Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/458437
FEBRUARY 2015 | 53 The park is just over 750 square metres in area, and provides a passive amenity space for residents and pedestri- ans alike. It is also located entirely on the parkade roof deck. "The challenge was finding a way to incorporate enough soil volume above the parkade roof deck to ensure that the plantings stood a chance of surviving, all while accommodating a required minimum depth of 300 mil- limetres of soil above the parkade," says Kevin Dieterman, landscape architect of ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. The open lawn in question was raised approximately 150 millimetres above the grade of the adjacent walk to accommodate this minimum depth. "The lawn itself is intended to provide a passive area for gatherings and as a play space for young families living nearby," explains Dieterman. The park on the whole is divided down its length by a cast-in-place fea- ture wall that rises out of the ground to a maximum height of 1.5 metres, with the previously mentioned open lawn on one side of it, closest to the building. "The other side has a sloped planting bed created by this retaining wall, with sufficient soil volume to plant ornamen- tal shade trees, ornamental grasses and hardy flowering perennials; creating an urban garden stroll through the site," describes Dieterman. Kennedy adds: "Citizens are appre- ciating intentionality in design, our city council is being progressive with devel- opment direction, and the planning department is trying very hard to make this a community where inspired devel- opment is welcome." As a trend altering project, the scale and prominence of Pearl Tower has seen a positive response from Edmontonians and visitors alike. "The project has been a real success as a result of the vision and the team – many of whom we have worked with long-term," says Dhunna. "As a born and raised Edmonton guy, it's great to stand alongside Edmontonians to feel proud of what Pearl Tower has done to shape a new identity of our amazing city." A LOCATION 11949 Jasper Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta OWNER/DEVELOPER Regency Developments ARCHITECT Brinsmead Kennedy Architecture GENERAL CONTRACTOR Pagnotta Industries Inc. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Protostatix Engineering Consultants Inc. MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Hemisphere Engineering Inc. BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. CIVIL/LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. TOTAL AREA 150,000+ square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed Pearl Tower