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The ICE District is undoubtedly the epicentre of Edmonton's evolving landscape. Nowhere else in the city has witnessed such a grand and unhindered transformation as the new downtown neighbourhood. But just outside the ICE District, before massive digs, concrete pours and cranes would define the streetscape, was the construction of a new highrise condominium developed by Regency Developments.
At the southwest corner of 105th Street and 104th Avenue, the 22-storey Quest building was destined to rise. The 117-unit residence would include street-level commercial space and balconies in every floor plan, wrapping the octagonal tower in expansive terraces that, especially for the eastern exposures, offer a dramatic view of the changing skyline.
The throwback photo above shows how construction looked in April 2009. The adjacent framing store already looking overwhelmed, the building had just begun its ascent, with a blue tower crane forming the first five levels of the highrise footprint.
By July, a web of scaffolding had climbed the exterior as the building approached its final height. As winter arrived, the concrete structure was covered with an orange insulated blanket, ensuring a weather-resistant working environment for the crew, while also limiting the escape of construction dust.
The KENNEDY-designed building was completed in 2010. Both the architect and developer would later go onto bigger things, reigniting their professional relationship to bring The Pearl to life.
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