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After months of speculation and a recent redesign, the first signs of life have begun to show at the future site of the DER + Associates-designed Emerald Tower by Regency Developments. Located in the heart of the Oliver commercial strip at 11350 Jasper Ave, the site of a former low-rise commercial building has given way to a full-blown excavation pit, with shoring and piling soon to come.
While it is still early days, it is exciting to see the first stages of construction finally begin, the fresh crop of pilings a precursor to the shoring work that will soon be underway. For area residents, the sight of heavy machinery has been long-awaited, and will likely be welcomed by those desirous of seeing this project move into the build phase.
Illustrated below, the 45-storey, 273-unit residential tower will soon be one of the largest of its kind to grace Oliver, the rapidly rising neighbourhood just west of the core currently in the midst of a building boom. Featuring an above-grade parking garage, to be sandwiched between the tower and the retail base, the colourful spandrel cladding will help hide the utilitarian nature of the labour-and-cost-saving measure.
To be cast in monochromatic glass save for a multi-coloured retail podium, the project will inject a great deal of urban vibrancy to the area.
SkyriseEdmonton will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
