian Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan, 1967 File:University Centre, University of Manitoba Student Union Building, 1969.jpg, University Centre, University of Manitoba Student Union Building, 1969 File:University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 (4).jpg, University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 (4) File:University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 (1).jpg, University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 (1) File:University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 (2).jpg, University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 (2) File:University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 (3).jpg, University Centre (University of Manitoba Student Union Building), 1969 (3) File:Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1971.jpg, Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1971 File:The Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1971 - Main Staircase.jpg, The Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1971 - Main Staircase File:St. Amant Centre, 1972.jpg, St. Amant Centre, Winnipeg, 1972 File:St. Amant Centre, 1972 (2).jpg, St. Amant Centre, 1972 (2) File:Winnipeg Convention Centre, 1974.jpg, Winnipeg Convention Centre, 1974 File:Rupertsland Square Complex, 1977.jpg, Rupertsland Square Complex, 1977 File:Royal Trust Tower, 1981.jpg, Royal Trust Tower, Winnipeg, 1981 File:Duckworth Centre, University of Winnipeg, 1983.jpg, Duckworth Centre, University of Winnipeg, 1983 File:Duckworth Center, University of Winnipeg, 1983.jpg, Duckworth Center, University of Winnipeg, 1983 File:Manitoba Provincial Law Courts, 1985 (2).jpg, Manitoba Provincial Law Courts, 1985 (2) File:Manitoba Provincial Law Courts, 1985.jpg, Manitoba Provincial Law Courts, 1985 File:Row Housing at 745-757 Centennial Street, Winnipeg, 1959.jpg, Row Housing at 745-757 Centennial Street, Winnipeg, 1959 File:Private Residence, 829 Lanark Street, Winnipeg, 1958.jpg, Private Residence, 829 Lanark Street, Winnipeg, 1958 File:Private Residence, 811 Lanark Street, Winnipeg, 1959.jpg, Private Residence, 811 Lanark Street, Winnipeg, 1959 File:Private Residence, 512 South Drive, Winnipeg, 1967 (2).jpg, Private Residence, 512 South Drive, Winnipeg, 1967 (2) File:Private Residence, 512 South Drive, Winnipeg, 1967.jpg, Private Residence, 512 South Drive, Winnipeg, 1967

Bursary

The Isadore Coop Bursary in Architecture at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Architecture, was created in remembrance of Coop's vision and values on the importance of supporting those in financial need. It is awarded each year to a student who shows promise of continued outstanding work in the Master of Architecture program and who has demonstrated financial need.

References

External links

Number TEN Legacy, The Origins of Number TENNumber Ten Architectural Group websiteFlickr website by the Number Ten Architectural GroupSt. Amant Centre websiteMemorable Manitobans: Isadore “Issie” Coop (1926-2003)Business and Trade Magazine, "Number Ten Architectural Group - 55 Years of Architectural & Design Excellence"Coop Isadore - Obituaries - Winnipeg Free Press PassagesManitoba Association of Architects, Firm Profile, Number Ten Architectural Group
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coop, Isadore (Issie) Canadian architects 1926 births 2003 deaths