Abbey Master Builder wasn’t named 2009’s Builder of the Year by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (Central Alberta) for its newly opened headquarters, but the coincidence is fitting.
by Scott Messenger
Just outside Red Deer, the 8,500-square-foot faux château – designed by the company – is the architectural surprise of this stretch of the QE2 highway. “It’s not a true French country look,” admits president Art Anastasi, but the stone facade and peaked turret hint at European inspiration.
Since the office opened last spring, its sense of elsewhere has drawn steady traffic, making last December one of Abbey’s best since Anastasi started the company 30 years ago. After a tough year previous, the building, occupied by a staff of 25, stands as much for optimism as it does success. “The company will be going long after I’m gone,” says Anastasi. “We’re in it for the long term. We’re proud of what we do and we wanted to show that.”
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