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Three months since its completion, and Symphony Tower continues to inspire, as the first days of summer have been kind to this photogenic development by Allen Wasnea Engineering and KENNEDY. Captured on a brilliant clear day, the 27-storey, 143-unit, residential high-rise shines against the summer sky, its vibrant, contrasting colour scheme setting this project apart.
Covered primarily in a partial curtain wall of curved, blue-tinted glass, Symphony Tower cuts a distinctive figure from its perch across from the Alberta Legislature grounds. Further adding to its charm, the development's clever interplay with the two adjoining heritage components - the 1907 Foote House and the 1913 Parkview Apartments - serves to ingratiate the tower into the streetscape below.
Viewed above and below, the transition from modern high-rise to more traditional (yet modern) redbrick townhouses works well to help connect the dots between the former and the aforementioned heritage structures. Stepping down, as it were, the transition works admirably well here, leaving the former estate and apartment block to face the streetscape very much as they have done for the last century.
A win for heritage enthusiasts, and proof-positive that adaptive re-use can be done carefully and well, Symphony Tower truly lives up to its name.
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.
