Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1123432
J UNE 2019 | 49 LXTX RENDERINGS COURTESY BLDG ARCHITECTURE OFFICE INC. LXTX by ROBIN BRUNET S ince its inception in 2012, the master planned South Tuxedo neighbourhood by Private Pension Partners Inc. (commonly referred to as P3) has built on the reputation of Tuxedo district being an affluent resi- dential suburb seven-kilometres west of Winnipeg – and the new LXTX gives South Tuxedo the proverbial "jewel in the crown" in a number of ways. First is LXTX's distinct visual iden- tity. The six-storey apartment building is a massively elongated modernistic form tapered to a point at one end to correspond with the confluence of two streets. Second, LXTX's status as a jewel can be attributed to the fact that its 133 suites bring new meaning to high-qual- ity apartment living in Winnipeg. Karl Loepp, chief operating offi- cer for P3, says, "In 2012 we stood on the South Tuxedo property, which was an old CN intermodal yard, and envi- sioned it as a multi-family site, with LXTX responding to regional demand for an apartment development with a high level of finishes, amenities, and overall quality. "We were determined to make LXTX the first of its kind in Winnipeg, and since the project team had worked on the other five buildings we created for South Tuxedo, we simply told BLDG architecture office inc. that we wanted a sleek design, something bold and dynamic – and they ran with it." P3 also added PCL Constructors Canada Inc. to the team for this unique project. Karen Shanski, director at BLDG, appreciated that LXTX "needed to be a market disruptor, so we really pushed the envelope in terms of making the quality of the living units equal to the level of any custom designed home." Contributing significantly to this goal were the finishes: heated tile floors in the bathrooms, wall ovens and large islands in the kitchens (which would also be outfitted with custom millwork), and high-end fixtures and appliances. "All of this would be evi- dent in eight different suite types, each with its own parking stall and access to a car wash and dog wash station," says Shanski. "Plus, on the west end of each floor we placed two super luxury three- bedroom apartments with their own elevator, for a total of 10 such suites." Even the corridors of LXTX received special attention, with recessed doors, customized door number plates, and a light-filled elevator core in the middle of each level. As for the building's cladding, "we chose EIFS, an exterior insulation and finish system, and we created a staggered concrete skeleton for the balconies," says Shanski. "We also enhanced the visual appeal of the lobby entrance by cladding it in mirror alu- minum, capped by a wood deck that also gives residents access to the build- ing's gym and amenity spaces."