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Demolition crews are hard at work bringing down the interior of the former downtown YMCA building on 102A Ave NW. A work in progress since early 2018, the re-imagined Williams Hall - named after YMCA founder Sir George Williams - will breathe life anew following a $20 million retrofit by Beljan Development and Hodgson Schilf Evans Architects.
Known for taking on ambitious, heritage-friendly projects, including Crawford Block, Beljan is no stranger to the concept of adaptive re-use. First, however, the bulk of the structure will have to come down, the shell and foundations to be the only pieces of the original building to remain once work is complete.
The re-imagined Williams Hall will be host to a myriad of uses and spaces, including a large food hall and dining space on the ground floor, with health and fitness facilities moved up to the second. The third floor will be made into boutique offices, while the upper levels will be converted into a mix of 100 studio, one-, and two-bedroom micro apartments ranging from 240-450 sq. ft.
Recent interior and exterior views of the site reveal the extent of the work now underway. While it is still early days, with much more to go, it is encouraging to see signs of real progress on this central piece of the core's slow but steady march towards redevelopment and rebirth.
SkyriseEdmonton will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
