With crews already on-site, it will not be long before a squat, nondescript office building in the Government District is on its way to breathing new life into the recently revamped Capital Boulevard in downtown Edmonton. Known for now as the Centre West Conversion and Expansion project, the development headed up by Strategic Group and KENNEDY, will soon begin the site's dramatic transformation. 

Centre West building (right) and parking lot, photo by Dave Sutherland

Built in 1976, the 12-storey Centre West building has long operated as offices for the provincial government. Its fate became uncertain, however, in October 2016 when the Province announced it would be consolidating 450 employees into other locations, leaving a large vacancy in the building.

Development notice and rendering, photo by Dave Sutherland

Strategic Group announced last year its plans to convert the building to 154 residential units. Working with KENNEDY, the two companies began obtaining permits for the work earlier this year, which also includes a new, 6-storey, 60-unit residential block to the north of the existing building, on what is currently a surface parking lot.

Centre West rendering, courtesy Strategic Group and KENNEDY

Renderings of the development - now named "Capital" - indicate that parts of the facade of the existing building will be removed to add balconies. They also show that the first storey of both buildings will include street-front retail bays, and a new residential entrance between the two buildings. Minutes from an Edmonton Design Committee review also indicate one or both buildings will also include rooftop amenity spaces.

Parking lot demolition about to begin, photo by Dave Sutherland

Once complete, the new residential development will join the recently-completed Mayfair and the under-construction Augustana tower to bring hundreds of new residents to what has traditionally been a quieter and more corporate part of downtown.

Capital Boulevard near Centre West, photo by Dave Sutherland

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.