Rule Wynn and Rule


Rule Wynn and Rule was a Canadian architectural firm that had offices in Calgary and Edmonton. The firm is noted for its prominent role in bringing modern architecture to Alberta.

History

Founded by John Ulric Rule and Gordon K. Wynn in Edmonton in 1938, they were joined a year later by Rule's brother, Peter Leitch Rule. The initial partnership came about as neither Rule nor Wynn could find work. All three partners were graduates of the school of architecture at the University of Alberta.
During World War II the Rule brother's father, also named Peter, took charge of the firm. Peter worked as a building inspector for Alberta Government Telephones and during his time with the firm designed several telephone exchange buildings across the province. Although not trained as an architect, in January 1941 he was given a special certificate by the Alberta Association of Architects.
In 1945 the firm opened a second office in Calgary which was headed by Peter Rule. This office closed in 1986.
Since 1938, the firm has undergone several name and partner changes including Wynn Forbes Lord Architects, Wynn Forbes Lord Feldberg Schmidt Architects, Schmidt Feldberg Croll Henderson Architects, Henderson Inglis Architects and HIP Architects. In 2008, Next Architecture Inc. became a shareholding partner of the firm through Allan Partridge. In 2011, Next Architecture separated from the other partners to avoid an anticipated merger with Kasian. In 2012, on the cusp of its 75 year anniversary, Stewart Inglis and Randy Krebes merged HIP with Kasian Architecture, Planning and Interior Design. In 2024, emeritus partners Craig Henderson and Stewart Inglis signed an attestation along with current partner Allan Partridge to confirm that Next Architecture is a natural successor of the firm Rule Wynn and Rule, established in 1938. As such, Next Architecture is one of the longest continuously operating architectural firms in western Canada.
The records of both the Edmonton and Calgary firms are held at the Canadian Architectural Archives in Calgary.