Seems more likely that it was really a three-storey building and only the facade was kept when they consolidated various properties into the one-storey Staples.
Edit: I seem to be correct. I checked the historical photos on GeoOttawa, and it seems to have happened in the 90s.
1991:
1999:
PS: I have been in and past this building hundreds of times before but never really looked. The heritage facades are the only bits of the old buildings remaining; otherwise they were completely demolished, and replaced with a steel-frame big box store. It was a complete facadectomy.
Noticed that on Geo the other day as well. For what it's worth, they did do a pretty good job preserving the facade, but you can tell by the window's something's wrong. Kind of sad.
Looking good so far... however I wish they had a bit of a plane change between the 2 bricks.
Really hoping the brick screen walls on the balconies end up getting constructed.
That's really too bad, that was my favourite feature of this project. Not Claridge level bait and switch, but still a little disappointing and disingenuous.
Maybe it is still in? That doesn't look 'finished' to me and could just be the framework for whatever they will do to finish it/bolt whatever onto it. Guess we will see!
Sigh... without the visual interest from the brick lattice this is just yet another midrise who's main architectural feature is poorly placed expansion joints. Hope that they're able to find good tenants for the retail, would hate to see it sit empty on the speculation that one day someone will pay $60/sqft for it.