Raymond Block
Mixed-Use
Previously a vacant lot recovering from gas station-contaminated soil, the newest addition to Whyte Avenue is a mecca for design enthusiasts and urban aficionados alike. Second-floor office spaces add to the residential suites above and the retail below, making this mixed-use project the perfect trifecta of life on the Ave. The architecture has a special relationship with the neighbouring urban fabric, and revitalizes the lot after years of dormancy.
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
- Size
- 30,397 sq ft
- Client
- Wexford Developments LP
- Completion
- 2019
- Sustainability LEED® Platinum certified
- DIALOG Services
- Collaborators
Stantec
Al-Terra Engineering
Clark Builders
Ray Lawson LLC
Architecture
Structural Engineering
Raymond Block complements the character of the surrounding neighbourhood. A variety of facades break up the long street-level podium and provide visual interest amongst the neighbouring buildings.
The building’s placement allows for easy circulation with Whyte Avenue’s weekend crowds. The welcoming residential entrance is cleverly placed on the quieter side of the building along 105 Street.
The top four residential floors are set back from the street to provide privacy for residents, and to be less imposing at street level. This also allows for maximum sunlight on the Ave below.
Raymond Block achieves high sustainability goals. It’s comfortable with an abundance of natural light, superior thermal insulation, healthy air circulation and plenty of amenities within walking.
Raymond Block achieves high sustainability goals. It’s comfortable with an abundance of natural light, superior thermal insulation, healthy air circulation and plenty of amenities within walking.
The Team
It all started with a sketch.
Raymond Block, with its three separate uses on a busy street, came with lots of design challenges. After 20 years of being a void along Whyte Avenue, the site now enhances the architectural character of the neighborhood while providing a modern mixed-use building attentive to the fluidity of street activity.
Raymond Block is named for the Raymond Hotel that occupied the same site in the 1900s. The project values the connection with Edmonton’s past. Inside, reclaimed bricks from downtown’s old Kelly Ramsey building greet residents and visitors on a stunning 2-storey feature wall. Raymond Block is inspired by the past and built for the future.