A Legacy Rooted in Community
Since 1954, LM-ESP has created a legacy of high quality architecture and interior design focused on enhancing the lives of people and building vibrant, sustainable communities. From our home base in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we’ve built a trusted and nationally recognized practice committed to the highest standards of design for clients and building users throughout Manitoba and across North America. We invite you to explore the evolution of our practice through the influential work, people and partnerships that have helped make us who we are today.
1954
It Begins With a Vision
Friends and University of Manitoba School of Architecture graduates Gerald Libling and Mel Michener share a vision of redefining the architectural fabric of Winnipeg and the greater region. Together, they establish Libling Michener and Associates, a firm committed to excellent client service and transforming the city’s urban core through a modernist architecture style.
1956
The firm secures an eight-storey addition to the iconic Marlborough Hotel, incorporating the latest in building technologies. It opens in 1960 to much fanfare with modern air-conditioned suites, adjacent eight-storey parkade and a double-height Skyview Ballroom on the top floor.
Marlborough Hotel. Photo: RAIC Journal, Vol 32, No. 10
1958
The designs of École Taché and Warren School earn honourable mentions for Massey Medals – prestigious awards that recognize architectural excellence in Canada.
1959
The Manitoba Medical Services Building on Empress Street marks the firm’s first major commercial project, which remains a vibrant work hub to this day as the home of Manitoba Blue Cross.
Manitoba Medical Services Building
1960’s
Building on a Strong Foundation
As a young firm thriving on early success, Libling Michener and Associates develop a national reputation for innovative, socially responsible architecture. The growing, talented team of professionals continues to meet client needs in a practical and creative fashion that reaps prestigious honours in the industry. architecture style.
1961
Libling Michener and Associates become the first Winnipeg-based architecture firm to earn Massey Medals of Excellence for the designs of Executive House, Chapel St. Louis Le Roi and Winnipeg Hydro Substation No.21. Executive House becomes one of the first Winnipeg structures built overtop ground-level parking and is lauded as an excellent example of elegant design on a small site.
Executive House
1964
The cutting-edge design of St. Paul’s High School — organized around an interior courtyard and access to natural light — earns a Massey Gold Medal.
St. Paul’s High School
1968
After designing the Manitoba Teachers’ Society’s first building, the firm gains a loyal client and is brought on to design their next, much larger home on Portage Avenue. McMaster House earns a MAA Award of Excellence, becomes a revered example of brutalist architecture in Winnipeg and remains home to the Society to this day.
McMaster House
1962
An eight-storey complex in River Heights called Grosvenor House marks the tallest building in Canada designed with pre-cast concrete and receives a Canadian Housing Design Award.
Grosvenor House
1966
St. John Brebeuf Church is celebrated by Canadian Architect for its modernist design that evokes a sense of oneness in a contemplative setting.
St. John Brebeuf Church
1970’s
The Evolution of Design
A time to help shape the future of Winnipeg’s downtown and expand the practice, Libling Michener and Associates establish Environmental Space Planning (ESP) in 1970 as the specialized interior design arm. Recognizing interior design played a key role in the company’s success since day one, the launch of ESP supported a stronger focus on interiors for both architectural and standalone interiors design projects.
1971
Victoria General Hospital, the firm’s first major healthcare hub opens to the public with a bright, uplifting interior. This project sparks an ongoing 50-year partnership to modernize healthcare amenities and expand facilities over time.
Victoria General Hospital
1972
Construction begins on Lakeview Square – a key development in downtown Winnipeg that includes the Holiday Inn, two residential towers, commercial buildings and reserved green space.
1970
Several student/faculty buildings help define today’s Red River College Polytechnic at its Notre Dame Campus, including the “Tower,” exterior plaza and underground networks. The same year, Sturgeon Heights Regional Secondary School opens as a major vocational and academic high school in Winnipeg.
Red River College
Holiday Inn, Downtown Winnipeg
1973
Following the retirement of Gerald Libling, the firm changes its name to The LM Architectural Group.
1975
The Winnipeg Convention Centre opens, designed by the LM Architectural Group in consortium with Number TEN Architectural Group. It marks the first events hub to be so closely integrated into a city’s downtown core in Canada.
1977
Rupertsland Square (444 St. Mary Ave.) expands the footprint of downtown Winnipeg with a 17-storey office tower, two storey podium and six storey parkade. Designed in collaboration with Number TEN Architectural Group and originally the home of Inter City Gas, it remains a fixture in the city’s core today.
Winnipeg Convention Centre

Rupertsland Square

1980’s

History in the Making

With over two decades of experience designing large scale projects, the firm seizes new opportunities in both architecture and interior design. LM Architectural Group and Environmental Space Planning continue to amass deep experience in healthcare, education, commercial, civic, residential and corporate design throughout the decade.

1983

The CFB Air Command Building opens along Ness Avenue as a state of the art headquarters facility with a strong focus on security and energy conservation.

1984

The firm completes wide-ranging design services for Bank of Montreal branch locations across the prairies over several years, including carrying out interior renovations at the iconic Portage and Main location in Winnipeg.

CFB Air Command Building

1985

Major projects such as the Dauphin General Hospital Redevelopment and Pine Falls Hospital deepen the firm’s knowledge and experience in healthcare design.

Dauphin General Hospital Redevelopment

1988

Ashdown Warehouse becomes one of Winnipeg’s first commercial to residential building conversions and the first in the Exchange District. The groundbreaking renovation is recognized with a Heritage Preservation Award.

Ashdown Warehouse

Bank of Montreal, Portage and Main

1987

The firm designs the Morden Research Centre in collaboration with Smith Carter. Consisting of greenhouses, labs, offices and interior courtyards, the modern facility creates new opportunities in agriculture and horticulture research in the prairies.

Morden Research Centre

1990’s

Next Generation of Leadership

With a new era of management, the firm focuses on servicing the community, caring for the environment and developing the practice. Mel Michener retires in 1996 as Terry Danelley and Jim Orlikow take over the partnership, establishing the current iteration of LM Architectural Group and Environmental Space Planning. David Kressock joins the partnership in 1999.

1992

Elephant and Castle opens its doors on the ground floor of downtown Winnipeg’s Holiday Inn. The project kicks off a 15-year partnership, leading to the completion of more than two dozen Elephant and Castle locations from San Francisco to Boston.

Elephant and Castle

1995

Parkland Recreation Complex opens in Dauphin. This multi- phased project includes curling rinks, hockey arenas and Manitoba’s first indoor wave pool, creating a springboard for the firm’s recreational portfolio to take off.

Parkland Recreation Complex

1998

A contract with Safeway Canada evolves into designing new stores, distribution hubs and retrofitting Safeway locations across the country. This relationship is still thriving today, following the acquisition of Safeway by Sobeys in 2013.

Aspen Landing Safeway, Calgary

1993

Boundary Trails Health Centre is a catalyst project that cements the firm’s reputation as a major player in Western Canadian healthcare design. Brandon Regional Health Centre, Humboldt Health Centre and Riverside Health Facilities follow soon after.

Brandon Regional Health Centre

1997

Boundary Trails Health Centre is a catalyst project that cements the firm’s reputation as a major player in Western Canadian healthcare design. Brandon Regional Health Centre, Humboldt Health Centre and Riverside Health Facilities follow soon after.

Long and McQuade, Vancouver

2000’s

A New Era Defined

The turn-of-the century sees the firm take on new, award-winning architecture and interior design work with a strong focus on leadership in sustainable design. Working in a broad range of design sectors, the team grows in step with the volume of projects in communities across Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and Western Canada.

2003

A new state-of-the-art headquarters and lab for major biomedical research firm Cangene Corporation Ltd. is one of the first buildings to open at the University of Manitoba Smart Park. The multi-phased project captures a Prairie Design Award of Merit.

2004

Mike Isbister becomes the first Professional Interior Designer to join the partnership as the leader of Environmental Space Planning.

2016

ARTlab opens as an influential arts complex at the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry Campus. Designed in collaboration with Patkau Architects, the facility reaps national acclaim including a Governor General’s Award of Excellence.

ARTlab

Also in 2016, the major renovation and expansion of RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg wraps up to ensue Winnipeg can offer a globally competitive event centre. The design was developed in joint venture with Number TEN Architectural Group and Seattle-based LMN Architects as Design Consultants.

RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

2017

Selkirk Regional Health Centre opens as an all-new medical facility in Manitoba. The building achieves LEED Gold with a focus on holistic wellbeing and modern medical amenities.

Selkirk Regional Health Centre

Today

Creating Spaces that Inspire

Today, LM | ESP is a multi-disciplinary design firm with a reinvigorated vision of designing enriched environments for all to live, work, play and heal.

Our partnership consists of David Kressock, Mike Isbister, Shelly Slobodzian, Corey Greenham, Matthew Bowering and Jon Trenholm. As former partners, Terry Danelley serves as a senior advisor and Jim Orlikow retired from the firm in 2022. Together, with a diverse staffing compliment of architects, interior designers and building technologists, we are committed to thoughtful, high quality architecture and interior design that produces a lasting impact for the clients and communities we serve.