RUTH GARDENS

Ruth Gardens is a mixed-use residential development located at 1167 Rothesay Street in the East Kildonan neighbourhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The project includes a stand-alone Scotiabank building, a 360,000 sq. ft. mixed-use residential building, surface parking, and a shared public plaza.

The residential building incorporates approximately 15,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor commercial space, indoor parking at and below grade, indoor bicycle storage, and three residential towers comprising a total of 213 units of varying sizes. Resident amenities include a fitness centre and a multi-purpose room. A distinctive feature of the project is that every residential unit includes a fully recessed balcony, designed to reduce exposure to the surrounding context while functioning as an extension of the interior living space.

Following several unsuccessful development attempts by previous owners, the project team engaged the local community throughout the design process, resulting in a development that responds sensitively to its neighbourhood context. The final design is organized as three towers rising from a four-storey podium. Two of the towers are oriented east–west, while the southern tower is rotated 90 degrees to accommodate the stand-alone Scotiabank building.

The Scotiabank had originally been located within a strip mall at the centre of the site. To enable the larger development while allowing the bank to remain operational, a new stand-alone building was constructed, permitting the relocation of the bank and unlocking the remainder of the site for residential development.

Michael was the Project and Design Architect, leading the project from its inception in 2010 through completion in 2015 while at MMP Architects.

Client / Edison Properties
Location / 1167 Rothesay St, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Architecture / MMP Architects
Michael Acht Role / Project and Design Architect
Building Area / 360 000 SF
Cost / $65m
Completed / 2015

Construction Manager / Akman
Structural / Crosier Kilgour
Mechanical / Derksen Plumbing and Heating
Electrical / River East Electric
Landscape / Dean Spearman

Photo Credit / Lindsay Reid Photography