Seventh Street Lofts

Location: Edmonton, AB
Year: 2005
Status: Completed
Awards:
• Cornerstone Awards for Building Heritage Infill Category (2013)
• Prairie Design Awards | Award of Excellence - Recent Work (2006)
• Edmonton Urban Design Awards | Award of Excellence - Urban Architecture (2005)

Set in Edmonton’s warehouse district, Seventh Street Lofts adopts a scale and industrial character compatible with the existing, older buildings. It achieves a high density of housing through low-rise planning with high site coverage. The project is an attempt to revitalize the neighborhood with a sensitive, modestly priced alternative to the conventional condominium market.

The project is composed of three distinct buildings:

Phase 1 - Conversion of a 1929 brick and heavy timber John Deere warehouse to 40 apartments, half of which are 2-story units.

Phase 2 -  A new 36 unit building, with steel stud bearing walls supporting exposed metal pans filled with concrete, joins the two older structures.

The new central building attempts to give the street a friendlier character by including exterior entries with raised, outdoor decks and direct access to the street and lane. Translucent glass provides a sense of openness as well as privacy.

Phase 3 - Conversion of a 1950s yellow brick concrete warehouse to 36 units including the addition of 12 new 2-story units on the roof level. The original exposed concrete interiors have been left in their aged and rugged state. The new exterior steel framework was added to accommodate exterior retractable sun-blinds and reflect the character of the 1929 steel framework on the lane-side of Phase 1.

The three buildings are joined together on each floor by a wide corridor creating a continuous interior street.