With an increasing number of condominiums being built in areas with high traffic volumes, noise can be a definite issue.
After all, when you spend your hard-earned dollars on a home, you want to come home not only to a well-appointed interior environment, but to peace and quiet at the end of the day.
That's why Sherwood Developments' Fausto Pereira constructed his latest condominium project -- a six-storey building at 3420 Pembina Hwy. in St. Norbert dubbed The Renaissance -- entirely of ICF (Insulating Concrete Forms) technology.
"During my research into building the most soundproof building possible, I found a product called Nudura," made in Quebec, Pereira explains. "Nudura has developed a flooring and ceiling technology which combines with insulating concrete forms to complete a shell that essentially envelopes the building's interior. That maximizes the building's comfort, durability and cost and energy efficiency.
"With Nudura, you get up to three times greater sound resistance. When you combine it with triple-pane windows, you can't hear the traffic outside."
There are several other merits that come with going the ICF route, he adds.
"It's a much more durable material to build with (up to nine times greater), offers greater fire resistance (up to four times higher than standard building materials) and much greater interior comfort. With Nudura there won't be any cold spots, dampness or mustiness. The total thickness of the walls is about 12 inches."
Once the soundproofing and comfort challenge was solved, two others remained: to construct a building that fit in with existing local architecture, and to provide suites both elegant and functional.
"I wanted to honour St. Norbert's French culture -- it's such a historic community -- so I travelled to Quebec and walked around Old Montreal for inspiration," Pereira says.
"The goal was to have the building look like a piece of Quebec, and I incorporated a number of different influences to achieve that look, such as a metal roof. Area residents tell us they love the Victorian-inspired look of the building, that we've kept the character of the area. That's very gratifying."
As it turns out, The Renaissance's interior, housing a total of 41 units, is as distinctive as its exterior. Not only are suite interiors quiet, but their level of finish is also exceptionally high.
"The unit we're in (a first-floor, 1,550-sq.-ft., two-bedroom plus den) features our standard finish -- dark, engineered oak hardwoods, dark maple cabinets, granite countertops, four-and-a-half-inch baseboards and marble flooring in the foyer and main bathroom," Pereira says. "There's also a corner fireplace with granite surround, an eating nook for two off the island kitchen, and stainless steel appliances."
Huge windows (including a wider-than-normal pair of sliding doors that lead to a covered patio or balcony) and nine-foot ceilings also make for a bright, hospitable interior. The floor plan is also logical, with plenty of separation between the various spaces, which include a huge den and master bedroom with marble floor and luxurious five-foot tempered-glass shower enclosure.
Still, it's the windows that add that extra touch of class.
"There are lots of windows so residents can enjoy all the great views -- the river, mature trees and coulee that runs through the property," Pereira says. "We're going to have a walkway that meanders from the parking lot to the sitting area by the back of the building where the river and coulee are, and a bridge that will go across the coulee to join a two-kilometre-long path that winds along the river. It makes for a beautiful walk."
Other features of The Renaissance include underground heated parking, a common walkway/patio that surrounds the building with planters for trees and shrubs, and an elegant Roman fountain at the entrance to greet residents and visitors alike. Entry to the building (and its elegant circular, marble foyer) will come by the way of hand-held fobs, and keys to all suites will be non-duplicatable.
"We've done our best to think of everything that can to make life more enjoyable for our residents," Pereira says. "We even put up a wall to prevent flooding from the coulee, and had a good test this spring with no problems whatsoever.
"So far, we've sold 30 of 41 suites. We're thrilled with the response to The Renaissance, and invite people to come in see what we have to offer during our grand opening September 27."
DETAILS:
Homebuilder: Sherwood Developments
The Renaissance Condominiums
Address: 3420 Pembina Highway, St. Norbert
Style: Six-storey condominium complex
Number of Units: 41
Floor Plans: 7 to choose from
Price: From $344,430
Size: 1,282 sq. ft to 1,830 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 2, 2 plus den
Bathrooms: 2
Contact: Sherwood Developments Ltd. @ 953-1752
Grand Opening: September 27 -- Call for more information
