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Of the five tallest buildings currently under construction in Calgary, two are residential, two are office, and one is a combination of both. New office space is satisfying the demand for contemporary and flexible workspaces, while condominiums cater to millennials and empty nesters looking to take advantage of the amenities and services in the downtown core. The population is surging in neighbourhoods like the Beltline, as buyers make a conscious lifestyle decision to stake their claim in the latest skyscraping residential tower. It's a defining moment in Calgary's history, one that is quickly changing the skyline and boosting the city's international identity.
Brookfield Place is undoubtedly the largest building underway right now. The 247-metre office tower has also become the tallest building in Western Canada, with the structural steel frame nearly caught up to the topped-out concrete core. The sleek glass tower designed by Arney Fender Katsalidis and Dialog Architects features curved corners that grow in prominence with each subsequent level. The 56-storey tower and its restaurant and art-laden public plaza will be accompanied by a second 42-storey building in the future, completing the landmark complex.
Not far behind is Telus Sky, a highly-anticipated project by Westbank and popular Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group that is climbing 59 storeys above 7th Avenue SW and Centre Street South. The 222-metre building's floor plate will narrow from the office component on the lower levels to the upper residential floors. A nine-storey atrium equipped with a lush green wall will greet tenants and residents. The building's central core has hit ground level, while the surrounding floors steadily approach that milestone.
The first residential-only project on the list, Vogue Condominiums by LaCaille Group and S2 Architecture, is an Art Deco-inspired tower that is rising to a 125-metre apex. The 35-storey building will include a grand arched entryway with signage bearing the name of the development. Glass and vertical beige panelling are making their way up the tower, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2017.
Another office project by a world-renowned architecture firm is coming together at 707 Fifth Street. Developed by Manulife Real Estate, who has tapped Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for the design, the 124-metre building is being covered by a triple-pane curtain wall cladding system. Connections to the LRT network and the +15 above-ground pedestrian system will make the commute a lot easier for tenants of the 27-floor tower. 707 Fifth's dramatic curved faces and notched ends make it an engrossing addition to the cityscape.
Finally, 10th Avenue SW by WAM Development Group institutes a Kirkor Architects design featuring window wall and spandrel cladding. The two-tower development's west building, at 34 storeys and 119 metres, has become one of the tallest condominiums in the city. In total, 440 rental units will be added to the bustling Beltline community when the complex finishes in late 2016.
Each of these projects has ploughed ahead under the banners of distinct builders and architects, some of whom have impressive international portfolios. Their development and design philosophies are expressed through the composition and aesthetic of these monumental structures, which is turning the Calgary skyline into an eye-catching showcase of differing architectural styles and land uses.
Additional information and images about the above projects can be found in the Database files linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum threads or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
| Related Companies: | ANTAMEX, EllisDon, Live Patrol Inc., Manulife Investment Management, Real Estate, Walters Group |
