A brand new signature building has risen out of the ground at the corner of University Crescent and Pembina Highway. Called 30UC, it will house 108 affordable luxury apartments.
The high quality, concrete and steel building is the project of Paragon Design Build. Backed by low interest rates and long-term financing from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the project is expected to become a signature development in University Heights and a sign of things to come in the local construction scene.
“This building has innovated in a number of ways that helped us reduce construction costs while keeping incredibly high quality standards,” said Nigel Furgus, president of Paragon. “For example, Paragon along with our general contractor Bockstael has for the first time in Winnipeg constructed 7 floors of Logix ICF, and developed a new technique of using load bearing walls from the parking garage to the roof that saved space and materials.”
The building is highly energy efficient as well thanks to the use of Logix insulated concrete forms from the first floor to the roof.
“There’s no doubt that this building is going to be copied by other builders. We’re delivering a high quality, energy efficient build at the price that we’d normally see with a wood structure. That allows us to keep rents down. In fact, our rents will be at least 10 per cent lower than market average,” said Furgus.
Soon, the front curtain wall will take shape, giving the building a dramatic, stylish front entrance. The lobby will be flooded with natural light, while also providing an architecturally stunning look for the streetscape.
The building features heated underground parking, high end interior finishings and modern floor plans that are as attractive as they are practical.
“Each suite will have its own laundry and air conditioning, for example, and you’ll see finishings like flooring and kitchen counters that you’d expect to see in even higher end condos,” said Furgus. “We also have built in a hotel suites that tenants can use when they have family visiting and they want them close by. And common areas include two stunning outdoor terraces that are reached from common rooms.
The building’s showsuite will be ready for viewing in June 2020, which will give prospective tenants the chance to rent units for move-in dates starting in January 2021. The building is ahead of schedule thanks to the diligence of Bockstael and the amazing cooperation of all the trades on site.
Paragon already has a list of hundreds of people on the building’s wait list, so it expects it will be fully rented very quickly. The location is ideal for anyone looking to be in the University Height area, being just five minutes down the road from the University of Manitoba. Multiple transit routes stop right outside the front door and you can access miles of active transportation paths from the building too.
