‘Flying Saucer’ condo building nearing completion

Winnipeg — An out of this world condo building is nearing completion in Winnipeg.

The two-storey, circular building sits 35 feet above the ground on concrete pillars near Waterfront Drive on MacDonald Avenue. Project architect Ken Borton with Winnipeg’s 5468796 Architecture says people have a common reaction when they see it, “It’s definitely the UFO, it’s definitely the flying saucer,” project architect Ken Borton says.

“Once we knew it was going to be circular and once we knew it was going to be raised up and off the ground then it’s kind of the obvious analogy,” Borton says.

There are 40 units in the building. They’re all 650 square feet and pie shaped. The entrance is narrow but all the units have window space nearly 20 feet wide.

The unique project created some construction issues, including building the circle, putting up the stilts and fabricating all the material off-site.

One of the project’s developers is hoping the building will stand apart from other new condo buildings in the area. “This was a unique piece of land, great location, but kind of tucked in away and so we wanted to put something here that really stuck out,” Rocky Kalsi with Ranjjan Developments says.

It’s a strategy that may help the units appeal to prospective buyers. “The market is getting really rich and diverse here so I think you kind of have to stand out a little bit to make your project more unique, more attractive and here’s a great example of a bold design,” Jino Distasio says, Director of the Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Winnipeg.

Half of the 40 units, located on MacDonald Ave., have already been sold. A move-in date is planned for this winter.