After several decades of suburban growth, many North American cities are experiencing a strong demographic growth within their downtown cores, as a large swath of the population is rediscovering the convenience of an urban way of life within walkable neighbourhoods. Ottawa is no exception. Several urban renewal projects, such as the creation of a new LRT line through the city's central districts, result in areas like the trendy and dynamic ByWard Market to undergo major transformations with the construction of hundreds of new housing units. Immediately to the south of that particularly beloved area—on a site nested between the capital city's Arts Court, Daly, and Waller Streets—developer DevMcGill is building one of Ottawa's currently most anticipated edifices.
The ArtHaus sales centre, in downtown Ottawa, picture by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet
Known as ArtHaus Residences at Arts Court, this 23-storey structure designed by Régis Côté et Associés along with Barry Padolsky Associates Inc. Architects, and KPMB Architects, will combine a variety of uses. Indeed, part of the lower section of the building will be occupied by the expanded Ottawa Art Gallery, while the University of Ottawa's new blackbox theatre, complemented with three to four classrooms, will take up the remaining space. Directly above and up to the 15th floor will be Ottawa's first Le Germain Hotel, with approximately 150 luxurious rooms. Finally, floor 15 through 23 will be occupied by 89 exclusive condominium units ranging from studios to three-bedrooms.
Director of Sales Derek Nzeribe demonstrating ArtHaus 3D model, picture by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet
So far, this innovative mix of uses—paired with a desirable location and a never-seen-before promotional strategy—has attracted what Director of Sales Derek Nzeribe calls a "healthy mix" of purchasers, from downsizers and young professionals to investors. Indeed, in the purpose-built presentation centre located at 264 Rideau Street, despite the traditional recreation of a unit's bathroom and kitchen area, there is no scaled model of ArtHaus to be seen. Instead, a large touch screen covering part of a walls is boasting a 3D digital replica of the 23-storey tower, enabling visitors to experience the massing and exterior design features of the development and surroundings by interacting with the screen.
The ArtHaus 3D model is also accessible through the ArtHaus App, picture by Nicolas Arnaud-Goddet
Similarly, explorable renderings of the interiors offer prospective buyers a 360° view of a typical unit and indoor amenity spaces. In addition, the sales centre is equipped with augmented reality glasses which provide an immersive experience to the visitor through a digitally reconstituted condominium unit and amenity space. Both the technologies are accessible via the ArtHaus App, available for download from online sources such as Apple's App Store.
Nzeribe explained that this technology enables visitors to take a bit of the sales centre experience home with them for further consideration, allowing inexperienced buyers to have a better idea of the spaces they will live in, as no-one wants to feel uncertain about purchasing a unit in a multi-dwelling edifice that is still being built: the augmented reality helps potential purchasers feel more confident with the process of buying on plan.
Rendering of the ArtHaus Residences at Arts Court, image courtesy of DevMcGill
ArtHaus is currently under construction, with the concrete structure now making its way to ground level. To find out more about ArtHaus—and see additional renderings—you can visit our dataBase file for the project, linked below, or choose a link to one of our previous stories which provide more background for this ambitious, one-of-a-kind development. If you would like to get in on the conversation, you can click on the thread link which will take you to our sister Forum at SkyriseCities.com, or you can leave a comment in the space provided on this page.