A rendering, elevation sketches and floor plans for a major new mixed-use skyscraper are included in the package of materials going to the Calgary Planning Commission on October 19. The agenda for the meeting contains the dossier for a proposal by Bentall Kennedy at 633 Third Avenue SW, the site of the failed 3 Eau Claire scheme.

The rendering included in the planning agenda, image via City of Calgary

The developer is partnering with Gibbs Gage Architects on the 46-storey tower, which would contain approximately 38,844 square metres of office space and 227 residential units. The office component is spread across floors three to 20, where the residential units will then rise to the 45th level.

The single rendering included in the document, albeit blurry, broadly depicts the architectural vision of the tower. Sculptured to resemble a cracking winter ice flow — taking inspiration from the Bow River to the north — the building's glazed curtain wall is cut away at the base, where a transparent facade emerges. The building will employ two glazing types, with the predominant material to be a "light silver glass" as described in the planning document. Darker glazing will accent the corners of the tower. Several shifting and leaning planes embolden the comparisons to a fractured ice form. 

A preliminary sketch of the development, image via City of Calgary

The ice flow theme is extended to the podium level, where a winter garden and plaza will be located. A mixture of textured stone and concrete patterns will adorn building entrances. A number of amenity spaces will also be included across the verticality of the tower, including an outdoor space on the 22nd floor and a residential amenity area on the 45th floor.

Administration has recommended that the Calgary Planning Commission approve the development permit application, pointing to the "positive contribution" the design of the tower will make on the urban context and skyline, and its expected contribution to the "vitality" of the downtown core and Eau Claire neighbourhood.

The original skybridge proposal for the site, image via 3 Eau Claire Developments Inc.

A previous proposal for the existing parking lot would have seen the construction of 48- and 42-storey towers connected by a sky bridge. Though the proposal was primarily residential in use, it also contained a significant commercial component, with Shaw Communications serving as the main tenant.

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