Frank Worthington Simon, a former student at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, got his design picked from among 67 applications for the building of the spectacular tower. Tyndall stone, mined about 20 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg, was used in the construction, which began in 1913. The total cost was $1 million (1913 dollars). The building was officially opened on July 4, 1915. It is one of the most famous architectural works of its time and still stands today as one of the city's landmarks. In fact, it is regarded as one of the premier examples of Neoclassical architecture in Canada. The main entrance features two large blocks with Ionic columns supporting an entablature and pediment. There are also smaller entrances located on the side elevations. Inside the building there are three floors of offices, a gallery, and a ballroom that can be converted into a series of meeting rooms. A board of trade room is also on the third floor. The legislative assembly met for the first time in the new building on January 23, 1916. A fire destroyed much of the top floor early in 1945 but there were no injuries reported. The board of trade room was used to hold meetings during this time period. After the fire, renovations were done to restore the interior of the building to its original condition.