Wesley Hall, the former home of Wesley College, is the oldest building at the University of Winnipeg and one of the oldest educational facilities in Winnipeg.

At the time of the building’s 1896 construction, it was meant to serve as the campus for Wesley College – a liberal arts and theological college connected to the Methodist Church. This building was constructed in the stately Richardsonian Romanesque style, a subset of Romanesque Revival architecture. Architects George Browne Jr. and Samuel Frank Peters designed the structure.

Built with Calgary sandstone (which was later replaced), Wesley College has a rusticated facade and windows capped by round arches. Striking corner towers and parapet gables have earned the building the nickname “The Sandcastle”.

The interior has served a variety of purposes, from classrooms to dormitories to office space, and  altered uses several times. A larger restoration project began in 1973, involving the removal of 1950s plywood and restoration of Victorian-era detailing on the main staircase.

In 1938, Wesley College merged with Manitoba College to form United College, which then became University of Winnipeg in 1967. Newer buildings have been built around Wesley Hall, creating a mix of architectural styles, but Wesley Hall still stands front and centre on the campus.