For these reasons, along with incredibly innovative projects, this real estate development company has developed a signature touch that is as unique as an autograph.
“Our mission is to create vibrant and exciting developments that enhance communities and improve the lives of those within them,” says Henry Edgar, President and founder of Autograph. “When you see an Autograph project, you see a reflection of our team members. Our name on a building means something to us. We are a small company working on innovative projects that keep us excited and wanting to come to work every day! We don’t want to be a huge machine. In fact, I really love how nimble we are as it allows us to focus on more impactful developments.”
Henry grew up in the industry.
“My father was a real estate developer and I didn’t consider doing anything else,” he shares. “I joined my brother’s company, EDGAR, which was also our family name, and we grew the brand together from Vancouver until 2017.”
Although EDGAR was headquartered in Vancouver, Henry was doing a fair number of projects in Edmonton. Over time, the constant commute between provinces coupled with his rekindled love of the capital city sparked something in the developer.
“I decided that if I wanted to be successful in Edmonton, I needed to be local and it was time to move back to my home town”
In 2018 Henry opened an EDGAR office in Edmonton and hired a few team members.
“That worked great for a while,” he reminisces. “We operated in Edmonton as EDGAR for four years. However, over time I realized I wanted our Edmonton work to have more of an Edmonton story. I decided to rebrand in 2022 and it took another year to come up with, and to launch, the brand.”
In May 2023 Autograph debuted as a separate entity.
“We joke that EDGAR and Autograph are ‘brother companies,” smiles Henry, “and we still partner and collaborate on a number of projects.”
A big milestone for Autograph came between 2018 and 2019 when the young brand bought up a lot of land in anticipation of rapid growth.
And then 2020 hit.
Henry says, “Unfortunately the pandemic had a significant impact on our company and downtown Edmonton as a whole. It was truly a unique time. Nobody knew what was coming. Activity in downtown stopped. It was the worst case scenario for us given most of our projects were in the core. We really had to hit pause, retool and rethink, but we came out of it stronger and smarter.”
Deciding to use the interruption as an advantage instead of a challenge, Henry guided the team to use the downtime to hone their skills.
“We spent a lot of time looking at our proformas and processes. Coming out of the pandemic and restarting projects we put on hold was a real turning point.”
As the pandemic wound down and things opened up again, Autograph was ready to go – and they came out of the gate swinging.
“One thing I love about this business is that it is so tangible. Every project we work on takes years to complete and when it is done, we can walk through it, touch it and feel the impact,” Henry shares. “I love to drive my kids by projects we have done and at the end of my career, I can say I helped build the city; that is important to me.”
Building the city for Autograph means building highly amenitized living spaces while being at the forefront of innovation.
“We are always leading edge and forward thinking. Our products are our buildings and our service has a personal touch,” Henry explains. This philosophy extends to their retail tenants, residential tenants and condo buyers. “We see our tenants and buyers as our partners.”
Henry’s commitment to holistic urban planning is evident in the West Village development located in the west edge of Wîhkwêntôwin, which was formerly known as the Oliver area.
“In The West Village, we first built The MacLaren and we just finished The Mercury Block. Now The Cobalt is under construction and soon we’ll start The Third Corner. We are creating a true mixed-use district. That takes a lot of planning and a lot of thinking of ways to ensure the buildings work well together,” Henry says. “The vision is to create a vibrant high street with funky shops, dining options and an inviting atmosphere. To do this we look at our buildings’ flow and function. People should not have to move in and out of a lobby with heavy boxes or have a challenging way to get around the common spaces. We have leasing offices in the building and staff at desks on site. We know these are living, breathing buildings that must function in a certain way.”
Henry’s unwavering dedication to building not just structures but communities highlights the impact thoughtful urban development can have on a city. His approach ensures that each project contributes positively to the urban landscape, creating spaces where people want to live, work and play.
Another prime example of this is The Clifton. This luxury condo development has 18 exclusive units, each offering unparalleled views of the valley.
Henry describes the project, “What excites me so much about The Clifton is its architecture; it has a timeless design and it’s entirely clad in natural stone and triple glazed glass. You just don’t get to build like that anymore due to the nature of construction costs and market demand. This will be one of a kind for Edmonton”
The Clifton’s unique features make it a rare gem in modern urban development. These high-end materials not only enhance the building’s aesthetic appeal but also offer exceptional durability and energy efficiency. Scheduled for completion in 2026, The Clifton promises to be a landmark of luxury living.
The Mercury Block won an urban designer award from the City; the 2023 Award of Excellence for Housing Innovation. The MacLaren also received an award from BUILD Alberta for the Best Urban Redevelopment in 2021.
Achieving the level of success Autograph continues to attain with unique projects such as The Clifton or the vision for The West Village takes a great deal of collaboration. For Henry, this is ideal as his leadership style is firmly based in everyone working equally together.
“We always need to balance creativity and ingenuity with sound underwriting, operating responsibly without settling for mediocrity. I like to leverage the team’s feedback and comments. We pull everyone into the boardroom and discuss what should change so we never make the same mistake twice. It is a highly collaborative office. There are lots of quick, off-the-cuff meetings and decisions that fosters an in-person office culture. This hands-on, interactive approach empowers the team to make swift, informed decisions that drive the company forward.”
Autograph’s culture is deeply rooted in values that emphasize vision, commitment, integrity and community impact. They have a vision to see what others can’t, a commitment to follow through on promises and a drive to build with integrity, leaving a lasting impact on communities, partners and each other. This approach goes beyond just constructing buildings. They aim to create neighbourhoods and make a positive, lasting impact by striving to enhance communities through their projects. The company prides itself on delivering exceptional buildings by sticking to the plan, keeping their word and acting with ethics, honesty, openness and respect. They aspire to leave behind a legacy of better, stronger and more beautiful neighbourhoods, reflecting their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their work.
“Our greatest challenge,” Henry says candidly, “is the balance between growing and focusing on the type of work we want to do. We want to build something amazing, or nothing at all. However, it is tough to build exciting projects that require constant creativity. You have to think outside of the box and find the right people. With a small team, everyone has to gel. The most rewarding thing is the impact we have on communities and in the city. I love seeing people move into our completed projects. Many people are surprised when they learn about the small size of our company because we are doing such ‘big’ work. If you look at the projects we have on the go, it feels like we have a much bigger team!”
For Henry, the goal and the drive started with wanting to celebrate Edmonton’s unique story through ambitious, creative, one-of-a-kind real estate projects. His admiration for the city is clear.
“I love the size of it and I love the business community’s commitment to the betterment of the city. I sit on a number of different boards and committees and the passion I see from my fellow members is so refreshing. Everyone says Edmonton is the largest small town in the world. That rings true. It is approachable and collaborative. I feel like my competitors are partners, and we are working toward a shared goal. For development, there are so many sites and so many opportunities. That is a huge advantage Edmonton has as the city continues to grow.”
Reflecting on the Alberta Advantage, Henry points to significant migration to the province in recent years.
“I think it comes down to affordability. Most of our major centres in Canada are becoming unaffordable. We still have half a million people coming to Canada and they come to Alberta because it is affordable. That is the ultimate Alberta advantage.
Autograph also places a strong emphasis on giving back to the community.
“We try to support as many charities as we can, but the Stollery Hospital Foundation is close to my heart. My son was born prematurely and spent a lot of time in the NICU. My wife and I owe a lot of gratitude to the amazing staff at The Stollery Children’s Hospital,” Henry shares.
As he reflects on the past and the future of Autograph, Henry attributes much of the company’s success to their partners.
“I would like to say a big thank you to our incredible team and all the people involved in our work. We work with architects, engineers, contractors and consultants. A special thanks goes to our partners, residential tenants and commercial businesses. Everyone is a part of what makes our projects successful.”
When asked what one thing he would tell his clients, Henry’s message is simple: “Trust us! We do what we say we are going to do.”
Looking ahead, Henry remains optimistic about the future.
“Time will tell what the future brings but we are excited to keep building Edmonton. We love being part of the positive changes taking place in our great city,” he concludes.
Henry’s insights paint a picture of a company deeply committed to quality, community and continuous improvement. Through their innovative projects and charitable efforts, Autograph is not just building structures but contributing to the betterment of Edmonton as a whole. Learn more online at www.autographgroup.com. Autograph is also active on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Article by: By Nerissa McNaugton (Business in Edmonton)
https://businessinedmonton.com/cover-featured/the-signature-touch/