Once the core of the former city of Strathcona, Edmonton's Old Strathcona neighbourhood maintains much of the charm and vibrancy which resulted in the district becoming an arts and entertainment hub. A recent update by Daveography in our Edmonton Forum revealed plans for a new 16-storey mixed-use proposal that takes cues from nearby historical facades while injecting contemporary design into the district.

The Mezzo, image via WestOak Development

The Mezzo comes to us from WestOak Development, a local developer who plans to replace the vacant Strathcona Presbyterian Church lot at the northwest corner of 81st Avenue and 105th Street with a building housing 209 apartment units. The tower would host a diverse selection of layouts, including 180 studio, single and two-bedroom units and 25 larger family-sized dwellings. Four townhouse units would be provided at ground level adjacent to a 'multi-program space' available to both residents and the public. A proposed 5,111 square feet of commercial retail space would add to the neighbourhood's urban fabric. The Mezzo would also boast one floor of dedicated office space and an indoor amenity area arranged within a protruding box on the building's roof.

Schematic of The Mezzo, image via WestOak Development

A district rife with early 20th century buildings, The Mezzo attempts to adopt the local aesthetic by utilizing brick on its podium. The tower itself is a more modern architectural display. Sporadic windows and balconies jutting out from the volume disrupt the mainly opaque white facade. The undersides of the cantilevered expressions are, like the rooftop box, currently rendered with bright yellow cladding. Toronto's RAW Design is the architect behind the project.

The Mezzo, image via WestOak Development

The development will face some hurdles along the way. A rezoning would be required as the 54-metre height of the tower exceeds the four-storey maximum prescribed by the Old Strathcona Redevelopment Plan. Despite worries about the scale of the project, the developer has pointed to similarly-sized developments in the vicinity, including the 14-storey Heritage House apartment complex.

The Mezzo rear laneway, image via WestOak Development

Additional images and information are available in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.