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It's been just over fifteen months since our last look inside the historic Brighton Block, and SkyriseEdmonton is privileged to have been given another tour of the now nearly-complete building courtesy of Primavera Development Group.
Working with Hodgson Schilf Evans Architects, Primavera envisioned a completely redeveloped and renewed future for the 1912 Jasper Avenue landmark, alternatively known as the Ernest Brown Block (named for its original developer) and "Everything Photographic", the tagline added to the building for Ernest Brown's photography business that occupied it until 1924.
The building's original interior, which had deteriorated beyond recovery, has been completely demolished since our last tour, and replaced with a new concrete structure that has risen within the existing walls, and extends an additional three floors above and stepped back from the heritage facade.
The brick walls are being kept exposed on the interior, highlighting the building's heritage and historical status. Interestingly, this allows insight into the original building's construction: Brighton Block is in fact two buildings constructed between 1911 and 1912, and the delineation is clearly visible in the different brick used between the two halves.
The second and third floor windows have been replaced with new, double-hung operable windows, allowing future tenants to bring in fresh air and take in views of the river valley unobstructed by glass.
Though generally built to the property lines, light wells on the east and west elevations have been retained to ensure fresh air and some sunlight reaches as much of the building interior as possible.
Moving up to the fourth floor - what would have been the roof of the original structure - is like entering a completely different building. Enormous amounts of sunlight fill the upper floors through large floor-to-ceiling curtainwall glazing on the south and north faces of these floors.
Future tenants of the fourth floor will also enjoy having access to a private south-facing patio overlooking Jasper Avenue and the river valley beyond.
Large curtainwall windows have also been installed on the north face of the upper floors, offering views of downtown and the up-and-coming Quarters district.
Up to 36,000 square-feet in the redeveloped Brighton Block is available for lease, with full floorplates ranging from 5,800 to 7,000 square feet, and including 2,500 to 5,000 square-feet of ground-floor retail or restaurant space opening onto Jasper Avenue.
SkyriseEdmonton will continue to follow this project as it progresses toward completion, expected early in 2020. More images and information can be found in our project Database. What do you think of this redevelopment of a historical building? Leave a comment below, or join the conversation in our discussion Forum.
