Extreme Makeover: Edmonton Edition
As we near the midway mark of 2017, it's been exciting to see the changes to our Downtown Skyline as existing development projects near completion, while others break ground and continue to mold our core. The City as a whole has many major projects underway, however the Downtown still takes the cake with $5.5 Billion in proposed or underway development in the form of office towers, hotels, multifamily condos/apartments, educational facilities, art galleries and museums, to name a few.
Some of the more noticeable developments to change the face of Edmonton this year will be:
ICE District
The Edmonton ICE District is evolving daily and has been for the past two years with the initial approval and construction of Rogers Place Arena, a state of the art entertainment facility and home to our Edmonton Oilers. Regarding the two tower developments that are the current focus, the Stantec Tower is expected to be poured up to the 29th floor by the end of 2017 and glazed up to the 23rd floor, whereby occupancy is set for the beginning of October, 2018. Next door to the north, the Marriott Hotel/Legends Residences should be poured up to the 33rd floor, with glazing to the 24th floor and occupancy set for the Spring of 2019. Furthermore in the Ice District, a Cineplex Odeon, grocery store and additional retail will be located in the residential tower that is set to be constructed on the former Greyhound site, to open the Summer of 2020. (Edmonton Sun)
MacEwan University Centre for Arts and Culture
Driving down 104th Avenue downtown, it's apparent that this attractive building is nearing the final stages of construction as it is set to open this August. The building will become the new home for the Arts & Culture classes currently held in West Edmonton, and will feature art galleries, recording studio, theatre, recital hall, dance spaces, and classrooms. The total cost of this five-storey project comes in at $181 Million.
Royal Alberta Museum
The new Royal Alberta Museum on 103A Avenue and 99th Street is the 40,000 SF replacement to the facility currently located in Glenora which is about half the size. The project was designed by Ledcor and DIALOG at a cost of $376 Million, and will open in the Fall/Winter of 2017.
Brewery District
Much of the Brewery District development has reached completion this past year, with some buildings continuing to get the final touches into 2017, namely the new 3,500 SF MEC location which opened at the beginning of May. However, the pinnacle of the Brewery District revolves around the five-storey redevelopment of the Molson Brewery building on the west side of the project. This upgrade will cost about $8.4 Million and will feature a micro-brewery and restaurant occupying the main floor, with office tenants occupying the remainder. Work on this influential redevelopment began in January of 2017 and is one of the largest historic renovations in Edmonton's history.
Norquest College Singmar Centre for Learning
The newest addition to Norquest College on 103rd Avenue and 107th Street is the Singmar Centre for Learning, a $192 Million building that is connected to existing facilities and will be completed for classes in September 2018. This building is planned as a LEED Silver four-storey facility and received it's namesake from a $2.5 Million gift to the project from local familiy, Doctors Prem and Saroj Singhmar.
Funicular
Last but not least, the City approved funding last year for Edmonton's newest connection to the river valley, the "Funicular". The City is constantly searching out new ways to connect the downtown urban areas with the public river valley park areas, and the funicular development checked the boxes. This $24 Million project will open this Fall of 2017 and will also feature viewing platforms, staircase features and a pedestrian bridge.
These are just a handful of the developments that are popping into our downtown skyline, not to mention all the development occurying in other areas of the City, such as the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) Premium Outlet Mall (opening Fall 2017), West Block (expected 2018), Blatchford, and Raymond Block. Our City is in the mindset of growth and it's an exciting time for everyone. As recently as last month, Council approved the land sale for the development Aldritt's 80-storey tower east of the Shaw Conference Centre (CBC). So that begs the question, what do you think of the way our Capital City is transforming and do you think this rate of development can continue?
