Empire Iron Works - 50th Anniversary

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An Iron Will: Empire Iron Works Ltd. Stands Strong for Over 50 Years By Nerissa McNaughton

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owering above the famed Stephen Avenue in Calgary are rows of iron “trees.” In addition to adding an element of art and design to the famous walk, the “trees” do double duty by reducing wind gusts between the buildings. It is clear that these beautiful, winding structures required a great deal of creativity, precision, and expertise to create – but thankfully Empire Iron Works Ltd. has creativity, precision and expertise in abundance; and they are the masterminds behind Stephen Avenue’s iron trees. Although Empire Iron Works Ltd. has worked on some of Calgary’s most iconic structures, their story starts two provinces to the east in Winnipeg. Four German gentlemen, Erich Rode, Konrad Messer, Bill Rolke and Arno Swirijuk, opened Empire Iron in 1958 as an ornamental iron company. While the head office remains in Winnipeg, the Edmonton office (and Wabamun fabrication shop) opened in the late ’70s. Today the company is no longer a partnership, but owned by a publically traded company.

Empire Iron Works Ltd. | 50 Years | 1


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