DIALOG vol.1 | Page 83

THE BANKS MIXED-USE PRECINCT Client: LeFevre & Company Services: Architecture Cost: $25M Size: Site: 60,984 sq ft 5,665 sq m 4 buildings: The Riverbend: Retail: 8,949 sq ft Residential: 28,907 sq ft The Current: Retail: 8,500 sq ft Residential: 25,597 sq ft The Bridge: Retail: 4,336 sq ft Residential: 29,298 sq ft The Edgewater: Residential: 27,531 sq ft Completion: 2016 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan The Banks is nestled between the existing Riversdale neighbourhood and Phase II of River Landing, Saskatoon’s major redevelopment of the riverfront along the shores of the South Saskatchewan River. The project has been conceived as a connector or “bridge” - augmenting the character of an unfolding Riversdale community. It links the neighbourhood to its past; it weaves the fabric of Riversdale into the evolving River Landing development; its mix of uses complement and reinforce Riversdale’s aspiration to be “out of the ordinary.” This new urban precinct is comprised of four distinctive residential and mixeduse buildings: The Riverbend, The Current, The Bridge, and The Edgewater. The Banks development will contain a mix of uses including, retail, food, and lifestyle uses that will complement both the Farmers’ Market to the east and retail in the Riversdale neighbourhood to the north. The wide variety of residential uses includes ground-oriented townhouses to the east next to the existing singlefamily evolving residences, live/work units internal to the block and a wide variety of upper level apartments. The four 4-storey buildings present a formal urban character to the surrounding city streets. Together they will create a unique internal urban realm that connects all of the neighbouring uses and public spaces with the new mix of uses at The Banks. This internal space is intended to support a unique micro-climate and public space. A unique landscape and ground treatment in the mews complements the distinctive new urban streetscape of the River Landing area.