The Edmonton region has seen unprecedented growth in the past few years, as people relocate from within Canada and farther afield to take advantage of the region’s economic stability and affordability. As the population grows, the need for diverse, sustainable forms of housing has also grown.
“We continue to expect to see thousands of people moving into Edmonton each year over the next few years,” says Brad Armstrong, vice president of Qualico Communities. “We need places to grow, and we need all styles of development to meet that growing need.”
As a third-generation family-owned business, Armstrong explains, Qualico is deeply invested in building better cities, and helping Edmonton be a more vibrant, sustainable and well-connected community. Whether it’s high-density developments in the heart of the city, or sustainable suburban communities in Strathcona County, Qualico is building communities for residents of all backgrounds and at all stages of life.
“We believe in building communities where you can raise your family, and where we ourselves would be proud to live as well,” says Armstrong.
That includes communities like Bremner, located just northeast of Sherwood Park. The area has been identified as Strathcona County’s next urban growth area — where the community will expand as more people move to the region. To meet the long-term needs of the region, Qualico is developing an innovative, sustainable, community model designed to stand the test of time. Developed in partnership with ATCO, Qualico’s Bremner community is slated to become Canada’s first hydrogen-heated community.
Hydrogen is a safe, reliable and low-carbon-emission energy source, Armstrong explains, which is already being used elsewhere in the world as a reliable heating source for homes. It is seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels, which could play an important role in addressing climate change while also stimulating the Alberta economy.
To demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as an energy source, Qualico is working with Sterling Homes to build HomeOne, a proof-of-concept pure hydrogen home in Sherwood Park.
“It’s a great way for people to see how this concept will work,” says Armstrong.
The community is still in the early stages of development, but when completed, Bremner will be home to more than 80,000 people. Construction of the first stages of development is scheduled to start this summer with completion expected in the fall of 2025, but before it begins, Qualico and ATCO will complete a comprehensive regulatory and technical review to ensure the safety and sustainability of the advanced hydrogen technology.
“We’re just in the front end of pioneering this new concept right now,” says Armstrong. “It’s an exciting time.”
In addition to sustainable suburban communities, Qualico is also strengthening Edmonton’s core neighbourhoods through projects like its Station Lands mixed-use development.
Located on the former CN rail yard in the north part of Edmonton’s downtown core, Station Lands will house a mix of retail, residential and office tenants. EPCOR Tower was the first high-rise to be built in the Station Lands development, and construction is currently underway on the next phase of development: a residential high-rise known as The Switch.
When complete, Station Lands will include seven high-rise towers. Along with those buildings, it will feature a large public green space, performing arts areas and a long list of amenities including patios, gardens, a nordic-themed fitness area and gym, and a children’s play area.
“There are going to be opportunities for people to gather for events, to watch arts and cultural performances, right in their own backyards,” says Mike Saunders, senior vice president of Qualico Properties.
“And because Station Lands is so close to so many different areas of downtown, whether you’re heading to the financial district or connecting to the towers or the arena, there’s a lot going on and a lot of different people who can enjoy the space.”
Station Lands bridges core areas like ICE District, the Quarters, Chinatown and City Hall, and offers convenient access to downtown office buildings, cultural activities at the Winspear Centre, Art Gallery of Alberta and the Royal Alberta Museum, as well as post-secondary institutions like NorQuest College, MacEwan University and the University of Alberta’s downtown campus. Throughout the development of Station Lands, Qualico has engaged with stakeholders from many of these groups to ensure the project meets the diverse needs of potential residents, businesses and neighbours.
“The goal is to stitch all these neighbouring communities together, so if we want to be collaborative and be a good neighbour, it’s incumbent upon us to reach out to those groups, and to work with them as we build this community,” says Saunders.
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