Fonds C 16 - R.E. McDonnell fonds

Reginald Edwardes McDonnell (1887- 1963) was an architect based in Hamilton, Ontario, between the 1920's and 1940's.

Born in Liverpool, England, McDonnell attended King's College, Rock Ferry, Cheshire, and the Technical School, Birkenhead. Between 1908-1911, he apprenticed and was an architectural assistant with the Liverpool architects, Huon A. Matear and F.W. Simon. McDonnell later worked for Henry Woodhouse, Civil engineer of Liverpool, as an overseer of various projects and then for Gilbert Fraser, Architect and Engineer of Liverpool.

McDonnell emigrated to Canada in 1911. He was first employed in Canada by the Montreal firm of Brown and Vallance from 1911-1912. He thereupon proceeded to Calgary where he was a partner in the firm of Burrell and McDonnell from 1912- 1914. From 1919 to 1923, he was retained as architect by the Merchants Bank of Canada. In 1923, he moved to Hamilton where he remained the rest of his life. From 1923 to 1928, he was the junior partner in the firm of Warren and McDonnell. Frederick W. Warren of Dundas was the senior partner. From 1928-1942, he continued alone as architect , and in 1942 he formed a partnership with Charles Lenz.

Notable projects of R.E. McDonnell include: Ranchman's Club, Calgary, Alberta, 1913; the Norton Palmer Hotel, Windsor, Ontario, 1928; the Refectory Building at Queenston Heights, Ontario, 1940; and the approach from the Queen Elizabeth Way to the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie, 1942-1943. In addition, McDonnell designed residences for many prominent Hamilton citizens along Aberdeen Avenue and the Westdale suburbs.