Architect Herbert Magoon designed Alberta Block in the early 1900’s. Designed in an Edwardian style, the brick building was largely unadorned, save for some details at the doors and cornice.
In its first years, Alberta Block was home to residents and businesses including lawyers, seamstresses, stenographers, music teachers, a cigar maker, and Masters Piano Co.
In 1953 the building underwent a large renovation, including the installation of an elevator, and a new white façade influenced by Art Deco and early modern architecture. The Alberta Block’s longest-standing and best known tenant was CKUA Radio, which was headquartered there from 1955 to 2012.
Alberta Block was purchased as a vacant, asbestos laden, asset, in 2014. A team of building scientists, structural engineers, energy modelers and sub trades was assembled to examine how the asset could be successfully re-positioned in a market over supplied with traditional downtown commercial assets.
As a result, Alberta Block has undergone a complete transformation. A new building envelope, including an R-60 roof, that greatly enhances the building’s energy efficiency and enables an ongoing carbon credit grant reducing annual operating costs; new mechanical system, new electrical system, new elevator, and new triple pane, argon filled operable windows.
