Ortona Armoury Building Rehabilitation

Project Overview

The Ortona Armoury was built in 1914 and has been a prominent historical landmark in the Rossdale area for more than a century. For the last 30 years, the Ortona Armoury building has been used as studio space for artists/arts groups who have tenancy agreements with the City. In 2004, the building was designated a Municipal Historic Resource, which legally protects it from demolition or alterations to the structure.

The Ortona Armoury Building Rehabilitation Project is necessary to ensure the building remains safe and meets current codes while preserving historically significant aspects of the facility. Once complete, the building will be a sustainable and enjoyable space for artists and Edmontonians to use for another century. 

The rehabilitation work includes hazardous material removal, window restoration and full interior renovation. This project will require extensive work to upgrade building structural elements and foundations, replace mechanical and electrical systems and general building repairs. The project also includes site grading and landscaping, new utility connections, lighting and various theatre elements, as well as an addition between the north and south portions of the building. 

Due to the scope of the work and the age of the building, the facility remains closed during rehabilitation work. The Ortona Armoury will remain an arts and community hub that supports flexible art spaces for visual and performing artists and provides bookable spaces for community use. Arts Habitat Edmonton is operating the building and is leasing the space to artists, organizing programming and looking after the bookable spaces.