UofC Architecture School | 60m | 14s | U of C

[Surrealplaces]

Parker: U of C's School of Architecture Planning and Landscape eager for completion of new downtown home

SAPL dean John Brown is bringing in more than 800 students to the downtown campus in January, writes business columnist David Parker.

calgaryherald.com

Not sure which thread to put this in, but this seems as good as any. An update on the UofC's downtown architectural campus.

From the article.
observing the progress of massive renovations to the office tower that will welcome more than 800 students to classes there on Jan. 12, 2026.

 

[Surrealplaces]

Since construction work has already started for this, I thought I'd start a thread. This thread has the height as 60m and the floor count at 14. It's 14 floors of the former Nexen tower, and height estimated at 60 meters.

 

[Surrealplaces]

 

[1875]

hopefully that part of town has its worst days behind it

 

[Golfing guy]

Weren’t they going to convert the top floors to student housing?

 

[Surrealplaces]

hopefully that part of town has its worst days behind it

I think it's been moving in that direction for a while. Still a bit sketchy at times, but not near as bad as it used to be. Moving the 8th and 8th medical helped, plus the new LRT stations being staggered and being bigger and brighter seems to have helped. Dominion opening up, plus this conversion, will keep the momentum going, I predict you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[pdubs015]

This is great, I hope this starts a trend of post secondary filling up west downtown. There is so much floor space that is in good or great condition that would be perfect for adult students.

I’m wondering if the adult high school would work well downtown as well, as the transit access would be much better than any other location. When it was in the old Viscount Bennett site, I’d imagine it was a difficult commute for students from outside the Southwest if they were taking transit.

 

[Cowtown]

hopefully that part of town has its worst days behind it

I agree with SP that area is better than it used to be. I used to avoid getting at that 8th Street LRT station even though it was closer to my work and rarely went into the crack Mac’s because for obvious reasons but these days I frequent the Circle K and it’s not bad.
These kind of things will improve the area even more.

 

[Nimbus]

SAPL students that are currently in the CBDL are jonesing like mad to make the move to this in January. lol.

 

[trtcttc]

I agree with SP that area is better than it used to be. I used to avoid getting at that 8th Street LRT station even though it was closer to my work and rarely went into the crack Mac’s because for obvious reasons but these days I frequent the Circle K and it’s not bad.
These kind of things will improve the area even more.

Outside of the Mac's, what was causing the issues in the area? There isn't something like the Drop-in or other type of services nearby.

 

[darwink]

Weren’t they going to convert the top floors to student housing?

That was studied but is not in the announced scope.

 

[badc0ffee]

Outside of the Mac's, what was causing the issues in the area? There isn't something like the Drop-in or other type of services nearby.

I think what originally made it what it was is:
* Mac's and McDonald's
* Sketchy Century Gardens (back when it had a ton more concrete and blind corners)
* The old C-train platform next to Mac's
* The 8th & 8th health clinic, which was kind of the Chumir of its day
* Cheap bars like Baby Blue's, Cafe Iman, etc.

Things are obviously different now, except for the Circle K and McDonald's. But I think we just needed a number of years to overcome the momentum of the other stuff.

 

[trtcttc]

I think what originally made it what it was is:
* Mac's and McDonald's
* Sketchy Century Gardens (back when it had a ton more concrete and blind corners)
* The old C-train platform next to Mac's
* The 8th & 8th health clinic, which was kind of the Chumir of its day
* Cheap bars like Baby Blue's, Cafe Iman, etc.

Things are obviously different now, except for the Circle K and McDonald's. But I think we just needed a number of years to overcome the momentum of the other stuff.

Thanks for the history. They also recently renovated the McDonalds to remove most of the seating.

 

[The Familia]

Why is the 4th and 10th floors blacked out? Are they mechanical, already being leased, or something else? I find it surprising they would have two floors breaking up the continuous space.

 

[Chowda7]

hopefully that part of town has its worst days behind it

Redoing the park helped a lot i feel