Since 1982, a striking gold sheen has defined the exterior of the two-tower Scotia Place complex in Edmonton's downtown core. The 28- and 21-storey buildings have become distinctive markers in the skyline, but plans from Morguard Investments signal a major impending change in their appearance.

The two-tower Scotia Place, image retrieved from Google Street View

The gold skin will be shed and replaced by a new reflective blue glazing. The $22 million CAD project will increase the permeability of light into the interior workspaces while permitting a wider spectrum of colour. The three main entrances of the complex are also expected to undergo substantial upgrades alongside interior mechanical systems.

The current gold hue of Scotia Place, image by Forum contributor Daveography

The unique geometry of the complex gives way to a massing of angular elevations. In contrast with the blue, the 45-degree corners will be clad in a silver glass that will incorporate horizontal strips of LEDs. This lighting system will enable a collage of colours that can be programmed at the touch of a button. Some 13,000 panels will begin installation in October and take about 18 months to complete.

Rendering of the renewed Scotia Place, image via Kasian Architecture

The Kasian-designed upgrade is responding to the new office typologies being introduced to Edmonton, which are taking the form of gleaming curtain wall glass towers. The ICE District is the main beneficiary of these blue-tinted highrises, creating a cluster of modern office space that seeks to attract high-tech and urban-minded tenants. The inundation of blue-glass towers across Canada has caused some outcry among SkyriseCities and UrbanToronto Forumers, who have bemoaned the ostensibly monotonous aesthetic of most modern skyscraper clusters. The blue and green glass condominiums popular in Vancouver have spawned a term to recognize this local phenomena, which is simply coined 'Vancouverism.' Losing a 1980s gold standard of sorts will undoubtedly cause unease among some Edmontonians.

A test panel has been applied to the building, image by Forum contributor Daveography

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