ALBRECHTSEN, Hans Oluf Andreas (1882-1955) was a native of Copenhagen, Denmark and was an early pioneer of architecture in the Canadian prairie region. Born on 20 November 1882 he attended technical school in Denmark for three years and then enrolled in a 'private school for architects under the tutelage of an architect from the Royal Academy in Copenhagen. He received three years of practical building training there and emigrated to Canada in late 1907. Albrechtsen commenced practice in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in April 1908 and was said to have 'designed four public schools, a number of business blocks and residences, a city hall, and church (H.J. Boam, Twentieth Century Impressions of Canada, 1914, 629, illus.). He left Prince Albert in 1915 to serve in the Canadian Forces during World War I, and upon returning to Canada he settled at Toronto, Ont. where he opened an office in 1920 and executed some minor works. He was in partnership with Gordon Rennie from 1932 until 1934. Albrechtsen died in Toronto on 17 November 1955 (obituary in the Globe & Mail [Toronto], 19 Nov. 1955, 4; inf. from the Sask. Association. of Architects; Ontario Association of Architects). A photographic portrait and biography of Albrechtsen appeared in the Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 21 February 1916, 5.
Hans O.A. ALBRECHTSEN (works in Prince Albert, Sask. unless noted)
HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC HOSPITAL, 15th Street West, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 13 April 1910, 27, t.c.)
POLLOCK BLOCK, River Street West, for J.H. Pollock, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 20 July 1910, 27)
CENTRAL AVENUE, a theatre, possibly the Orpheum Theatre, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 27 July 1910, 25)
RUSSELL-BAKER PACKING CO., abattoir, for Norman H. Russell, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 3 Aug. 1910, 25)
AVENUE HOTEL, Central Avenue, addition for M.C. Tynen, 1911 (C.R , xxv, 8 Nov. 1911, 62, t.c.)
WINDSOR HOTEL, 6th Street at 2nd Avenue West, for John & J. Fred Marion, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 13 March 1912, 73)
HUMBOLDT, SASK., St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, Eighth Avenue, 1912; demol. 2004 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 16 March 1912, 5)
HUMBOLDT, SASK., City Hall & Fire Hall, 1912 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 16 March 1912, 5)
HUMBOLDT, SASK., General Hospital, 1912 (Saskatoon Daily Star, 16 March 1912, 5)
Hans O.A. ALBRECHTSEN (works in Toronto)
WALMER ROAD, at Bernard Avenue, residence for Ralph Jacobs, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 9 Aug. 1922, 51)
GLENCAIRN AVENUE, at Duplex Avenue, row of four houses for M.C. Henderson, 1927 (Daily Commercial News [Toronto], 17 Sept. 1927, 5)
SHERBOURNE STREET, at Wellesley Street East, nine storey apartment block, 1928; demol.(C.R., xlii, 21 March 1928, 67, t.c.)
INGLEWOOD HOSPITAL, St. Clair Avenue West, 1929 (Canadian Hotel Review, vii, Aug. 1929, 32)
(with Gordon Rennie) FOXBAR ROAD, residence for Alexander Groat, 1932 (dwgs. at OA)