City unveils new Whyte Avenue washrooms

A new public washroom opens Friday morning in Edmonton's Old Strathcona area.

The $536,000 facility, which will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is on the northeast corner of Whyte Avenue and Gateway Boulevard.

The city hopes it will address a shortage of public washrooms in the popular shopping and entertainment district.

The building has glass walls, a choice that was made to enhance safety.

"The glass walls are designed to allow you to be able to see into the building prior to moving into it," architect Anneliese Fris said.

"So that you understand before you open the doors that you have a vision of what's in there, the people that are in there and it makes a person feel more comfortable about entering a building."

Murray Davison, the executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association, says the washrooms will also provide relief for businesses in the area.

"There's been some pressure on our local businesses to serve people other than their patrons," he said. "With the farmers market and the people on the street, we really want to have an Old Strathcona experience and this will add to that."

CBC News has created this interactive video tour of the new loos.