for the new Winnipeg City Hall, for which they received an honourable mention. In 1959, Blankstein and Coop were joined by architects Alan Hanna and R. Douglas Gillmor to form Blankstein, Coop, Gillmor and Hanna. In 1962, the expanded firm won a national competition for the Mendel Art Gallery and Conservatory in Saskatoon (constructed in 1965), a major creative cultural centre for that city. It also won an award for the Canadian Housing Design Council for a multi-housing development at the corner of Grant and Centennial. Architectural Group In 1964, the firm joined Allan Waisman and Jack Ross of Waisman Ross Architects, to form Waisman Ross – Blankstein, Coop, Gillmor and Hanna. In 1969, when the long firm name proved too unwieldy, it was changed to the more whimsical Number Ten Architectural Group (or "Number Ten", after the firm's Winnipeg address at 10 Donald Street). At Number Ten, Coop led many architecturally significant projects, including the University of Manitoba Student Union Building (also known as University Centre), with Number Ten architect Carl Nelson, Jr. In 1970, he was partner-in-charge of Number Ten's collaboration with architect Gustavo Da Roza on the Winnipeg Art Gallery. In 1977, Coop would again successfully collaborate with Da Roza on their submission to the National Gallery Competition, for which their entry was awarded second place, after John C. Parkin’s. Other significant Winnipeg projects on which Coop led design and production include a consortium for the Winnipeg Convention Centre (1972-1974), the Royal Trust Tower, and the Rupertsland Square Complex. He also led the firm's work on the Canadian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, seven major buildings at the University of Manitoba, two high-rise Sheraton Hotels for Winnipeg and Hamilton, five multiple housing-commercial projects for Lakeview Development of Winnipeg, and two shopping centre projects for Fairweather Properties of Winnipeg. Portage Place In 1984, Coop was appointed as CEO of the North Portage Development Corporation, a corporation created and funded by three levels government (municipal, provincial and federal) in a controversial attempt to redevelop and revitalize the north side of Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg. To accept this appointment, Coop retired from Number Ten. The resulting structure, Portage Place, was constructed in 1987. It has significantly altered the vitality of Winnipeg's downtown core. The enclosed mall, covering three city blocks, with large, naturally lighted indoor atriums and a sky walk system linking Portage Place to the Bay, One Canada Centre,