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Many of Calgary's neighbourhoods have been reshaped by the recent construction boom, although the most noticeable changes have occurred in the downtown area where new residential and office highrise buildings have greatly expanded the skyline. With a growing population of over one million, the prairie metropolis has drawn the attention of world-famous architecture firms, one of which is Copenhagen-based Bjarke Ingels Group and their Telus Sky project, designed in collaboration with Canadian Dialog Architects, and developed by Westbank Projects Corp.
Planned to rise 221 metres above the intersection of 7th Avenue and Centre Street, the 59-storey mixed-use tower is currently well under construction. After the excavation process was completed in the fall and two cranes were installed in the pit, the first underground concrete levels are now being poured, as seen in the picture below. Once completed in 2017, it will not only become Calgary's third tallest tower, it will also boast a unique design paired with yet-to-be-seen amenities. A nine-storey atrium equipped with wall planters will mark the entrance of the building's office and residential portions, respectively located on floors 4-29 and floors 30-58.
The tower's floor plates will vary greatly in size, with the lower half of the tower housing offices featuring ample open spaces, and the pixelated upper section of the building seemingly fading away as balconies of the 326 residential units make their appearance. Telus Sky will have a noticeable impact on the skyline, as a reflective triple pane curtain wall with high thermal and sound insulation properties will cover the entirety of the tower, and an LED light feature will illuminate the building at night. The edifice's impact on the environment will be limited, as it is aiming for LEED Platinum certification, a first in Calgary according BIG Partner Thomas Christoffersen during an exclusive interview with SkyriseCities.com last November.
Additional information and renderings of Telus Sky can be found in our Database page for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Visit our dedicated Forum thread or leave a comment below.
