Calgary Skyline History

Calgary Skyline History

New skyscraper projects in the downtown Calgary area is a norm for the booming western Canadian city. But it hasn’t always been this way. Before the 1970’s skyscrapers were few and far between...

In the Beginning...

Tower construction in Calgary began more than a century ago in 1909 with the construction of the Grain Exchange Building on 9th Avenue and 1st Street SW. At 6 stories high, it was an amazing feat to accomplish for the engineers and construction crews of the time.

Next up was the Fairmont Palliser Hotel at 12 stories in 1914, then came Calgary’s first real skyscraper the Elveden House at 20 floors, almost 50 years later in 1960. After the 1970’s skyscraper construction ramped up dramatically.

Skyscraper Timeline

Since the skyscraper boom of Calgary, many high rise towers have been built. Notable skyscrapers beginning from first to last...

1910 - Grain Exchange Building

• Floors – 6

1914 - Fairmont Palliser Hotel

• Floors – 12
• Height – 197ft / 60m
• Calgary Landmarks - Fairmont Palliser Hotel

1960 - Elveden House

• Floors – 20
• Height – 262.5ft / 80m

1976 - Scotia Centre

• Floors – 41
• Height – 509ft / 155m

1984 - Suncor Energy Centre West

• Floors - 53
• Height – 705ft / 215m

1988 - Canterra Tower

• Floors – 45
• Height – 581ft / 177m

1989 - Bankers Hall East

• Floors – 52
• Height – 646ft / 197m
• Calgary Landmarks - Bankers Hall

1991 - TD Canada Trust Tower

• Floors – 40
• Height – 531ft / 162m

2000 - Bankers Hall West

• Floors – 52
• Height – 646ft / 197m

2001 - TransCanada Tower

• Floors – 38
• Height – 581ft / 177m

2010 - Centennial Place I

• Floors – 41
• Height – 182m

2011 - Eighth Avenue Place I

• Floors – 48
• Height – 691ft / 211m
• Calgary Landmarks - Eighth Avenue Place

2012 - Bow Tower

• Floors – 58
• Height – 774 ft / 236m
• Calgary Landmarks - The Bow Tower

2018– Brookfield Place

• Floors – 56
• Height – 810ft / 247m
• Calgary's Tallest Building - Brookfield Place

Quarter 2 of 2012 was best quarter in history of office space absorption for the City of Calgary and with more head offices per capita than any other Canadian city, its no wonder more downtown Calgary skyscraper projects are in the works as we speak!

More and more castles in the sky are appearing in the downtown area. A consistently active economy should keep it that way for many years to come. Up, up and away!