A new condo in Hamilton Ont. will rise 14 storeys high on the former CHIQ radio station site at 206 King Street West. The four-storey podium of Radio Arts will embrace the city’s brick and beam aesthetic with masonry details and arched windows familiar to the original 1908 building design.
A glass beveled corner highlights the ground-floor retail and the condo’s active amenity spaces such as a fitness studio, a co-working lounge and a WiFi lounge that overlooks King Street. Rising above the podium, will sit the black and white cladded residential tower.
Radio Arts will also be the first development in Hamilton to feature stacked vehicle parking with ample bike storage.
Renderings by Drawn in Depth.
“I’ve always loved the eclectic architectural charm of downtown Hamilton, so when it came to Radio Arts, I wanted to make sure it reflected the unique fabric of downtown, while also recognizing Hamilton’s renaissance of youthful, creative energy,” says Vernon Shaw, founder and president of Canlight Realty Corporation and developer behind the the Pigott Building.
For the redevelopment of this site, Shaw enlisted Hunter Milborne, CEO of Milborne Group, who was born and raised in Hamilton. His family once owned a local business on the same street as Radio Arts.
The designers behind the revitalization of the Royal Connaught building, KNYMH Inc. and Hamiltonian, Erika McCarthy and her team at Baudit Interior Design are helping to bring the vision of Radio Arts to life.
As the development and design team started to peel back layers, they discovered an original tile floor of the former broadcasting station, with mosaic details that spell out ‘Radio Arts.’ Other architectural details like original beams and metal barn-style doors will be salvaged and reincorporated into the building.
“There’s a distinct vibe in the city that plays on the sophistication of brick and beams while inspiring creativity,” says McCarthy. “I’ve seen how Hamilton has grown with the arts, music, and food scenes. Still, Hamilton’s approachability has been consistent, and it’s important that the design of Radio Arts reflected this in the interior design.”
Radio Arts will be a four-minute walk to both the Queen and James LRT stops. Geared towards the working professional, suites range from studios to three-bedroom units.
A social lounge on the 14th floor feeds out onto the rooftop terrace that offers views from across the city.
Rendering of social lounge by Drawn in Depth.
Digital concierge services are also available and allow residents to manage guest access, home deliveries, and more from their smartphones.
“Hamilton is on the precipice of growth and change,” says Milborne. “The high standards that Vernon sets as a community builder combined with this new wave of energy, makes Radio Arts special. It was the right time for me to come back to Hamilton and I am proud to be part of its vibrant urban renewal story.”
