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In the course of our daily reporting, we often uncover unusual projects, places, or connections that don't make the final cut. Instead of keeping it to ourselves, we're pleased to share our Architrivia.
The omnipresence of the Canadian government is often evinced in a city's built fabric, composed of office buildings occupied by various departments. Perhaps the most well-known and tangible examples of the government's presence in Calgary is the unambiguously named Calgary Public Building, an eight-storey masonry structure built in 1931 near the eastern terminus of Stephen Avenue.
Though the building's Tyndall limestone facade and imposing Ionic columns produced an impression of majesty, its interior mostly aligned with the typical design of commercial office buildings at the time. The form followed function — the U-shaped floor plans were envisioned as a way of optimizing natural light and ventilation.
As prescribed by the federal government, and following the conventions for the construction of public buildings, all materials used originated in Canada. The prestigious building was also occupied by the city's main post office for 30 years, until 1961.
The City acquired the building in 1979 and converted it to become the Jack Singer Concert Hall, comprising part of the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. Designated a Municipal Historic Resource in 1996, the Calgary Public Building was lovingly restored in 2011 with a suite of upgrades, including a new thermal skin that greatly reduced the energy consumption of the building.
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