List of tallest buildings in Calgary

This is a list of tallest buildings in Calgary, Alberta, namely buildings that are at least 400 feet (120 meters) tall.

Downtown Calgary, with Calgary's four tallest buildings in the bottom right

Calgary is both the largest city and largest metropolitan area in the Canadian province of Alberta, with a municipal population of 1,267,344[1] as of April 1, 2018, and a metropolitan population of 1,469,300[2] as of July 1, 2016.

Overview

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Standing at 56 stories, 247 m (810 ft), the tallest building in the city is Brookfield Place.[3][4] The second-tallest building in the city is The Bow, standing at 58-storeys, 236 m (774 ft). The third-tallest building in the city is the 60-storey, 222-metre (728 ft) Telus Sky, which surpassed the 215-metre (705 ft) Suncor Energy Centre upon its completion in 2020.[5][6] The Calgary Tower is included in this list for comparison purposes; however, it is not ranked since it is not considered a habitable building.

Calgary's history of towers began with the Grain Exchange Building (1910), the Fairmont Palliser Hotel (1914), and the Elveden Centre. Building construction remained slow in the city until the early 1970s. From 1970 to 1990, Calgary witnessed a major expansion of skyscraper and high-rise construction. Many of the city's office towers were completed during this period, such as the First Canadian Centre and the Canterra Tower office towers. A ten-year lull in building construction came after the expansion, though Calgary experienced a larger second building expansion beginning in the late 90s and continuing into the present.[7] Currently, the city has height restrictions that prevent any building from casting a shadow over the Bow River and the city hall, however, winter months are excluded from this limit. There is no other imposed limits elsewhere in the city, which could allow for some extremely tall buildings. The Bow Tower was originally proposed to be at least 1,000 feet tall but reduced to comply with these rules.[8]: 367  As of June 2018 Calgary hosts 373 buildings over 35 m (115 ft) complete and under construction, 82 of which are 100 m (328 ft) or more and are all in the downtown area. This is the second highest concentration of skyscrapers in Canada, behind Downtown Toronto.[9]

As of March 2019, there are 10 skyscrapers over 100 m (328 ft) under construction, along with another 34 skyscrapers over 100 m (328 ft) approved and proposed, with a further 56 high-rises over 35 m (115 ft) under construction, approved for construction, and proposed for construction in the City of Calgary. After this skyscraper boom, Calgary's skyline will have dramatically changed, having added at least the second tallest and fourth tallest buildings in Western Canada between 2016 and 2018, Brookfield Place East and Telus Sky respectively.[9]

Buildings

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This list ranks buildings in Calgary that stand at least 400 feet (120 meters) tall, based on CTBUH height measurement standards. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. Freestanding observation and/or telecommunication towers, while not habitable buildings, are included for comparison purposes; however, they are not ranked. One such tower is the Calgary Tower.

Rank Building Address Height Floors Completed Image
1 Brookfield Place East 210 7 Avenue SW 247 m (810 ft) 56 2017
 
Brookfield Place East
2 The Bow 500 Centre Street S 236 m (774 ft) 58 2012
 
The Bow
3 Telus Sky 619 Centre Street S 222 m (728 ft) 60 2020
 
Telus Sky
4 Suncor Energy Centre - West 150 6 Avenue SW 215 m (705 ft)[10] 53 1984
 
Suncor Energy Centre
5 Eighth Avenue Place I 525 8 Avenue SW 212 m (696 ft) 51 2011
 
Eighth Avenue Place
6 Bankers Hall - West 888 3 Street SW 197 m (646 ft)[11] 52[12] 2000
 
Bankers Hall - West
7 Bankers Hall - East 855 2 Street SW 197 m (646 ft)[13] 52[12] 1989
 
Bankers Hall - East
8 Calgary Tower 101 9th Avenue SW 191 m (627 ft) 1968
 
Tower from below
9 Centennial Place - East 520 - 3rd Avenue SW 182 m (597 ft) 41 2010
 
Centennial Place
10 Eighth Avenue Place II 585 8 Avenue SW 177 m (581 ft) 41 2014
 
Eighth Avenue Place II
11 Canterra Tower 400 3 Avenue SW 177 m (581 ft)[14] 45[15] 1988
 
Canterra Tower
12 TransCanada Tower 450 1 Street SW 177 m (581 ft) 38 2001
 
TransCanada Tower
13 Jamieson Place 308 4 Avenue SW 172 m (564 ft) 38 2009
 
Jamieson Place
14 First Canadian Centre 350 7 Avenue SW 167 m (548 ft) 41 1982
 
First Canadian Centre
15 Western Canadian Place - North 707 8 Avenue SW 164 m (538 ft) 41 1983
 
Western Canadian Place North
16 TD Canada Trust Tower 421 7 Avenue SW 162 m (531 ft) 40 1991
 
TD Canada Trust Tower
17 City Centre I 215 2 Street SW 162 m (531 ft) 37 2016
 
City Centre I
18 Stephen Avenue Place 700 2 Street SW 155 m (509 ft) 41 1976
 
Scotia Centre
19 801 Seventh Building 801 7 Avenue SW 153 m (502 ft) 37 1982
 
801 7th Avenue Building
20 West Village Towers I 850 11 St SW 150 m (490 ft) 41 2022
 
West Village Towers I
21 West Village Towers II 850 11 St SW 150 m (490 ft) 41 2022
 
West Village Towers II
22 The Guardian North 1122 3 St SE 147 m (482 ft) 44 2016
 
The Guardian North
23 The Guardian South 1188 11 Ave SE 147 m (482 ft) 44 2016
 
The Guardian South
24 Bow Valley Square 2 205 5 Avenue SW 143 m (469 ft) 39 1975
 
Bow Valley Square
25 Dome Tower 333 7 Avenue SW 141 m (463 ft) 35 1977
 
Dome Tower
26 Fifth and Fifth Building 505 5 Avenue SW 140 m (460 ft) 34 1980
 
27 Shell Centre 4 Avenue SW 140 m (460 ft) 33 1977
 
Shell Centre
28 Eleven 1055 11 St SW 138 m (453 ft) 44 2021
 
Eleven Tower
29 Home Oil Tower 324 8 Avenue SW 137 m (449 ft) 34 1977
 
Home Oil Tower
30 Bow Valley Square 4 205 5 Avenue SW 134 m (440 ft) 37 1981
 
Bow Valley Square
31 Fifth Avenue Place East 425 1 Street SW 133 m (436 ft) 35 1981
 
Fifth Avenue Place East
32 Fifth Avenue Place West 237 4 Avenue SW 133 m (436 ft) 35 1981
 
Fifth Avenue Place West
33 Suncor Energy Centre - East 111 5 Avenue SW 130 m (430 ft)[16] 33 1984
 
Petro-Canada Centre
34 Calgary Courts Centre 601 5th Street SW 129 m (423 ft) 26 2007
 
Calgary Courts Centre
35 Western Canadian Place - South 707 8 Avenue SW 128 m (420 ft)[17] 32 1983
 
Western Canadian Place South
36 Arriva 34 1111 Olympic Way SE 128 m (420 ft) 34 2007
 
Arriva Tower
37 Altius Centre 500 4 Avenue SW 126 m (413 ft) 32 1973
 
Altius Centre
38 The Edison 150 9 Ave SW 125 m (410 ft) 31 1982
 
EnCana Place
39 Vogue 930 6th Avenue SW 125 m (410 ft) 36 2017
 
Vogue
40 Stock Exchange Tower 300 5 Ave SW 124 m (407 ft) 31 1979
 
Stock Exchange Tower
41 Hewlett Packard Tower 715 5 Ave SW 124 m (407 ft) 33 1975
 
Hewlett Packard Tower
42 707 Fifth 707 5 Ave SW 124 m (407 ft) 27 2017
 
707 Fifth Avenue
43 Five West East Tower 910 5th Avenue SW 123 m (404 ft) 28 2008
 
Five West East Tower
Downtown Calgary from the south in May 2018, with Telus Sky under construction
Downtown Calgary from the north in 2010, with The Bow building under construction at left

Towers

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Observation/Communication towers completed as of October, 2006
Rank Building Address Height Completed Image
=1 CFCN-DT Tower 1* Old Banff Coach Road SW 250 m (820 ft) 1954
=1 CFCN-DT Tower 2* Old Banff Coach Road SW 250 m (820 ft) 1954  

(*) Although Calgary's two largest structures are actually CFCN-TV's twin communication towers, they are not self-supporting and are assisted by cables (guyed). This is not unlike most stand-alone communications antennae.

Historic towers

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Notable historical towers
Building Address Height Floors Completed Notes Image
Ski Jump (Canada Olympic Park) 88 Canada Olympic Park Road SW 90 m n/a 1987 The taller of three ski jump towers built for the 1988 Winter Olympics; 90 meters is the distance a ski jumper travels from the terminus, not the height of the structure
 
Canada Olympic Park
Elveden House (part of Elveden Centre) 727 7th Avenue SW 80 m 20 1960 Calgary's first skyscraper
 
Elveden House
Fairmont Palliser Hotel 133 9th Avenue SW 60 m 12 1914 Calgary's tallest building 1914-1958
 
Fairmont Palliser Hotel
Grain Exchange Building[18] 815 1st Street SW 6 1910 First building in Calgary with an elevator
 
Grain Exchange Building

Projects

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The following is a list of buildings that are under construction, approved, or proposed in Calgary that are planned to rise at least 100 m (328 ft) As of January 2021.

Under construction

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Building Height Floors Use
Oliver West 121 m (397 ft) 35 Residential
4th Street Lofts 115 m (377 ft) 29 Residential

Approved

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Building Height Floors Use
Elbow River I 178 m (584 ft) 56 Residential
Elbow River II 162 m (531 ft) 50 Residential
Elbow River III 146 m (479 ft) 40 Residential
Lincoln Apartments 126 m (413 ft) 36 Residential
Place 10 West 121 m (397 ft) 35 Residential
101 - 11 Avenue SE 120 m (394 ft) 37 Residential
Brentwood Common 120 m (394 ft) 40 Residential
Curtis Block III 119 m (390 ft) 36 Residential
Beltline Block Tower 118 m (387 ft) 36 Residential
West Village Towers III 100 m (328 ft) ? Residential

Proposed/on-hold

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Building Height Floors Use
Stephen Avenue Quarter 287 m (942 ft) 66 Mixed-use
Oxford Place 262 m (860 ft) 62 Office
Plaza 54 187 m (614 ft) 54 Residential
Brookfield Place West 178 m (584 ft) 40 Office
633 Third 167 m (548 ft) 46 Mixed-use
Portfolio IV 147 m (482 ft) 44 Residential
Eau Claire Market I 135 m (443 ft) 35 Office
City Centre II 132 m (433 ft) 47 Mixed-use
1520 East 123 m (404 ft) 37 Residential
526- 4th Ave 112 m (367 ft) 32 Residential
East Village Block Q Mixed Use Towers ~100 m (328 ft) 24-27 Mixed-use
Portfolio III ~100 m (328 ft) 29 Residential

Timeline of tallest buildings

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This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Calgary. Although it is not a building, the Calgary Tower was the city's tallest free standing structure from 1968 until 1983 when it was surpassed by the Suncor Energy Centre's West tower.

Name Street address Years as tallest Height
m / ft
Floors Image
Fairmont Palliser Hotel 133 9th Avenue SW 1914–1958 60 / 197 12
 
Fairmont Palliser Hotel
Elveden House 727 7th Avenue SW 1960-1968 80 / 262 20
 
Elveden House
One Calgary Place 330 5 Avenue SW 1968-1973 110 / 361 30
 
One Calgary Place
Altius Centre 500 4 Avenue SW 1973-1974 126 / 413 32
 
Altius Centre
Bow Valley Square 2 205 5 Avenue SW 1974-1976 143 / 469 39
 
Bow Valley Square
Stephen Avenue Place 700 2 Street SW 1976-1982 155 / 509 41
 
Scotia Centre
First Canadian Centre 350 7 Avenue SW 1982-1984 167 / 548 41
 
First Canadian Centre
Suncor Energy Centre - West 150 6 Avenue SW 1984-2011 215 / 705 53
 
Suncor Energy Centre
The Bow 500 Centre Street SE 2011–2017 236 / 774 58
 
The Bow
Brookfield Place East 210 - 7 Avenue SW 2017–present 247 / 810 56
 
Brookfield Place East

Other buildings

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2018 Civic Census Results". City of Calgary. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  2. ^ "Population of census metropolitan areas". Statistics Canada. 26 February 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  3. ^ "Herald Site in Calgary Availabilities | Brookfield Office Properties". brookfieldofficeproperties.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  4. ^ "Brookfield Place overtakes The Bow in tallest building showdown in the west". Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  5. ^ "Eighth Avenue Place I". Skyscraperpage. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  6. ^ "Telus Sky". Bjarke Ingels Group. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  7. ^ "Calgary skyscraper map". Skyscraperpage. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  8. ^ Al-Kodmany, K. (2018-06-25). The Vertical City: A Sustainable Development Model. ISBN 9781784662578.
  9. ^ a b "Calgary Skyscraper Map". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  10. ^ Emporis (2007). "Petro-Canada Centre - West Tower". Archived from the original on July 1, 2004. Retrieved 2007-04-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ Emporis. "Bankers Hall East". Archived from the original on June 27, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ^ a b Skyscraper Pages. "Bankers Hall West". Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  13. ^ Emporis. "Bankers Hall East". Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ Emporis. "Canterra Tower". Archived from the original on May 17, 2004. Retrieved 2007-06-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ Skyscraper Pages. "Canterra Tower". Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  16. ^ Emporis (2007). "Petro-Canada Centre - East Tower". Archived from the original on October 28, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ Emporis. "Western Canadian Place - South". Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ "Cornerstones: Grain Exchange Building". 2008-08-21. Archived from the original on 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2017-11-07.