Two months since we last checked in at the Brighton Block retrofit and expansion project by Primavera Development Group and Hodgson Schilf Evans Architects, and progress has moved ahead significantly. The upper floor expansion in particular has risen dramatically over the last eight weeks, while the restoration of the historic 1912 facade has continued apace. 

Brighton Block, upper level expansion underway, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Originally known as the Ernest Brown Block, a chemist shop specializing in "Everything Photographic," the Brighton Block will soon be reborn as a 6-storey commercial space with retail at grade. Located along Jasper Ave, the revamped Brighton Block will feature one floor of ground level retail, above which five storeys of prime office space will take occupancy. 

Brighton Block, street view, image by Forum contributor Daveography

The three-storey expansion, setback from the street, will provide some much-needed additional space, with room left over for a generously-sized rooftop terrace and attached restaurant. Taken as a whole, the mix of retail, office space, and a rooftop restaurant and patio will be a major boon to Edmonton's main thoroughfare, the structure to inject a great deal of daily foot traffic to the area. 

Brighton Block, urban context view, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Thus, while essentially nothing of the original structure will remain, save for the facade, the Brighton Block project will succeed in retaining an important piece of Edmonton's core architectural heritage.

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.