The Canadian architectural industry is continuing to build and innovate despite uncertain times in the global oil and gas industry and our national housing market. Check out our list of some of the most interesting architectural projects currently being built across the country.
707 Fifth (Calgary, Alberta)
Located in downtown Calgary, this 27-storey elliptically shaped office tower features floor to ceiling glass providing panoramic views of the surrounding city and the nearby Rocky Mountains. The design by SOM Architects also includes a fitness center, a conference facility, and a landscaped winter garden.
Ace Hotel Toronto (Toronto, Ontario)
A nod to history mixed with a splash of modernity, the Ace Hotel Toronto by project architect Shim Sutcliffe includes a traditional brick facade paired with a stylized entrance. Not yet under construction, the 13-storey building is generating buzz for its surprising modesty in a time of overdesign.
Brock Commons Student Residence (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Upon completion, this University of British Columbia student residence will be the world’s tallest timber tower. Consisting of a one-storey concrete podium, two concrete cores and 17 stories of mass timber, the architectural design of this building – courtesy of Acton Ostry Architects – is hoped to achieve LEED Gold certification.
Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal – CHUM (Montreal, Quebec)
The largest healthcare construction project in North America and one of the largest in the world, this three million square foot, 22-storey complex merges three outdated hospitals into one. A teaching hospital, CHUM also includes an inviting public space. The intention of designer NEUF architect(e)s was to redefine the concept of a hospital.
Coronation Park Community Velodrome (Edmonton, Alberta)
While technically still in the proposal stage, the indoor cycling track is slated to replace Edmonton’s current outdoor track, which was built for the Commonwealth Games back in 1978. Drawings of the building by HCMA Architecture have been released and show the inclusion of a weight room, an open gym space and a connection to the existing Peter Hemingway Pool. The architectural project management team forecasts construction completion by 2020.
Stantec Tower (Edmonton, Alberta)
At 66 storeys and nearly 250 meters tall, this high-rise will be the 7th tallest building in Canada upon its 2018 completion. Design firm Stantec is set to occupy 19 of the tower’s floors, while the rest of the building contains more office space and 481 residential units.
Royal Alberta Museum (Edmonton, Alberta)
While Edmonton’s new Royal Alberta Museum is nearly complete, the public will still have to wait until late 2017 to get a look behind the limestone, glass and metal facade. But a sweeping grand staircase and granite floors can’t outshine the buildings coolest feature – an advanced climate control system that will let staff adjust temperature and humidity for specific exhibits.
St Philip’s Cohousing Project (St Philip’s, Newfoundland)
More of a concept than a full-fledged project, a group of Newfoundland families are looking into creating a cohousing community in which residents share property, tools, and a kitchen in order to foster a sustainable and cooperative way of life. Similar Canadian cohousing projects have already set up in Calgary, Langley and Victoria and architects passionate about the concept are touring North America spreading the word on this forward-thinking design movement.
True North Square (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
A grocery store, a liquor store, four towers with more than a million square feet of floor space and a two-acre public plaza that will include a green space, a skating rink, and a stage – it would seem this under-development complex is going to have it all. With room for condominium and office units as well as boutique retail space, residents of True North Square will have everything they need outside their front door.
Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library (Vaughan, Ontario)
Recently opened to the public, this already completed project deserves mention due to its imaginative design, which wraps around a central courtyard containing its very own “Tree of Knowledge.” More than just a library, this building was created by ZAS Architects to be a community hub complete with a green screen room, a recording studio, a piazza-inspired cafe and, of course, a whole lot of books.
