b'HERITAGE PRESERVATIONTHE REBIRTH OF EAST BLOCK LOFTSA century-old landmark on Portage Avenue is getting a second lifeBy Matthew BradfordSix years ago, the Jacob-Crawley /My wife and I live downtown andOriginally, [we] designed two additional Keewayden Building stood dark andhave a love for these buildings andstoreys to the original structure along hollow, its brick walls scarred by a 2019the Exchange District, Buleziuk says.with the new addition to be nine storeys, fire and its future uncertain. Once aIm always trying to get more densitygenerating 148 residential units. Once bustling hub for garment makers anddowntown, so this project is my way ofwe were deeper into the project, it wartime production, the seven-storeyputting my money where my mouth is.was revealed by our geotechnical Exchange District landmark seemedIt was 138 Portage Avenues old-schoolengineer that the footings on the historic destined for demolition. Today, thefaade and good bones that initiallystructure were maxed out and adding building hums againhammers echocaught Buleziuks attention. He wasthe additional storeys would require through its high-ceilinged floors asfurther inspired by the high ceilingsspecialized screw piling along the Space2 Developers (s2d) and LDon several of its floorsa feature thatfootings, Buleziuk explains. As a result, Builders transform it into East Blockis uncommon among newer builds.we decided to work with the structure Lofts, a 117-unit apartment complexGranted, he admits, high ceilings makeas is.blending history, resilience and for high framing and drywall numbers,When completed, East Block Lofts will modern design. but that was part of the deal. feature a mix of units, including those The project marks s2ds third historicFROM THE ASHES that maintain the character of the old building conversion in the city. OriginallySix years after the fire, the Jacob- buildingthe 13-foot ceilings and large built in 1909, the seven-storey buildingCrawley / Keewayden Building is poisedwindowsas well as newer, more at 138 Portage Avenue East has beenfor a comeback. Space2 has teamedmodern suites with large balconies home to multiple companies andup with LD Builders and design teamincluded in the expansion.operations over the century.Northern Sky Architecture to transformBUILDING ON TRADITIONPrior to s2ds acquisition in 2021, thethe space into a new 117-unit, multi-familyAfter a century of turnovers and new site was slated to become a new Hyattapartment building with the additiontenants, the Jacob-Crawley / Keewayden Place Hotel in 2017 before plans fellof a brand-new, seven-storey tower onBuilding was in good shape for an through. It was then damaged as athe east side. The additional tower willapartment renovation. To their benefit, connect through a corridor carved intos2ds team found that the previous result of an arson fire in 2019 and leftthe original exterior wall and enabledevelopers had gutted much of the dormant during the first year of thethe addition of 37 parking stalls via useinterior for their hotel conversion, and pandemic. Despite its troubled history,of the Klaus stack parking system, anthe building had accumulated extensive s2d founder Mark Buleziuk saw potentialautomated parking solution designeddrywall and framing over the years. As for the building to be turned into ato maximize parking capacity in limitedsuch, one of the first major steps for LD modern apartment complex for youngspaces by stacking vehicles on Builders was removing the remaining professionals and their families.multiple levels. central core to allow for more efficient 42 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca'