Williams Hall | ?m | 7s | Beljan Development | Hodgson Schilf Evans

[bodsbods9090]

Reminder, are they planning on doing work on the exterior too?

 

[archited]

^ Minimal

 

[Avenuer]

Reminder, are they planning on doing work on the exterior too?

A bit more glazing and some new doors at grade and perhaps some painted brick but that's it I believe.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

So gone are the original proposed exterior facade? That would be so unfortunate.

 

[David A]

So gone are the original proposed exterior facade? That would be so unfortunate.

The current exterior is not inviting or attractive. If they cheap out on that they can kiss goodbye getting many people to come in to visit whatever they are planning to put in there.

 

[archited]

Brick painted black plus new doors and windows (and signage).

 

[constance_chlore]

I don't think the brick from the second floor up is bad at all in its current state.

Apologies if I missed this, but what would be (have been?) the plan for the relief if the ground floor entries were redone?

 

[archited]

^ I'm not sure what you mean by your question.

 

[constance_chlore]

There's a large relief on the exterior ("Serving Youth Throughout the World"). Would there be plans to move it somewhere?

EDIT: may just be a carving, hard to tell from the photo and I don't recall from walking past

 

[archited]

Got it. If it is salvageable I suppose it could be moved to the new-ish YMCA further west as a lobby feature item (that said, I haven't heard of anyone asking for it nor of anyone wanting to preserve it). The new doors would blow out the entire centre section of the ground floor with two out-swinging doors on either side of centre-pivoting doors, the latter would open up to the outside when weather allows (there might also be an issue with the Health Department in that regard). The plan is to have the ground floor connect to a 2-storey space hence the clerestory windows above the doors. Considering the make-over of the facade on these two levels, I can't imagine saving the bas-relief that has more to do with a YMCA idiom than anything planned for the re-do.

 

[constance_chlore]

I searched around a bit, and there is a 2020 Facebook post from the group "Heritage Forward" that says:

Relief mural designed by Lee Kow Yuen, on the former Y.M.C.A. building at 10030 102A Avenue. The building is currently being redeveloped into Williams Hall, by Beljan Development. The mural will be saved.

I hope this is true, because I think it's quite nice! It's also mentioned in this Edmonton Journal piece on Dane Ryksen.

 

[archited]

I agree -- it should be saved if possible. Is the Heritage Forward group still focused on this (by the way, I like the idea of the group)?

 

[Edmcowboy11]

The relief would be nice to be preserved and put somewhere that it can be appreciated.

 

[Avenuer]

The relief would be nice to be preserved and put somewhere that it can be appreciated.

I believe it's going to be relocated inside of the building into the commercial spaces, but here is the approved DP elevation:

 

[dkazzed]

Something is happening.