After much anticipation, plans were finally released yesterday for Encana's landmark contribution to Calgary's skyline, the Bow Tower. (Or, as one wag has already dubbed it, the Encana Banana).
With construction of the Encana Centre complex set to begin next summer, the oil company's future headquarters are expected to cost between $850 million and $1 billion to build. When it's completed in 2010, the Bow Tower will be western Canada's tallest building, rising to 59 stories (810 feet).
By comparison, Vancouver's tallest building, the Shangri-La, will be 61 storeys (648 feet) tall when it tops out next year - a full 162 feet shorter than Calgary's tallest. While some might see this as an indication of what oil money (as opposed to tourism dollars) can buy you, it's worth noting that Vancouver limits the heights on its new buildings to 650 feet.
Another Vancouver-related tie-in with this project: the Bow Tower was designed by Foster + Partners, the same starchitect firm that designed Jameson House here in our town.
As for some of the early reactions to the Bow Tower, we get the sense that people want to like it, but it appears that they have some misgivings; it's as if Calgarians are asking the world, 'does this bow make us look fat?'
Well, let's just say that common wisdom suggests that short, stocky people shouldn't wear shirts with horizontal stripes. On the other hand, we're genuinely happy for you fatsos - many of us in Vancouver would love to see our skyline crack the 800 foot mark.
For more information on the project, Encana's press release and links to photos can be found here.
There is rumour that Arthur Erickson is planning an 80 story building called The Fringe for the eastside of downtown Vancouver. Any truth to the rumour? Hopeful.
Posted by: ck | Friday, October 13, 2006 at 10:16 AM
The last we heard about the Fringe Tower project was in late 2004. It appears to have been more of a concept rather than a serious proposal (ie: no development permit application was ever filed; a specific building site wasn't even named). We'll be sure to post on it, if the Fringe ever gets resurrected. -eds.
Posted by: editor | Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 01:51 AM
What Calgary's condo and office boom will create:
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