Breaking the rules: Halifax’s first hard lofts.

Forget everything you think you know about downtown Halifax living. By converting a mid-century office building into the city’s first authentic hard loft units, we’re also subverting expectations. And creating what hasn’t been imagined yet in this historic city. Spacious units with exposed concrete surfaces. High ceilings with immersive windows. Raw architectural details complemented with a design aesthetic built on oversized custom artwork. Agency Art Lofts is the stage for the life you want to live. So go beyond expectations. Live beyond ordinary.

Creative Occupation

Not satisfied with the status quo? Neither are we. This new urban development is a bold exercise in the power of using creativity to pursue better. Better efficiency: By creatively converting an existing building rather than demolishing it, we’re saving over 8,030 tonnes of embodied carbon. Better lifestyle: Agency Art Lofts—the former Centennial Building—is in the unequivocal centre of downtown Halifax, so you’re within walking distance of whatever your heart desires. Better aesthetics: The larger-than-life original artwork that defines the experience of the city’s first genuine hard lofts will infuse your life with creative intensity.

Suites

Use your own agency.

At Agency Art Lofts you’re a stone’s throw from the harbour, dining, entertainment, shopping, and transit. And between the building's four counterculture-era walls is every lifestyle perk you’ve wanted. Grab a few drinks at Niche Lounge; start your day with a sweat in the gym, with yoga, weight, and workout rooms; and get together with friends in the party room. It’s all just an elevator ride away.

Creative Reuse: 8,030 Tonnes of Carbon Avoided, Equal to 132,770 New Trees Planted
March 10, 2025
Agency Art Lofts at 1660 Hollis St. is Sidewalk's largest adaptive reuse project to date. Upcycling and repurposing the existing commercial building to residential units avoids the need for new materials, reduces landfill waste, and saves energy.

Our latest report from Gensler Architects found that renovating and reusing the building’s structure is equivalent to planting 132,770 new trees, saving 8,030 tonnes of carbon from entering the environment compared to demolishing and rebuilding. This is in addition to the 67% GHG savings we are creating through improved operational efficiencies in the new building compared to the old, inefficient office building.

Read More
Retrofit Financing Helps Innovative Developer Convert Halifax Office Tower
January 14, 2025
The Centennial Building is one of Halifax, Nova Scotia's, first high-rise buildings. It’s no surprise that a structure completed in 1967 was using energy inefficiently, leading to high utility costs and a large carbon footprint. But the visionary leaders at Sidewalk Real Estate Development saw an opportunity to convert the Centennial into something new.

The company focuses on amenity-rich locations in urban neighborhoods with a focus on sustainability. In keeping with that ethos, Sidewalk purchased the Centennial in 2021 with the intention of converting it into loft-style rental apartments while reducing the building’s carbon footprint through energy efficiency retrofits BMO provided an impact loan to Sidewalk, the first of its kind through our partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

“In this high interest rate environment, what really propelled us forward was the substantial interest rate savings that we saw under the retrofit program,” said Joe Nickerson, Sidewalk’s vice president. “We are going to end up with product that we could never create in the new construction environment.”

Read More

News & Events

We don’t plan to express our creativity quietly. Like converting a 1960s office building into premier loft living is bold, we plan to mark every development milestone with boldness as well. Check back often so you don’t miss the noise we’ll be making. You’ll want to be part of it.

Read The Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of apartments are available?
Agency Art Lofts offers studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom rental apartments. The building also includes five two-level penthouse lofts. Current floor plans, rents and availability are listed on the Suites page.
What is Agency Art Lofts?
Agency Art Lofts is an adaptive-reuse apartment community located at 1660 Hollis Street in Downtown Halifax. The former Centennial Building has been converted into hard loft rental suites with 12-28ft ceilings, exposed concrete, large windows and original custom artwork.
Is parking available?
Nearby offsite indoor parking available upon request.
Is the building pet-friendly?
Yes, we allow cats and dogs in all of our properties.
Is smoking allowed in the building?
No, we are pleased to offer a smoke-free environment.
What move-in dates are available?
Move-in dates are dependant on suite availability -- check out our Suites page for unit layouts, rents, and lease start date options, or get in touch with our team at info@agencyartlofts.ca, we would be happy to assist you.
Is the building accessible/barrier-free?
Yes, the building is accessible and there are barrier-free units and amenity spaces.
What amenities are in the building?
Agency Art Lofts has 12 curated resident amenity spaces: SAUNA, LIFT, PODCAST, YOGA, RIDE, GATHER, SPEAKEASY, WORK, FOCUS, SCULPT, SCREENING and RUN. Our tenants enjoy private bookings in these fitness and wellness rooms, study and meeting spaces, creative spaces, theatre room, and main level gather and play rooms. Anytime Fitness is also located in the building, along with Niche Lounge, Halifax's favourite sports bar.
Nearby amenities?
Art Gallery Nova Scotia, Arthurs Grocery, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Neptune Theatre, Halifax Central Library, Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University, Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, Argyle Street entertainment district, Spring Garden Road shopping district, Citadel Hill, Halifax Public Gardens, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Scotiabank Centre and more.
Transportation options?
With our unbeatable location at the very heart of Halifax, the best of everything the city has to offer is right in the neighbourhood! We are also conveniently connected to the regional transportation network with the Halifax Ferry and Barrington Street Bus Terminals both a short walk away. The downtown core has dedicated bike lanes and we offer bike storage room in building, and of course there are Taxis and Uber.

Location & Hours

1660 Hollis St

Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 1V7

Available upon request.

Breaking the rules: Halifax’s first hard lofts.

Creative Occupation

Suites

Use your own agency.

Creative Reuse: 8,030 Tonnes of Carbon Avoided, Equal to 132,770 New Trees Planted

Retrofit Financing Helps Innovative Developer Convert Halifax Office Tower

News & Events

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of apartments are available?

What is Agency Art Lofts?

Is parking available?

Is the building pet-friendly?

Is smoking allowed in the building?

What move-in dates are available?

Is the building accessible/barrier-free?

What amenities are in the building?

Nearby amenities?

Transportation options?

Location & Hours

1660 Hollis St

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