If you tuned in to CKUA between 1955 and 2012, chances are the signal originated from the Alberta Block on 105 Street and Jasper Avenue in Edmonton. For 57 years, the Alberta Block was CKUA’s home; a hive of offices, studios, and an expansive (and probably haunted!) record library, all working to connect listeners across Alberta.
The Alberta Block’s story, however, stretches back even further. Built in 1909 with a later expansion in 1913, the building is one of Jasper Avenue’s longest-standing landmarks. Its stately all-white facade has witnessed more than a century of downtown Edmonton’s evolution. While CKUA moved to its current home at the Alberta Hotel in 2012, the Alberta Block has continued to play an important role in the city’s cultural and economic life.
After CKUA’s departure, the building sat at a crossroads. In 2013, a group of local investors, led by RedBrick Group of Companies president Tegan Martin-Drysdale, purchased the property with a vision to restore and re-imagine it.
“One of the things that drew me to the building was how preserved it had been during CKUA’s time, and the rich history behind all of that,” recalls Martin-Drysdale. “But I also knew that we needed to position it so it would last another 50 to 100 years.”
Renovations began with structural reinforcements, energy efficiency upgrades, and opening up interior floor plans. The six-storey rear addition, dating from 1913, was fortified to someday support a rooftop patio. Inside, the once-fixed studio walls gave way to flexible workspaces, designed to accommodate a variety of tenants. While the bones of the old Alberta Block remain, its interior now reflects a modern vision—one of collaboration, sustainability, and adaptability.
Since 2015, the building has been home to Homestead Coworking, offering office space to Edmonton entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses. For Martin-Drysdale, Homestead founder, the transformation wasn’t just about freeing up square footage; it was about community.
“My hope is that the building becomes a lightning rod for the brightest minds in Alberta,” she says. “That it showcases the best of Edmonton as a whole and becomes a beacon of energy downtown, in a very grassroots kind of way.”
The Alberta Block’s ground floor adds another chapter to its eclectic history. Today, it houses Fu’s Repair Shop, an award-winning restaurant known for its Chinese fusion dishes, imaginative cocktails, and vintage-inspired décor.
Although CKUA’s days in the Alberta Block are over, it is truly inspiring to see the wonderful transformation taking place. This historic space will continue to bring people together in new ways, echoing CKUA’s legacy of connection and creativity.
Tegan Martin-Drysdale leads the Homestead Investment Co-Operative (HIC), which opened its call-out to the public for investment late in 2024. They are seeking investors to raise enough money to buy the building from its current owners and preserve its presence as a community hub and co-working space. People who are interested in a tour or in learning more can get information here.
